We shared with you all about the blooming happening at the school.
So much of where we find ourselves today can be traced to the generosity of our Hope² partners.
We asked Sarah, a Hope² donor and supporter for 9 years, to share why she chooses us.
Why I Choose The Hope Project.
What a joy it was to give some chairs last month. And to do it with so many of you! When the newsletter came, showing the craftsman Abraham and the chairs piled in an old pickup for delivery, I thought, "I was part of that!"
It isn't often we get the chance to have such a short distance between cause and effect. Sometimes the distance might be months or even decades. We try to do the right thing and hope for the best.
In the case of becoming a monthly supporter of The Hope Project, I know my gift means better lives for children, families, and staff at Hope International School. Period. And in the case of the chairs?! Easier still. Students can't learn very well if they are uncomfortable. There's a lot of research coming out about environments that are conducive to learning. My hometown, Bellingham, Washington, just spent $31 million on one elementary school. If these children can have state-of-the-art playgrounds and digital learning tools, certainly these precious students at Hope International should have some new chairs.
I give to a lot of organizations, monthly or one-time, and I decide not to give to others. It's useful for me to think about how I make my choices. There are at least three reasons why I keep choosing The Hope Project:
1. As a donor, I feel seen and valued.
And because I give to many other things (a legacy from my grandfather), I am in the position to notice how many other organizations do not include their donors the way The Hope Project does. They are not doing it to flatter us--they truly value us, want us to share in their sorrows and joys. They see us as human beings who sometimes feel a little lost about how we can make a difference in the world. This matters a lot to me.
2. The Hope Project serves children.
As a mother, l can't help but be drawn to the elemental, vital work of caring for children and helping them succeed. My son is in his second year of college now, and even with the incredible amount of support he has, financially and emotionally, he has still struggled a bit finding his place in the world. How much more these precious students at Hope International!
3. The Hope Project is led by Liberians.
It's really important to me that the things I support see their stakeholders as sovereign, as in control of their own lives, as capable. There are too many examples out there of NGO's forcing certain models on communities, of assuming lack of competency. The Hope Project supplies the funds--the Liberian staff, teachers, and families supply the rest.
Thank you for being with me in this web of support. I feel it, and I hope you do too.
Sarah Murphy-Kangas
Bellingham, WA
October 2022
The consistent generosity like Sarah’s has been the foundation of how we’ve been able to meet the needs of the students and staff of Hope International. We would love for you to join us in this work and become a recurring donor.