Let’s be known for the lives we live—not the things we can buy.
I have experienced countless benefits since deciding to minimize my possessions and remove the pursuit for more. Among the greatest, I have learned my life is too valuable to waste chasing material possessions. But beyond that, I have learned, when the pursuit of material possessions is removed, our lives are opened up to accomplish far greater things than we could ever imagine.
And so, with that as the backdrop, I am able to write a blog post today that years ago, I never would have dreamt possible. I am hoping, that together, we can literally change the world. And I don’t use that phrase as an idealistic cliché, I legitimately believe it is possible.
The Background
In 1978, as a newborn, my wife was left by her birth mother at a hospital in South Dakota. A call was immediately placed to a local attorney looking for some help. He was new to town, and with very little background in his new community, he didn’t have many answers. But he did know somebody, hours away, who might be able to help.
Later that night, on a warm Midwestern summer evening, he dialed the number of a young couple in Omaha, NE. At the time, they were unable to have kids but wanted a larger family. And the judge knew of their desire. The unsuspecting parents answered the phone that evening having no idea who would be on the other end or how their lives would change. But within hours, their bags were packed, and they were on their way to South Dakota to pick up their daughter.
Because of her past, Kim and I have always held a special place in our hearts for the orphan. It doesn’t always work out for others as it did for my wife—not every orphaned child is able to be raised in a loving family. And we think something needs to be done.
So we did something. Late last year, we founded a nonprofit organization, The Hope Effect, to change how the world cares for orphans.
The Problem Nobody Talks About
Over 26 million children worldwide live without parents. Less than 1% will ever be adopted, so how we care for the remaining 99% matters. And to be honest, on a global-scale, we don’t do a very good job.
Many people believe the orphan crisis is being adequately addressed… but the facts tell a different story.
For decades, research has pointed out the damaging effects on children of traditional, institutional orphan care—those orphanages around the world that most of us think about, usually involving high child to caregiver ratios.
Unfortunately, when children do not receive adequate personal interaction within a loving environment, development is stunted and learning abilities are delayed or lost. Many orphanages are simply unaware of the damaging physical and psychological impact institutional care has on children. Some studies reveal 60-70% of children who age out of these institutions end up homeless, incarcerated, or in prostitution.
There is a worldwide problem in how we care for orphans—but almost nobody is talking about it.
The Solution
Our nonprofit, The Hope Effect, is addressing this problem by changing orphan care around the world. Our model for orphan care provides solutions that better mimic the family.
Our campus setting will include an administrative building and smaller housing units. Each house will provide a home for 8 children and 2 parents. In so doing, these family-style homes will provide opportunity for each child to flourish and thrive. They will receive all the love, attention, and affection they would in a traditional family—and receive an example of how a family operates for when they start one of their own.
Additionally, access to health, dental, and social care is provided while each child is prepared for the future through education, responsibility, support, and the structure that parents were designed to provide.
We carry out our work with the highest level of excellence, treating each child as if he or she is our own.
With your support, The Hope Effect is building its first family-style home on the campus of La Providencia in Siguatepeque, Honduras (the second poorest country in Central America). La Providencia has proven experience with this model of orphan care and we look forward to partnering with them. Our goal is to raise $125,000 for construction and two years of operation.
Following the completion of this project, The Hope Effect will construct its first full campus in Mexico.
The Becoming Minimalist Community
I have often wondered what is next for the Becoming Minimalist community—selling t-shirts or mouse pads never seemed quite right.
You comprise one of the most engaged, highly sought-after communities on the Internet. I receive emails every day from people who want to guest post on this blog and get their name in front of you (and that doesn’t even count all the advertisement pitches I receive). But growth for the sake of selfish and personal financial return never felt quite right either.
And, yet, on any given month, 800,000 – 1,200,000 unique visitors stop by Becoming Minimalist. Almost 1 million people every month.
That’s 1 million people who have decided they don’t want to buy stuff. One million people who realize they were called to something greater!
What could we accomplish if we focus that energy and those resources? What if we bonded together and set out to solve a real problem in the world today—a problem that all of us could get behind, regardless of our faith background, social status, or political views. What if we rallied around a problem that has existed for decades but nobody is talking about? What about orphan care?
What if we set out to change how the world cares for orphans?
Together, as a community, we can change the course of history.
Get Involved
If you consider yourself a part of the Becoming Minimalist community, if you have received any value from this site, or if the desire to be generous lives in your heart, join me.
Your decision to no longer pursue material possessions has freed you for something greater. It has freed you to provide homes and families to the most vulnerable in our society… and I can’t imagine ever experiencing a greater joy or level of fulfillment.
We have created two very simple ways for you to get involved. Choose one (or both) of the options below to get started:
1. Participate in our Homes for the Holidays Campaign. Got enough stuff already? Of course you do! Here’s a solution for your holiday season.
Rather than adding to the clutter in your home this holiday season, ask your friends and family to help you provide homes for orphans by making a donation rather than purchasing another present. It’s easy to do: Create your very own personalized fundraising page and share it with your friends and family. Sign-up today and we’ll send you a reminder e-mail on December 1st.
Our goal is to have 5,000 people participate in our Homes for the Holiday Campaign this year. I’ve already created my page. Join me this holiday season.
2. Join our $10 team. The simplest and most effective way for you to get involved changing orphan care around the world is to commit to donate just $10/month. We call it our $10 Team. Consider this, for the price of a Netflix subscription, you can provide loving homes and families for orphans around the world. It’s simple and safe to sign-up. The commitment is small, but the impact will be significant.
Our goal is to get 2,000 people to sign-up and join our Team. Providing the foundation for our work, they would generate nearly $250,000/year for orphan care—not just construction, but food and clothing and education and continuing medical care.
Our commitment to you is that 100% of your donation will be used exclusively for orphan care (construction of homes and operation of orphan care communities). My investment into The Hope Effect has provided the administrative funding so all public donations can be used for the reason it was intended. You can read more here. And because we are a registered 501(c)(3) organization, your donation is tax-deductible.
PS: If you are a blogger, we have a special opportunity for you to get involved in other ways. Read more here.
*UPDATE. I am overflowing with excitement. Only one day after announcing The Hope Effect, we have already received more than $25,000 in donations from 350+ people. And our $10 Team has grown to over 100 recurring donors. Thank you to everyone who has chosen to participate already.
**Over 55 Fundraising Pages have already been created.
What to Expect
This is an important day for me and one of the most significant in the history of Becoming Minimalist. Because of our collective desire to own less and pursue greater things with our lives, we are on the brink of making history and changing the lives of orphans around the world.
Let’s be known for the lives we live—not the things we can buy. (tweet that)
From time to time on this blog, I will make announcements concerning The Hope Effect and offer continuing opportunities to get involved.
But through it all, Becoming Minimalist will always stay true to its core message that there is more joy to be found in owning less than can be found in pursuing more. And we will continue to invite as many as possible to discover this truth in their lives. I hope you will join us.
To receive more-regular updates about The Hope Effect, visit the website, start your own fundraising campaign, join our $10 Team or make a one-time donation. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
I intend to be very active this week answering any questions you might have in the comment section below. If this cause resonates in your heart, I urge you to take action today.
Toni says
Awesome! How can I start my my own fundraising campaign to support this beautiful project?
Toni says
Retread the article abs found my answer!
joshua becker says
Great question Toni. I am glad to hear you are getting involved. You can find a variety of fundraising ideas right here —> http://hopeeffect.com/campaigns/
Art Ramirez says
http://orphanageemmanuelhn.weebly.com/david–lydia.html
I believe this couple has a good solid foundation in Honduras,why not focus the hope effect to our very own children here in the United States of America, South Dakota sounds like a perfect place to start.
April F says
2 people+ the entire country of Hondorus… how many kids are they able to effect? Joshua said on a previous post we have foster care. Though flawed, it keeps kids in families. In these other countries this is most often not the case, which has many negative consequences. But maybe you could lead a project in the US?
joshua becker says
Thanks for the question Art. We prefer to think of the situation as a both-and opportunity, not either-or. There is need in every country of the world—including our own. But the focus doesn’t need to rest entirely on one country. In fact, it cannot. We must focus energy both places.
Sel V says
Oklahoma Baptist Homes for children and Homes of Hope in Mississippi both provide this form of family nurturing in their orphan care ministries. There are probably others in the U.S. as well. I just know of these two, and appreciate what they do for children! The children that come into their care can be privately placed or placed by state foster care agencies, I believe.
April F says
Forgot to say, so proud of your wife for sharing her story.
joshua becker says
Me too. She doesn’t share it publicly very often.
April F says
As a foster mom, soon (well, that word doesn’t exist in foster care ) to be adoptive mother I am so thrilled by this news. We have traveled to Africa and work to support missions started from those trips that focus on keeping kids in family environments. Orphan care ministry can be a very lonely road. Much apathy. I am so grateful God put this on your heart. Praying for you.
Paula Greenlee says
God Bless you Becker family. Prayers for this endeavour.
joshua becker says
Thank you Paula. We need as many as we can get.
Caroline Brown says
As another adopted person, I think it’s great what you are doing and am joining your 10Team now. Any chance this can be duplicated in the US also?
joshua becker says
Thank you Caroline for your encouraging words and joining our team. The United States already seeks to implement family-based solutions to orphan care through the foster-care system. It has flaws, no doubt, the most notable of which being the number of children who need placement far exceeding homes available and willing. In that way, there is certainly a need to focus on the US and find solutions. But with this specific model that we are proposing, the focus will be on countries where traditional, institutional style orphanages are still the norm.
Sel V says
Oklahoma Baptist Homes for children and Homes of Hope in Mississippi both provide this form of family nurturing in their orphan care ministries. There are probably others in the U.S. as well. I just know of these two, and appreciate what they do for children! The children that come into their care can be privately placed or placed by state foster care agencies, I believe.
Jennie says
What a wonderful mission! My dad (also named Kim) was left at a hospital in Missouri as a newborn and was adopted by my grandparents in Ohio. We have been supporting orphans in Tegucigalpa, Honduras for almost two decades (through Manos Extendidas) and are just now beginning the daunting adventure of adopting a sibling group of three through the US foster care system. Your entire post resonates with me deeply. I will suggest to my husband that this is where our November discretionary giving should go. Hopefully, I will be back with that after church!
joshua becker says
Thank Jennie. We are so thankful for your help. I was in Honduras this May—there is a lot of need in that beautiful country. Good for you and all the work you have already accomplished.
Sarea Clark says
YES! What an awesome project, and I hope and pray that this explodes into more than you can even handle!
joshua becker says
Thanks Sarea. This only works if the Becoming Minimalist community gets behind with their energy and resources.
Laura Beth says
What a way to give back! I am excited to support this mission and I hope and pray that the orphans receive the care they need.
Be blessed.
Laura Beth
joshua becker says
Thanks Laura. Thanks also for hosting your own fundraising campaign for orphans this holiday season –> https://my.hopeeffect.com/fundraise?fcid=538080
Daniela says
Hello Joshua,
This sounds like a really great and much needed project.
Is there any way to donate via Paypal, since not everyone has a credit card (me included)?
joshua becker says
Thanks for your kind words, we agree this is an important project. Concerning your question Daniela, I am checking with our person who handles the donation processing. I will follow-up here (and send you an e-mail) when I receive an answer.
Carol says
You can set up a bill pay through your bank if you have an account. That is how I am going to do it.
Chris says
Josh, as a parent of 6 with my youngest son being adopted, I wish you the best of luck. I would like to point out that many children who are up for adoption have many special needs and even though are youngest was 8 when we adopted. The high needs of our adopted child took much from our others. I am not trying to say that your idea is not wonderful as there is such a need. I only caution the number of kids in your house hold as these kids can come with lots of baggage. Best of luck.