As this school year comes to an end, we want to express our sincere gratitude to all of you for your unwavering support.
With all of the challenges, we say to you that this year has been a journey of growth and an incredible achievement. And we couldn’t have accomplished all that we have without your generous and incredible support.
We hope you will join us in celebrating this year’s accomplishments together as we look forward to an even brighter future and our next academic calendar 2025-2026. Thank you to all of you who are doing everything possible to keep the hopes of many Liberians alive.
Together, We Are Hope!
Mark Howe | Hope International School Principal
Registration is underway for the 2025-2026 school year. First, returning students register. Then, registration is open to new students hoping to attend. Hundreds and hundreds line up to see if there is a spot available. Thank you for partnering with Hope International in creating a place where so many students long to be.
Dear Friends of Hope,
In March, I traveled, along with my friend and Hope Project partner Jim Kusak, to Liberia to visit our partners and see the school. Hope International continues to thrive and the staff is incredible. Wherever I went, whatever meeting I was in, I heard the same sentiment expressed: Hope International is the pride of the community. From government officials, neighbors, and parents, everyone expressed gratitude for the educational opportunities the school is providing and has provided over the past 17 years.
During this last year, Jim, Heather Anderson, and I have been working with our Liberian Sanitation team to research opportunities in plastics recycling in Liberia. It became apparent during this visit that the lack of sanitation services, increased plastic usage, and burning of refuse has created truly catastrophic conditions. The air quality is at a continuous hazardous level.
On our way to Liberia, a stop was made in Ghana. We met with Nelson who has engineered equipment transforming recycled plastics into blocks and pavers, cheaper than concrete and able to withstand the rainy seasons. We have big dreams for bringing this operation to Liberia.
Gabriel Nyarko, who has run our successful sanitation program in the school neighborhood, and Smith Samah, the first Hope International alumni student to receive his master’s degree in mechanical engineering, have developed a business plan and we in the states are pursuing funding opportunities. Very few things are win, win, win...but this is! Creating something that addresses the health impacts facing our Liberian friends each day, employment, and environmentally-supportive building solutions.
Please continue to dream with us...Hope does such things.
Together,
Jackie Frazier | Executive Director
Hope International’s Class of 2025 finished up their country-wide mandated WASSCE testing this month. It is required they pass in order to receive their high school diploma. Results will be released later this summer. Seniors will then be preparing for their graduation ceremonies in Fall 2025. As we join together to celebrate Hope’s excited soon-to-be-graduates, we also honor all the graduates in your world.
Through your partnership, educational opportunities are made possible for the nearly 1,500 students who attend Hope International. They are the heart of the school.
We would welcome your generosity that ensures Hope International’s stability for these future seniors. See the bottom of this newsletter on ways to give.
Please meet Mrs. Victoria Johnson who was given the opportunity to attend the Sew Much Hope vocational program through a scholarship awarded by Principal Mark Howe. Mrs. Johnson is 58 years old and manages a household of 7. “The small fees to attend were a barrier for me, but Mark said the school would help take care of that.” She began classes and recently transitioned to the advanced training.
Mrs. Johnson was the proud recipient of a sewing machine that a Hope Project partner provided in honor of International Women’s Day. She is already using her acquired skills to sew for her family and community.
“Sew Much Hope has brought great value to my life. I have started to see the improvement even before I have graduated. I have been sewing for members of my community, not for profit, but to improve my skills. I am on a mission for personal development.”
“With the hands-on knowledge I am getting from Sew Much Hope, I will be equipped to face the many challenges and overcome them with the skills within me. My future is bright!”
Hope International students recently shared photos with their dads in honor of Father’s Day, which kicked off our Power {of} Tools campaign to raise funds for tool kits.
Even with this special day behind us, we continue our efforts to equip our Power of Hope students with a tool kit. Graduates of the vocational program expressed the number one barrier to employment was the lack of money to purchase basic tools.
For a gift of $100, you will equip one electrician technician with a tool kit to begin their business and keep doing the work to achieve their goals. To learn more and share a gift visit Power {of} Tools.
So many of you gathered and gave at our 17 Years of Shining Together Fundraiser & Celebration. Your collective generosity raised $50,382 in one-time, new and increased recurring gifts to support the educational dreams of the nearly 1,500 students at Hope International. Words cannot express the depth of our gratitude!
Thankful to all of our event sponsors: Rachel's Ginger Beer, Gold Coast Ghal Kitchen, Sigillo Cellars, Red Fish Blue Fish Photography, and to the many bakers for creating beautiful, sweet treats for our dessert dash.
The evening included a video showing what your partnership over the last 17 years has made possible. You can view it here. We hope it will leave inspired.
Mark your calendars for May 2nd, 2026, when we will gather again to celebrate Hope!
Set Your Table With Hope. West African napkins, created with love by the Sew Much Hope Cooperative in Liberia, are packaged and ready for sale. A set of 4 napkins, in varying designs, cost $30 (price includes shipping). All proceeds will benefit the Sew Much Hope program. We thank Romell, Grace, Caroline, and Comfort for their time and talents in sewing each and every napkin on their foot-powered machines. Purchase your set today!
Wrapped in Hope. Each year, Hope Project partners Peggy, Peggy, and Rebecca share their time and talents to create a one-of-a-kind West African inspired quilt. Our Hope community then has a chance to donate and be entered to win the Quilt of Hope. This year the collective generosity shared raised $2,312 to benefit Hope’s vocational programs.
Congratulations to Leslie Heron for winning the fourth Quilt of Hope!
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