The Hope Fiesta
We celebrated with many of our monthly donors at the Hope Fiesta last week, and it was amazing. It’s wonderful to connect with people who make a huge difference in the lives of the children in our partner orphanages.
Funds from monthly donors don’t go towards just basic needs, but towards the things that will set orphans and vulnerable children up for the most success. This includes therapy, educational support, caregiver training, and family placement. We want to maximize the potential for these kids. That means helping them heal, catch up educationally, and have a safe place to live as they prepare to reunite with their families.
In case you missed it, or wanted to see the numbers and stories shared at the Hope Fiesta, this is the impact monthly donors made in 2024.
The Numbers
Healing
347
kids reached by a counselor/therapist
3,667
1-on-1 therapy sessions
21
therapists/psychologists were provided salary support
Empowering
429
kids reached by tutors/teachers for education support
15
tutors/teachers were provided salary support
52
caregivers were provided salary support
Restoring
115
kids placed into a family
- 10 foster placements
- 3 adoptive placements
- 102 family reintegrations
The People
Your impact is deeper than just numbers, though. It impacts individuals. Here’s one of my favorite stories from 2024:
Caro was the first child of her under-resourced parents living in poverty. Due to poor postnatal care, she developed cerebral palsy. By January 2024, her parents—struggling to feed their six children—felt hopeless and abandoned Caro on the outskirts of their village. Sadly, abandonment is not uncommon in developing countries.
A neighbor found the child, reported the situation, and Caro was rescued and hospitalized for severe malnutrition. Once she recovered enough, she was placed in an orphanage.
The Orphanage Director, determined to find Caro’s family, worked closely with the Department of Child Care Investigations to protect the family from arrest and bring them back together.
When Caro’s parents were found, her mother was initially distant and overwhelmed, and she struggled to engage with Caro. Caro’s siblings had been taught to avoid her, but at the orphanage they began to learn how to feed her and interact with her. Over time, with help from an onsite therapist, the mother started showing signs of interest and involvement. To this day, the family continues receiving therapy and care training, working towards the goal of bringing Caro home.
Though Caro’s story isn’t resolved yet, it captures the challenges and nuance of working with children whose unique situations require thoughtful intervention by dedicated caregivers and therapists.
The Impact
Monthly donors are making healing possible for children, empowering them with educational resources, and reuniting them with their families. If you are interested in donating to make HOPE possible for these vulnerable children, sign up to be a monthly donor today.
The futures of the children impacted are bright. This video from 92hands in Uganda expresses the gratitude some of these children and caregivers feel.