Hope for Today projects can make the difference between life and death. They help meet immediate physical needs for an individual or a community by providing things like access to clean water, medical care, or food. These projects aid in survival for the most vulnerable and also inspire Hope.
Food
A family living in extreme poverty may not have enough food to eat. And, what they do have available, may not be nutritionally balanced. The ramifications of that are many, and it kicks off a heartbreaking chain of events.
- If a child doesn’t get enough food, it could stunt their growth physically and cognitively.
- A hungry child cannot stay focused in school. If they don’t do well in school, they’re likely to have a harder time breaking free from poverty when they’re older.
- Even if they want to go to school, many children are forced to search for food outside their homes, or even work for food, causing them to drop out of school. Sadly, some end up living on the streets.
By providing a meal before school starts, during the lunch hour, or at an after-school program, we see grades and test scores rise and children staying in school.
And, while providing relief aid is not a primary focus of ours, when disaster strikes communities where we are invested, sometimes we distribute food supplies to help ease the burden in a time of crisis.
—Noah, 14-year-old student living in a Kenyan slum
Our work
WASH
(Water, Sanitation and Hygiene)
Without water, there is no life. Without clean water, there is often death. Contaminated drinking water is thought to cause 485,000 diarrheal deaths each year, through diseases like diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio (WHO).
Poor sanitation and hygiene for those living in extreme poverty can compound the problem as it can lead to increased rates of infections and diseases. A staggering number of children under 5 die every year from diarrheal diseases. This should not be.
We tackle this from two angles: providing clean water solutions, and offering training and practical help with hygiene and sanitation. Some ways we do this:
- dig and repair wells
- clean and protect natural water sources
- install water storage and purification systems
- piping in clean water
- build latrines and handwashing stations
- conduct hygiene and sanitation trainings that offer practical tips and solutions
These interventions equip the church and community with knowledge and skills to follow safe hygiene and sanitation practices, which leads to better health. We also encourage the community members to share what they learn with neighboring communities to impact the community at large.
—Voltaire, Haiti resident
Our work