The Start to Another Year

“We are thrilled to be back…ready to tackle another exciting year…”

Mark Howe | Hope International School Principal

Dear Friends of Hope,

A brief back to school letter to the students, teachers, support staff, and our international partners.

On behalf of the staff of Hope International, I extend a warm welcome back to school to you all as we begin a new academic session (2024/2025). We are thrilled to be back, rejuvenated and ready to tackle another exciting year of teaching and learning.

First and foremost, I want to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of you for your tireless efforts and dedication to shaping the minds of our future generations. Last year, we faced many challenges, but together as a staff and with the massive and marvelous supports from our international partners, we adapted and solved and stand stronger together.

I want to say a big thank you to each of you for all you are doing to keep the “HOPE” alive! Let us embrace this new beginning with renewed energy, enthusiasm, and a shared commitment to the work we share.

Together, We Are Hope!
Mark Howe

Please meet Anointed Robinson, a 9-year-old, third grade student at Hope International. Anointed and her family welcomed us into their home to share a typical day. We invite you to look through the photos, read the captions, and get to know the life of Anointed who represents the nearly 1,500 students of Hope International.

Anointed shares a house with her parents and 14 other family members (including aunts and cousins) in Bassa Town Community, Gardnersville. About a 20-minute walk from the school campus. She begins her day at 6am by helping her mom wash dishes. After morning chores, Anointed dresses in her uniform and shares breakfast with her little sister, Blessing.

She and Blessing begin their walk to school joined along the way with friends and classmates from other neighborhoods. Anointed spends her day working hard along with her other third grade classmates. Her teacher’s name is Ms. Cheachea. During recess, Anointed plays with her sister and friends. They pool their money together to share a bowl of food. Elementary students are dismissed at 1:55pm. Anointed walks back home alongside her sister and friends. Once home, she changes out of her uniform, snuggles her niece, begins afternoon chores, and helps with dinner preparation. Food is cooked outside over coals.

While spending time with family, Anointed’s mother plaits her hair in preparation for the remaining days of the week. After chores, cooking, dinner, and homework, she has a chance to play. Many games are played with found items (notice the bottlecaps?). So much joy and laughter. Anointed ends her day warming water over coals to take a bath. She gets on her nightclothes then heads to bed, which she shares with other kids in the family. She goes to sleep early so she can be up bright and early for the next day.

Celebrating the Class of 2024 Graduates

On October 12th, 202 (including 19 adults in night school) Hope International seniors joyously gathered together with their families, friends, and staff for the Class of 2024 graduation ceremony. Among the graduates were 3 valedictorians, a mother and son graduating together and 3 legacy students, those that have attended Hope International from kindergarten through 12th grade.

“Each of you has demonstrated dedication and resilience throughout your journey, and today marks a significant milestone in your lives. We are so proud of your hard work, commitment, and the perseverance you have exhibited. We believe in your abilities to create a brighter and more prosperous future, and we look forward to hearing about your many accomplishments in the years to come.”
— The Hope Project Stateside Board of Directors

Introducing Hope International’s Class of 2025!

Looking sharp aren’t they? One of the most noticeable and lovely things when walking down the streets of Liberia in the morning or afternoon is all of the kids in their brightly colored uniforms. Uniforms are required at all schools. It helps quickly identify students by their school colors. Students at Hope International look forward to their special senior uniforms, in the familiar blue and white colors of Hope International.

In a beautiful full circle way, this year’s class uniforms were made by Sew Much Hope Tailoring Shop, the sewing collective started by four amazing young women, graduates of the Sew Much Hope vocational program. You can read more about their story here.

Safety in Numbers

Safety in Numbers

Recently, there has been much discussion at Hope about safety for our students and staff. This conversation ties into the concept of “safety in numbers” that we, as a community, have provided over the past 17 years. The reality is that your collective, focused generosity has impacted thousands of students and entire communities through the educational opportunities and support of Hope International. You have been present and partnered and provided safety nets when needed in support of students, staff and families who have so few of them.

By doing so, you will join the 153 other individuals and families who make it possible for us to open the doors each and every year. Our recurring gifts are how we can confidently predict how much money we will have for the year. The fact that this one giving community has made so much possible is nothing short of miraculous.

Once a year we formally ask you, who are part of this community of Hope, to consider making a gift on a recurring basis.

Perhaps one day we will receive a $10,000,000.00 grant, eliminating the need for fundraising letters like this. While that would certainly make things easier and less stressful, I’d miss the reality we’ve created together. It’s a reality where you, me, us, join hands to provide safety nets, working alongside our Liberian neighbors to support the children of Liberia. The students need this support, but we need it too.

We all need to participate in something beyond ourselves and our familiar lives. We need to witness collective good happening in real-time. In a world that often emphasizes independence and self-reliance, we must remember that we live in an interdependent world where the most beautiful gifts are found in our connections with one another, These connections provide “safety in numbers” benefitting us all.

If you can join our collective of Hope by giving on a recurring basis, we would be deeply grateful. Your ongoing partnership helps us continue this vital work and strengthens our global community.

Safety In Numbers > $10,000.000.00
Jackie Frazier
Executive Director

P.S. Don’t get me wrong! If you have $10,000,000.00, we would definitely put it to good use!

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PO Box 1095
Leavenworth, WA 98826

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Leaving Legacies

Each year at graduation, Hope International honors the legacy students. These are the students who have spent all of their school time at Hope International. This year three students were honored. We interviewed each of them about their time at Hope and share excerpts from these interviews below. They expressed deep appreciation and gratitude for their friends, the school campus they are so proud of, their teachers, and YOU.

Your generosity has left a lasting legacy on each of them and all of the students they represent. 

Q: How long have you been at Hope International School?

I have been at Hope for 15 years, from nursery in 2009 to Grade 12 in 2024.

Q: What has been your favorite memory at Hope?

My favorite memory is the sport. I was a member of the kickball (girls) team, we had so many memorable times together and I will really miss my team.

Q: How do you feel about being honored as a legacy student of Hope?

As a legacy student, I feel so happy and can boast of my high school. I have an old picture of the school and sometimes, I sit and compare it with the current look; it makes me so proud to see how far we have come as members of the Hope family. I am so proud and excited to receive the honor.

Q: What are you most proud of?

I am proud of the campus facility, especially the amazing buildings, as a kid here I never imagined us having this wonderful structure. I am also proud of my teachers for their great impact.

Q: What can you remember as a little kid at Hope years back?

I remember my first teacher, Ms. Tetee, who taught us well and wonderfully cared for us. She always showed us love and never got tired of our annoying behavior as kids.

Q: What are you most proud of?

I am proud of the teachers, Hope is one of the best schools in Liberia because of the quality of teachers we have. Their teachings and mentorship are great and I am so proud of them.

Q: What message do you have for Hope International School as you finally say goodbye?

Naomi: Firstly, I want to say thanks to the Hope International School, and I also want to encourage the youth of Liberia to see Hope as a great opportunity for them to achieve affordable and quality education. This school is creating a better future for all.

George: I extend my thanks and appreciation to the teachers and the administration for the great job they are doing at the Hope International School. They made a great impact on my life and the society.

Saddatu: My favorite school, I am going to miss you (Hope), my teachers and the many fun. Goodbye for now to the only school I know, I love you and you will always be my only choice.

Q: What message do you have for The Hope Project?

Naomi: I want to thank The Hope Project for the support of the Hope International School and the many children of Liberia. Your support keeps giving us hope for a better future. Please keep it up!

George: Thanks to The Hope Project, I pray and hope for continuous support to help generations to come in achieving their dreams.

Saddatu: A very big thanks to our sponsor, The Hope Project, for investing in the Hope International School.

Cheers to these three legacy leaving students and to you, who have made Hope a part of your legacy.

With Luck(y), Anything Seems Possible!

As we continue to celebrate the graduating Class of 2024, we wanted to share the amazing story of the oldest graduate and a class valedictorian who just happen to be mother (age 35) and son (age 16).

We hope you can find a pocket of time to read this interview in its entirety. It is full of tenderness, grit, inspiration, and HOPE.

Perhaps someone reading this will be stirred to invest in the futures of Michael, who dreams of becoming a civil engineer and Lucky, who still holds her childhood dream of becoming a doctor.

Q: Could you please share some of your background?

Lucky: I dropped out of school 13 years ago to earn money to care for Michael, who I had very young, and his two younger siblings without any support from the father.

Q: What motivated you to return to school after 13 years?

Lucky: I was motivated by my children’s performance in school, they were all doing well in school, and very smart.

One day, I sat and looked at my children, I thought of their smartness and said if these kids are like this, I think they took some of my smartness. Therefore, I have to return to school and complete my high school education. Growing up as a little girl, I was also smart, and comparing my younger age to my children motivated me a lot to take the bold step in the completion of my high school journey in the face of many challenges.

Q: What was your dream when you were growing up?

Lucky: Growing up as a young girl, I dreamed of becoming a doctor and this dream of a little girl is still alive in me. This dream was one of the driving forces behind my return to school and this will not be my stopping point. I will strive to further my education to become the doctor I wanted to be and achieve my dream. When achieved, I will be capacitated to handle my responsibilities, take good care of my children, and help them too in pursuing their dreams.

Michael: Growing up as a child, I have always dreamed of becoming a civil engineer and that doesn’t change. I am excited about completing high school and hope for the opportunity to pursue my dream.

Q: What are some challenges you faced getting to this point?

Lucky: It has been challenging for me as a single parent, trying to take care of my children, send them to school, and also go to school. Despite challenging times, I am proud of completing high school with my son. Today my children celebrate me for the bold step of returning to school.

Michael: My mother has always tried her best to provide for our needs. But I have had challenges going to school with an empty stomach and transportation to school. I had to walk every morning to school.

Q: How did it feel sitting in the same room writing the national exam (required testing for graduating seniors)?

Lucky: Initially, I felt that coming back to school with my son was a setback for me, imagine giving birth to a child and coming back to sit in class with him and graduating the same day. I felt that I wasted so many years to graduate at such an age, but the encouragement I received from the school motivated me. My son was also a great inspiration for me on this journey.

Michael: My mother’s decision had a great impact on my life, each time I see her, I receive strength and motivation to do more.

Q: What are you proud of most at Hope and as an individual?

Lucky: As an individual, I am very proud of myself for taking this bold step at my age. At Hope, I am proud of the teachers, they are straightforward, always concerned about the student’s well-being and academic performance. I am also proud of the administration for their level of motivation and the way they manage the school.

Michael: As an individual, I am proud of being one of the three valedictorians, the third best performing students in my class. I am proud of Hope International School for the level of teaching and guidance they provide their students.

Q: What has been your favorite memory at Hope?

Lucky: This is a school I will never forget. Hope will always be in my heart, a school I graduate from at 35 years old. Not only graduate as an individual, but I built this memory with my son, it is an everlasting memory for me.

Michael: My favorite memory at Hope International School is with the quizzing team. I enjoy playing and the time with my wonderful team is a memory I will take with me.

Q: What message do you have for The Hope Project?

Lucky: I say thanks so much to The Hope Project for the help and support they are giving to the Hope International School, through their support, we can an affordable school with good quality. Their support has not only helped our children but has also changed the lives of some parents, so I extend a very big thank you to The Hope Project. I encourage them to continue their support and nothing should stop them from doing what they are doing for us. Let them keep giving us the Hope we need for a better future.

Michael: I appreciate The Hope Project for the effort and hard work. Their support is making a great impact in Liberia and I hope that they continue their good work.

Michael and Lucky represent so beautifully what Hope International provides to students in Liberia.  If you would like to talk with Jackie about helping them achieve their college aspirations, please reach out at (509) 630-8783 or email.

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