HOPE SHINES INC
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Mission Statement
Hope Shines' mission is to enhance and improve the lives of Orphans & Vulnerable Children (OVC) in Rwanda through unique education and health programs.
About This Cause
Founded in 2007, Hope Shines, Inc. is an international nonprofit organization with operations in Kigali, Rwanda (Africa). Called the “land of a thousand hills,” Rwanda is a beautiful country in East Africa with a turbulent past, but a hopeful, bright future. In 1994 Rwanda experienced the horrific Genocide Against the Tutsi that killed an estimated 800,000 children and adults in approximately 100 days. The social and economic loss was devastating—leaving behind millions of displaced persons, orphans and adults, scarred by the violence, to rebuild their country. While the country has made great progress over the last two + decades, there is still considerable work to be done in the areas of health, education and the empowerment of youth—primarily ensuring that the youth are given the opportunities and support necessary to help them grow into strong community leaders. Hope Shines envisions a future where all Rwandan youth are empowered to achieve their fullest potentials, achieve their dreams and ambitions, and become leaders in their communities. Through its holistic child development programs, Hope Shines is working towards the following objectives: 1. Increase the number of students in the district who are able to attend school and reduce the district drop-out rate of primary and secondary school students by subsidizing the costs to attend school and by holistically addressing health and educational needs (such as the need for feminine sanitary products for adolescent girls and the need for complementary educational support services, including tutoring) 2. Increase the confidence and knowledge of the youth in the program to support lifting themselves out of poverty through an educational model focused on empowerment, mentorship and career development 3. Promote gender equity by creating an inclusive learning environment that integrates both girls and boys in its programming Hope Shines centers its programming on health and education for the child and even deeper into the families. The organization creates and builds children’s personal strengths in order to enhance social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth. Using a grassroots model that includes working with and all-local Rwandan staff to design and implement its educational program, ensuring that the curriculum and programming is contextualized to the culture (i.e., not based on a “western” approach), the outcome is a strengthened community. Hope Shines’ programming also teaches the children to think creatively and cognitively—preparing them for the real world. And with staff coming from the same backgrounds, our children have strong mentors to look up to on a daily basis. Hope Shines operates 3 core programs, a social enterprise arm, and several parent-led initiatives through a grassroots formed co-op. Combined, all efforts. work together to improve outcomes. The Three Core Programs Offered: 1. Basic Needs for Education Program (BNE) All of the children we serve require support with their basic needs. The Basic Needs for Education program seeks to reduce Rwanda’s dropout rate by equipping children with the basic resources they need to attend and succeed at school, including school fees, uniforms, scholastic supplies, underwear and socks, feminine hygiene products, and health insurance. 2. After-School L.E.A.D.: Life Enhancement & Academic Development After-School Program With a goal of engaging students in active, year round learning, The LEAD (Life Enhancement & Academic Development) After-School program provides children with a safe space to build confidence, improve their academics, and learn basic life skills that will equip them for healthy adulthoods. All activities are run out of the Learning Center, which is equipped with the necessary items that allow us to mentor and support the growing child. Here are some specifics of our beautiful learning center in Kigali. - Clean water filtration (filtering over 2000 liters annually) - Hot meals with every after-school session (serving over 9,000+ meals annually) - Electricity and internet which allows video presentations on a projector and light for children to finish homework assignments and get tutoring - A large classroom equipped to teach various lesson plans - A separate back wing from where the soap project operates - The chicken coop that produces daily eggs - A private girl’s room with a bed and feminine hygiene supplies - Large backyard with a vegetable garden and banana trees - Mentors and teachers who inspire and build confidence in our children! 3. Healthy Child Initiative The Healthy Child Initiative is cross cutting with all of our programs. To reach the goal of successful development of a child, we must include and address the health of the child. Being healthy involves learning about how to live a healthy life then using discipline and resources daily to help accomplish this. Many of the children suffer physically and emotionally so addressing health for them involves caring for both challenge areas. Hope Shines improves the health of the child through the program channels we’ve created and we work at improving it every year. If a child is healthy, a child can succeed.