Meet Our Sponsors

Thanks to the support of our child sponsors, Project Have Hope now has 104 children enrolled in school. Meet our sponsors and read their stories below, and learn why they chose to support the education of a child in Uganda with Project Have Hope.

Meet Mallory

What made you decide to sponsor a child's education?

I know how much they want to go to school. It's something we take for granted here in the United States. Kids here in the United States beg their parents not to send them to school, but kids in Uganda beg to go to school. With a good education they can get a good job and break the cycle of poverty.

Why did you choose to support Project Have Hope?

I chose to work with Project Have Hope because I knew about the work that PHH does in Uganda, and the lives they are changing in the Acholi Quarter.

How has sponsoring a child had an impact on you?

I love getting to know my kids better. When I get letters from my kids, or when they draw me pictures, I learn about their lives, what they like, what they like to study in school. I even get their report cards to see how they are doing. I think about my kids a lot, I think things like "I wonder if Gloria would like that" or "What can I do to make Gabriel smile?" or I wonder what they are doing, or how they are. They have changed my life so much.

What would you say to others who are considering sponsoring a child?

If you are thinking about sponsoring a child I would say, what are you waiting for? Do it! Now! It is the best thing you can do. You do it because you think you are going to change their lives, but you know what? It will change your life more than you can imagine.

I heard in a movie, "Be the change you want to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi said that. That is my challenge for Project Yesu. Too many people think that they don't have to worry about the problems the people in other countries have, but they sit and complain that no one does anything about it. If we all acted like their problems are our problems, if each of us took the time to care about other people, if each of us stood up and made a difference, then we can change the world.

Meet Jeanne

What made you decide to sponsor a child's education?

I had been looking for a way to make a low cost monthly donation to a non-profit and this seemed to have the most direct benefit. It was clear where my money was going.

How has sponsoring a child had an impact on you?

I look forward to the letters, pictures and report cards. It's great to see the progress over the years.

What would you say to others who are considering sponsoring a child?

It's nice to see that such a small amount (a few Starbucks) can have such an impact in someone's life. I was lucky enough to travel to the Acholi Quarter and see first hand the good work being done. It's remarkable and this is truly a great organization to support.

Meet Sydney

What made you decide to sponsor a child's education?

I found out about Project Have Hope on the internet while I was searching for products that are made by Ugandan women.

Why did you choose to support Project Have Hope?

After seeing the pictures of the kids and reading about the mission of PHH, I just felt like this was something I really wanted to do. I have always had an interest in African kids and knew this was for me. I spent several days reading about each of the kids. Choosing just one child was a hard decision! I wanted to help them all. I love that PHH allows me to select the child I want to support and build a relationship with. After choosing 8 year old Kelvin, I was super excited to put together a box of school supplies, clothes and a few fun toys to send to him! I have loved learning about his culture and seeing the progress he has made in school. I even got a video of him opening a package I sent him. I get to see that my sponsorship really is making a difference in his life.

How has sponsoring a child had an impact on you and your family?

The impact this sponsorship has had on my life is a good one. I can now take my blessings and give somebody else blessings. It has shown my family that giving to somebody in need is a very rewarding feeling. Every time you open a letter you can't help but smile and realize what an impact you're making. My hope is to have a lifelong relationship with Kelvin and see him succeed in his life!

Meet Sue

What made you decide to sponsor a child's education?

I found the Project Have Hope site after watching the movie "War Dance." I was so moved by this movie. I went for a walk the day after seeing it - my heart was so full and as I sat by a creek tears filled my eyes as I thought of the children in this movie. I wanted to do something to support the children in Uganda somehow.

Why did you choose to support Project Have Hope?

I came back home from my walk and went online and looked at the Shine Global site. On the site, they had ideas of ways to support children in Uganda. Project Have Hope was one of the sites. I was delighted to find the small and personal approach of Project Have Hope. The fact that Karen herself travelled over to Uganda on a regular basis bringing support to the projects she had started there was so appealing to me.

How has sponsoring a child had an impact on you and your family?

I then got my grandchildren involved. I wanted to teach them how to support others their age in the world in a different way. So together we picked a child to sponsor. We started off with three children and now we have two children that we sponsor each month. At some point I would like to take my grandchildren to Uganda to meet the children they chose to sponsor. We feel blessed and honored to be a part of this program.

Meet Barbara

What made you decide to sponsor a child's education?

I think education is one of the most valuable gifts that we can give to the children of our world. We are very fortunate to have a public education system in the US. Children in the Acholi Quarter are not so fortunate. While the tuition may seem inexpensive to us, for these children it is a cost that is unattainable without help.

Why did you choose to support Project Have Hope?

I have always had great respect for the work of Project Have Hope and know that the dollars raised by this charity are well spent and have greatly helped the Acholi Quarter. I have been deeply touched by the spirit of the women and children despite the great tragedies they have experienced in their lifetime.

How has sponsoring a child had an impact on you and your family?

It has been such an opportunity for us to receive the child's letters and to learn about his life, interests, hopes and dreams and to know that this small donation towards his tuition may possibly help this child achieve his dreams. I so admire the work that Project Have Hope has accomplished and the difference it has made in the lives of those who live in the Acholi Quarter.

(Barbara's sponsored child is featured to the right)

Meet Judy

What made you decide to sponsor a child's education?

I first knew about the organization many years ago from a friend who sponsors a child. She then introduced me to Karen and explained how she became involved in the jewelry and the sponsorship. I am a fond supporter of Karen and was very impressed by her dedication to the Acholi people and this program.

Why did you choose to support Project Have Hope?

It seemed like a well organized organization, thoughtful and caring. So I went online and looked at the photos and biographies of some of the children. I picked out Ojok Charles (pictured right) who is my grandson's age.

How has sponsoring a child had an impact on you and your family?

I keep his photo on my piano. Friends and family comment on it and want to know more. My husband helped me pick out a Boston Red Sox t-shirt to send him with much eagerness. It is such a worthy cause to support my sponsored child's education and it means so much to him and the others who are sponsored. They are eager, willing to work hard and very appreciative of the help. And I feel good helping as much as I can. It means so much to me in my life, especially now as a retired teacher. I know the importance of a good education in the early years of one's life. It is very rewarding to know he is working harder this year and how pleased he is about the sponsorship and my keen interest in him. I have told others about the program and hope they are inspired to find their own child. 

Meet Emma

I am a senior at Northeastern University and one of the Co-Presidents of Invisible Children at NU. I first found out about Project Have Hope in 2009 through a fellow Invisible Children member. After hearing about the wonderful work PHH does, I decided to volunteer for two weeks in Uganda. Ever since my experience in the Acholi Quarter, I have continued advocating for these great programs because I know they really work on the ground.

What made you decide to sponsor a child’s education?

Invisible Children at Northeastern (NU) is a club that advocates for an end to the use of child soldiers in Joseph Kony’s rebel army and to help communities in Central Africa affected by the civil war. So by sponsoring Oyet Patrick, an eighteen-year-old boy in the Acholi Quarter, our club is able to connect to the

communities we are advocating for and make a real change in the life of a child. Project Have Hope makes it easy for organizations such as us to partner with the organization, sell jewelry and make a difference in the lives of the 100 women and children involved!

Why did you choose to support Project Have Hope?

We choose Project Have Hope because it is a small grassroots organization that really affects the lives of those in the Acholi Quarter. Through Project Have Hope’s fundraising opportunities, we sell the beautiful paper bead jewelry and use 30 percent of the money raised to fund Oyet Patrick’s education at Creamland Primary School. In fact, we have already raised enough money this school semester to continue sponsoring Oyet Patrick next year! We like knowing that our money is going directly towards educating Oyet Patrick and helping him succeed.

How has sponsoring a child had an impact on you and your group?

Sponsoring Oyet Patrick has allowed Invisible Children at NU to feel productive in supporting a community in Uganda. Chris Matthews, a fellow member, states, “It helps to finally put a face to the mission we are working towards as a club.”

Sponsoring a child is a unique cross-cultural experience that allows us [in the USA] to take a moment to stop and think about another child living thousands of miles away. Our ability to help create a sustainable life for that child really is significant for the Acholi community and ourselves. Nothing is more important than giving someone an education.

Meet Amber

What made you decide to sponsor a child’s education?

Several  years ago a friend told me about Project Have Hope and described it as a grass-roots organization that was interested in funding the education of children in Uganda.  Being a school teacher in California, any prospect of aiding the education of a child appealed to me greatly.  Through my own education I was able to change my life for the better and appreciate the idea of others having the opportunity to do so as well.

Why did you choose to support Project Have Hope?

I went on to Project Have Hope’s website and looked through the profiles of children hoping to have their education funded.  I eventually came across Alanyo Eunice, a young lady who desired to become a school teacher herself someday.  Within a few minutes I signed up as a sponsor and have been involved with the program for about four years now.

How has sponsoring a child had an impact on you and your family?

I am very satisfied with my choice to become a sponsor.  I understand much of our financial privilege in life comes out of the arbitrary fact of where we are born, and I never want to take for granted the chances to advance that I have been given in my own life.  I am happy and humbled to help someone in a different country who perhaps has the same desires to advance but not the same opportunity as those people in other countries.   A few times a year I receive pictures and report cards concerning Alanyo Eunice’s progress and as of this year was informed that she has moved on from primary school to the next level of schooling.  In a recent letter from Alanyo Eunice she expressed that she never believed she would have the chance to move past primary school and was the first in her family to do so.  She has tried and succeeded in pushing herself to become an educated individual and I am very proud to be her sponsor.

One thing I would like to say to anyone considering becoming a sponsor is to please take the chance and sign up.  The little money you give up daily greatly benefits the lives of those you choose to help send to school.  Also, when you invest  in education it not only benefits the individual but creates a ripple effect amongst a community, helping them to become more self sufficient and intellectually enriched.

Meet Joan

What made you decide to sponsor a child’s education?

I decided to sponsor a child's education because I believe that through education a person can acquire the necessary skills to navigate life successfully and independently.

Why did you choose to support Project Have Hope?

I chose to support Project Have Hope for two reasons, its emphasis on empowering women and because it is a secular organization.

How has sponsoring a child had an impact on you and your family?

The impact that sponsoring a child has had on me is that I know on a personal level that I am making a difference in one child's life.  I find the feeling of sharing the blessings that I have received very fulfilling.  The impact that sponsoring a child has had on my family is long lasting and connected to role modeling.  As my children see me help others; it awakens compassion for all sentient beings in their hearts.

To others who are considering sponsoring a child I would say, "Do it."  Project Have Hope is a reputable grassroots organization that makes a difference.  You receive letters from your sponsor child and copies of their report cards.  There is plenty of transparency.

Meet Debra

What made you decide to sponsor a child’s education?

It has been my lifelong dream to adopt a child.  I thought, after having three biological children, that this desire would wane in time- but in truth, it has not.  However, due to our particular life circumstances and finances, adoption just isn’t an option for us.  While perusing adoption websites, I realized that I could make a difference by sponsoring a child as well.  I became excited by the prospect of connecting with a child from another country and potentially making a difference in his or her life.

Why did you choose to support Project Have Hope?

Although not technically related, Karen is a member of my extended family, as her father is my uncle through marriage.  So I suppose she would be my step-cousin.  Karen is legendary in our family for her breathtaking photography; when I heard she had started a charity in Uganda, of course I had to check it out.  I am inspired by her personal story and her desire to make a difference.

How has sponsoring a child had an impact on you and your family?

Our family sponsors two girls, Molly & Mercy, because I couldn’t decide which one to choose- and they couldn’t be more different.  I have enjoyed getting to know the girls, but admit that family involvement is still a work in progress. I think that, in time, exposure to a different country and culture, through the eyes of Molly and Mercy, will help to foster social consciousness and responsibility in our own children.  But currently, it is hard for them to relate, and I admit that I have to remind them to write to or create artwork for the girls.  I still believe in time, though, they will begin to form relationships with their pen pals from Uganda.  I adore hearing from the girls, receiving their report cards, and watching them mature through their letters to me.

For me, the obvious benefit is making a difference in the life of a child.  But this is also a great way to form a relationship with a child in another part of the world, and to have a window into their culture through their eyes and experiences.

This has been a rewarding and educational experience for me and my family, and I hope to deepen our relationship with the girls and continue to fund their education in Uganda over the coming years.  I am confident that they will develop into fine young women.

Meet Kristi

What made you decide to sponsor a child's education?

I watched the movie War Dance, which is set in a civil war-ravaged Northern Uganda, I was overwhelmed by compassion and sadness for others that are less fortunate than I. This led me to the Project Have Hope website where I found out how I can help change the lives of others. A small donation can alter a child's entire life and if you are looking for a way to make a difference, please stop by and see how you can help.

Why did you choose to support Project Have Hope?

I wanted to experience what it feels like to make a difference in someone's life in a way that allowed a personal connection with them instead of blindly giving money to charities.

How has sponsoring a child had an impact on you and your family?

I will never forget the first time I saw a video of Mary opening a care package that I sent her. After having an absolutely HORRIBLE day at work, I came home to a package in the mail with a DVD of her opening her gifts and having my letter read to her. At the very end she smiled and stared right into the camera and mouthed the words "Thank You". I watched it 5 times in a row, with tears streaming down my face as my heart grew just a tiny bit more. It instantly put things in perspective and made me so grateful that I found Project Have Hope and was able to help make a difference in her life. Over the past 2 years, I have enjoyed seeing Mary grow, sending her letters and packages and reading letters that she writes me.

I highly recommend sponsoring a child through Project Have Hope. Not only do you get to help enrich someone's life, but you also get to interact with the child by sending care packages, letters, photos, and you receive their quarterly updates/progress reports, letters and drawings that they send you.

Meet Renee

What made you decide to sponsor a child's education?

I grew up in Colorado but moved every few years due to the fact that my stepfather was in the military.  When I was very young, my mother was essentially a single mother and even though she worked at least 2 jobs at a time, she struggled to put food on the table and I didn't get to spend as much time with her as I would have liked.  So, I know what it's like to have some hardship (although nothing to the extent that so many other children and families experience). My stepfather and mother always talked about the fact that they expected my older sister and I to go to college.  When the time came, I received grants, took out student loans and worked full time so that I could pay my own way through college and to try to make a better life for myself.  I am happy to say that after a lot of very hard work and focus on my career the past 20 years, I've had a lot of success.  With that success and the support of my husband, I have been able to contribute to organizations like Project Have Hope and to people that are so much less fortunate than I am.

I decided to sponsor a child's education because I wanted them to have an opportunity for a better life.  Also, the families in the Acholi Quarter have experienced many things that I cannot imagine and I wanted to to try to make a difference for them in some way.

Why did you choose to support Project Have Hope?

I chose to support Project Have Hope after meeting Karen at the Massachusetts Conference for Women 3 years ago.  She seemed incredibly passionate about what she's doing and I liked the fact that she was so involved.

How has sponsoring a child had an impact on you and your family?

Sponsoring the children that I sponsor is incredibly rewarding for me.  I enjoy getting their "report cards", their letters, pictures they draw for me and pictures of themselves.  I truly feel like I have more of a connection with them and that I am helping to make at least a small difference in their lives.  I am able to share the stories of the families/children that I sponsor with my husband and son which gives me great pleasure.

If someone is able to afford it, I would highly recommend sponsoring a child through Project Have Hope.  Unlike most of the other charities that I contribute to, Project Have Hope has helped me to feel a connection to the children that I sponsor.  As I mentioned earlier, I've received report cards, drawings, letters from the children and pictures of them so I feel like I get to share in their experience of getting an education.  Also, when I sent care packages, Karen was kind of enough to film the children opening them - it was wonderful to see them get the things that I had sent to them and their reaction to receiving them.

In addition to sponsoring children, I've also had the great fortune of helping several women build their business (via the grant program) and/or get healthcare that they otherwise would have been unable to afford.  It's wonderful to get the updates on these women and their families.  I have been so fortunate in my career and to be able to give back in a meaningful way is a wonderful feeling.

Meet Kathleen

What made you decide to sponsor a child's education?

Beyond the basics of life (food, clean water, shelter, and love) there is nothing so important in a child's life than an education.  It can lift us up into a better life for one's self and family.  Knowledge is power.  The more we know, the more we can do.

Why did you choose to support Project Have Hope?

I met Karen several years ago at my local farmer's market.  She was selling beads and we talked for a while about them and her organization.  As a jewelry designer, I was very interested in the beads. Learning about their origins fascinated me.  I wanted to help these women have better lives and to get them and their children out of the dangerous quarries.

How has sponsoring a child had an impact on you and your family?

Sponsoring a child makes me feel good that there is something I can do to help even one child get an education.  That is very satisfying.  For me it is a moral obligation to help those who have so little when I have everything I need and it shows me that no matter how little or much one gives, someone's life will be a bit better.  If we can't help others in some way, then what we we here for?

It is an honor to help people in need.  It shows us how rich we are in comparison.  When you look at the cost of sponsoring a childs' education through PHH, it is really very little.  Sponsoring Onencan Aron is like stopping a few times a week at Dunkin' Donuts for coffee. I can make coffee at my house.  I don't NEED to get it else where.  This TINY sacrifice is nothing compared to the sacrifices these people have been forced to make and continually have to make in their lives.

I love getting the drawings that Aron makes and see the progress there.  His school reports also help me see that he is trying hard but school is difficult for him.  The photos that Karen takes and sends always touch me deeply. I so appreciate her efforts and those of her staff for all that they do. 

Meet Ivonne and Farid

What made you decide to sponsor a child's education?

We believe that education is a human right and we wanted to support a child to be able to study hoping that he can have better opportunities in life. Education builds hope and being able to provide hope brings great satisfaction.

Why did you choose to support Project Have Hope?

On October 2008 my husband and I were visiting Boston and we happened to see a stand for Project Have Hope. I was very interested to see how PHH is helping women to improve their lives through the sale of handmade paper necklaces. At that time I bought one of the necklaces and I took one of the brochures with me.

When I went back home I wrote Karen and asked her for more information about sponsoring a child. I had already been looking at some other agencies but they sounded like private corporations that were asking for contracts and wanted to make sure that the sponsor wouldn't quit sending money.

Project Have Hope was an organization with a friendly voice (Karen) answering my emails and providing me with information. I was able to read Karen's blog and look at her beautiful pictures from Uganda. This organization seemed more humane that cared about people and not making money. That was exactly what I was looking for!

How has sponsoring a child had an impact on you and your family?

Since 2008, we have received pictures, drawings, grades, and letters from Eric (our sponsored child) and sometimes his family. We are so happy to see that we can help him and his family in any possible way, and even in hard times, our sponsorship is one of our priorities. Sharing our love through education is enormously satisfying.

Project Have Hope is a very dedicated organization whose mission is to care and provide women and children of the Acholi Quarter of Uganda with tools and skills in order to be more self-sufficient and have better opportunities in life. Being a little part of that effort is truly satisfactory and we wished we could help more children or more families. It's nice to see how our help can increase hope.

Thanks to Karen and all the staff from Project Have Hope who make this mission possible. I thank you for coordinating the resources, for traveling and sending/bringing our gifts, for following up with the progress of the children and women of the Acholi Quarter and thank you for giving us hope.

Meet Andrea 

What made you decide to sponsor a child's education?

I typically support animal rights and environmental groups or endeavors, since I believe that this is of monumental importance to all of us. However, I also realize that just one person's assistance in getting a child an education - which otherwise would not be - can make all the difference in the world.

Why did you choose to support Project Have Hope?

I myself have been fortunate enough to complete a college education and this has enabled me to be a provider for my two children. Being self-supportive is important to everyone, and education is the key.

How has sponsoring a child had an impact on you and your family?

I believe that a better educated society will be a better steward of its environment. And therefore I decided to be a sponsor. I can't change the world, but I can do my part. To others, I would say that it is money well spent. Thank you!

(Andrea's sponsored child is featured to the right)