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.
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)?
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.
You can set up a bill pay through your bank if you have an account. That is how I am going to do it.
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.
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
Thanks Laura. Thanks also for hosting your own fundraising campaign for orphans this holiday season –> https://my.hopeeffect.com/fundraise?fcid=538080
YES! What an awesome project, and I hope and pray that this explodes into more than you can even handle!
Thanks Sarea. This only works if the Becoming Minimalist community gets behind with their energy and resources.
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!
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.
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?
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.
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.
God Bless you Becker family. Prayers for this endeavour.
Thank you Paula. We need as many as we can get.
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.
Forgot to say, so proud of your wife for sharing her story.
Me too. She doesn’t share it publicly very often.
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.
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?
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.
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.
Awesome! How can I start my my own fundraising campaign to support this beautiful project?
Retread the article abs found my answer!
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/
What about being able to donate gently used clothing? (Since we’re already clearing out closets.) As the mother of an 8 yr old son adopted from
Russia, I thank you for the work your organization is doing.
Thanks Debra. That may be something we could consider in the future. But right now, we are not in a position to handle that type of donation. We agree it is a great idea.
Wonderful idea. My heart matches your heart. I adopted my daughter from the foster care system. She had been in the system from age 3 months until age 11. She has nightmarish stories to tell. Let’s not forget the need in this country as well. I was also part of a support team for a very similar program in Venezuela. Many children there are left to fend for themselves on the streets. The needs are great. God bless you in this endeavor.
Thanks Kerry. I appreciate your heart and the life you have lived caring for those who need it most.
“The Drop Box” great documentary on Netflix. All about how an Asian community cares for abandoned infants.
CM – Thank you for this. It is a great documentary!
Dear Joshua – greetings from La Paz, Bolivia – 13,000 feet in the air and also one of the poorest countries in South America. HOPE worldwide is working with Fundacion Arco Iris with orphans and vulnerable children here. My wife became an orphan at age 7. As a medical missionary and dedicated minimalist (thanks to you) – we see the need and the opportunity. Even though we are missionaries ourselves we would like to contribute to your great project and believe it will be a great success. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to do so. Kevin & Noelle Broyles, HOPE worldwide, La Paz, Bolivia, South America
As a long-time minimalist who has only just begun exploring the online community, I really appreciate this. I appreciate the specific goal of your effort but I appreciate the spirit even more. Though, as I mentioned, I’m new to this, I have been sorry to encounter so many people who are still so focused on stuff (in this case the lack of stuff rather than it’s acquisition – an improvement) and personal gain, usually in the form of early retirement.
While I haven’t read here for long and usually avoid very large websites, this project alone tells me that your actions are motivated by underlying values, which is wonderful!
Thanks for taking the lead on such a worthy project. In addition to supporting in the ways you outlined above, I’d like to discuss other ways to contribute as well. I saw a Kickstarter yesterday for a pair of pants that raised more than $250K in a short time, so we ought to be able to add a couple zeros to that figure, especially given the fact that 100% of public donations are being used for Orphan care. Cheers!
Sure. You can always send me an email.
This touches my heart. An inspired and inspiring idea. I will be donating from Canada.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Thank you for the work you do, the great praticial advice you give, I have applied a couple of them. My question, is this program only for ophans outside of U.S.? I love the concept, I’m an advocate for children & women. (In domestic violence field)
This a wonderful, life changing mission. All the best. I will share this with my FB friend,
Thank you Mildred for your encouraging words.
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.
Hi Joshua, fantastic idea I love everything you have written and it has totally changed my life I now live simply and definitely becoming a major minimalistic person thank you for teaching me I feel free and have such mental clarity I will definitely be donating I have always had a desire to help orphans….I wish there was a place near my home I would love and hold them in my free time:). Thank you! ” because less stuff is really more”
Stacey, you might want to look into getting involved into a local program that cares for orphans: CASA, for example (http://www.casaforchildren.org)
I am so inspired by the work you’re doing, as I myself work for a non-profit that helps abused and neglected children in the Seattle area (many of whom are in the foster care system). I’m wondering if you have plans to duplicate this model in the US?
Sorry for the repeat question, I noticed you’ve answered it multiple times now!
Thanks for letting me know you found the answer elsewhere. I was just getting ready to answer yours. You saved me some time.
My daughter was left at the door of a police station in China. She was lucky enough to be taken to a Half the Sky sponsored orphanage in China. This is an American sponsored organization trying to improve conditions in Chinese orphanages. We know the difference you can make with your work in Central American orphanages! Because my daughter was lucky enough to be in the orphanage with American trained nannies and mandatory “tummy” and play time…at 10 months she was crawling and on the verge of walking! We met children from other orphanages that were 2 years old and couldn’t sit up because they had been left in cribs all day, every day. Your work in Central America will make a difference!
Last year we went to Haiti and volunteered in an American sponsored orphanage run by Healing Haiti. They have done the same thing you are planning to do – family styled living – 2 adults living in a home on campus with 8-10 children. They also provide schooling.
If you are looking for help with food – do you know the organization Feed My Starving Children? They are based out of MN and I know they send food to Central America. It only costs $80 to feed one child for an entire year with their food. It has made amazing changes in the lives of children in over 50 countries.
I am very excited that you are pursuing this adventure and we will support you. Thank you for caring for children that need advocates! We can make this world a better place.
Thank you Amie for sharing your story and offering those potential partnerships.
Please check out the children’s home my church sponsors in Thailand: Ban San Faan (The Home of Fulfilled Dreams). This is a place much like you’ve described where our church members sponsor an individual child, we support the home as a whole, and we send groups regularly to visit the kids and support the staff. It’s a win-win for everyone and the kids are growing up to be so terrific!
http://www.bansanfaan.com/
Thanks for your great work!
Thanks Allison.
What a beautiful vision and purpose for your family and the world! I’ve always considered adopting as something I will do in my life.
When you compare the impact of a small gift vs. what I currently pay for my Netflix, my Ipsy bag, and some new software monthly pay, I will gladly replace those and set up my own fundraising campaign for this. Blessings to you and I’m thrilled about the future of this organization!
Thank you Lexi. It really is astounding to consider how much good can be accomplished when a large number of people are focused on a single issue.
Really inspired by this site. Good luck with all your endeavor!
Being happily adopted myself, I commend your work and your vision. The world is a better place thanks to people like you. Thank you.
I am currently unemployed and have been for a while so I cannot donate. I will share this wonderful message to my Friends and Family and ask them to share as well. Bless You!
Thanks Aly, we offer several opportunities for people to raise money without needing to spend any. Our Homes for the Holidays campaign is one such example. But there are plenty of others that you can find here: http://hopeeffect.com/campaigns/
Thank you for your commitment to care for orphans.
One thing I would like you to consider as an adoptive mom is to make sure you train the caretakers. I don’t know if you are looking for native families or maybe American families to move there, but many countries have ideas and stigmas about certain types of health issues. You need to make sure that ignorance is addressed before assuming all children will be treated equally. For instance, my daughters groupa had decent nannies and many of the kids were loved and cared for well. My daughter on the other hand was abused and starved because they were scared of her, they believed that her birth parents did witchcraft and that is why she was different (she has a genetic condition).
Also, my son received medical care, but it was bad and he may never walk because of it. It may have been better had they not tried to fix him, in his country of birth.
These are just things to consider as you work out the details of your program.
Again, thank you for doing this.
Great thoughts Emily. And you raised an important question. We will use local parents to care for the orphans. Because we have set-up on the campus an administrative building/director position, we will absolutely be able to train parents and offer oversight when required.
Emily, I’m so glad that you brought up and pointed out the difference in beliefs about bringing up children and what is “good” and “normal”. We (in the U.S.) tend to assume that others will care for children “the way we would”, but even in this one country there are so many ways of child-rearing, many very destructive. Awareness of pitfalls is so important. Thanks.
Your contribution to a better world is so wonderful. It touched my heart and I would love to be part of this! Will be donating :)
Thank you also for your contribution to a better world.
I have been part of the Becoming Minimalist community for over 2 years. For 2 years I have been giving things away. My house is still far from spartan. My hope is that when my husband and I retire in 5 to 10 years, we will have only enough to fill our new small retirement home. But the bigger change has happened in my heart. I no longer have the desire to aquire. It is about learning to be content with having a little OR a lot. I am choosing “a little”. Having less means I can do more. My house is still full with 6 people. I am unable to foster or adopt. I have sponsored children through Compassion and Dalit for 25 or more years. My new goal is now to sponsor as many children as I have grandchildren. Number 6 is due in March. But…I can do more. I will be sponsoring your project beginning today. May God bless you and your family for stepping out in faith and giving orphans the homes that every single child in this world wants and needs. I want to be a part of giving children hope. Thank you.
Thank you Meghann. Know that 100% of your donation will be used for orphan care and we work diligently to use our contribution sin the most efficient manner.
I think this is a great idea. I was actually just researching earlier today how to get involved in helping kids in foster care, especially those ready to age out of the system. I volunteered at a food bank who has a program specifically for these teens and it broke my heart how they get turned out on the street with a garbage back for their belongings. There is also an organization in my town who does something similar to what you are trying to achieve. They have x number of kids to 2 parents in houses. They could be a good resource for you as you get these homes up in running. It’s called Sunshine Acres. http://sunshineacres.org
Your project definitely seems like something I’d be interested in getting involved in. Congratulations on actively working towards making this world a better place.
Josh, I wanted to put you in contact with another orphanage located in Mexico that I strongly believe has the same vision that you do. Esparanza Viva (http://lovehopemercy.org/esperanza-viva-youth-homes.html) It has been our complete joy for the past 6 years to know and sponsor a child at this orphanage. It is always an encouragement to know that there are other people out there who are also doing the kind of work you are doing, and so I thought I would send you this connection.
Thank you Kendra for the recommendation. One of the greatest blessings of the past year has been getting to meet so many amazing people giving their lives to this issue.
My husband and I did family based care for 16 years, working with the adult with mental disabilities. As for addressing the posts that point out that these children come with special needs, I would say that we still need to embrace them all. We also adopted my husband’s adopted step brother’s son when he was 7. He will be 19 years old this month. He came to us with a host of issues. That shouldn’t be what matters when people think of adopting. Embrace the challenges and rise to meet them head on. In the US we are too soon to step back in fear of not being able to handle it far too often. And that is sad, because so many children are left to their own devices in other countries. I would encourage everyone to take a deep breath and step out in faith and to not limit their thinking to what it will take away from our lives, but start to see what it will add to our lives. We had to retire due to our age and my health issues. But we have a lot of fond memories regarding the work we did. The son we adopted is still with us, but at some point we will have to make new arrangements for him because he will most likely outlive us. Your project seems to be meeting these issues on a more global front. My prayers are with you. May God bless your efforts and bring your ultimate vision to life.
1) Contrats!
2) Are you set up so giving can be tax deductible in Canada?
Cheers!
Congratulations Joshua, a fantastic model for care of such special children.
i get it. I totally get it! I’m on board. But I do have questions about the solution. What about simply making it easier and cheaper to adopt. Do you have any idea how expensive and hard it is to adopt? As an adoptive mother and foster mother I can tell you the process is absolutely ridiculous. I wish that part of the solution could be streamlining this process. Regardless, sign me up… I’m in.
You do such a good job with this blog. My participation is to thank you for all you do.
Also because this is a great project! Kids are so precious!
Keep us informed with the progression of the campaign and then the construction and The Hope Effect results!
I’m so grateful to be part of this community!
Congratulations on this exciting new venture, Joshua! It is an honor and a blessing to be able to support such a worthy cause in a tangible way. Those who read this blog have benefited in countless ways, and now, as a community, we are able to take these “lessons learned” and celebrate by making a difference in the lives of orphans. I applaud you for having the courage not only to dream, but to follow through with the hard work of implementing your vision. May God bless you, your family, and all of the children and staff of the Hope Effect! One question I have, is: Will the children’s spiritual selves also be fostered within the context of a vital church community? For me, this is just as important as providing food, clothes, shelter and family. It will provide meaning, hope, connectedness and most importantly, a love that surpasses all understanding – something that all of us require in order to truly flourish!
Joshua I want to do a bill pay through my bank. I will need an address where to have check sent each month plus a phone number.
Thanks for doing this endeavor. Your are helping me to clean out stuff and realizing I have too much.
Carol, thank you so much for this.
The mailing address is:
The Hope Effect
24654 N Lake Pleasant Parkway Suite 103-4
Peoria, AZ 85383-1359
Congratulations on this exciting and most worthy cause Joshua! It is an honor and a blessing to be able to help support financially.
What I am able to do for now is contribute $10.00 a month.
I would love to go and volunteer as well. In His timing.
Some questions:
1. Can I send in payments through online banking or Email transfer?
2. I live in Quebec, Canada. Would this also qualify for an official tax receipt?
I am committed to helping The Hope Effect and as a community I know we can reach the goal and do this!! One by one…….
Bless you and your family for all your hours of hard work to get this awesome project up and running.
Best,
Deanna
Concerning the tax-deductibility question, you would need to check with your national tax-code. As I understand Canadian law, donations can only be claimed as tax-deductible by those with U.S. income. I hope that helps.
I’m in! I already created a fundraising page and I will be donating as well. Congratulations for this BIG project!
Woo-hoo! That’s fantastic.
“…rather than adding to the clutter in our homes during the coming holiday season…” Perfect. I really don’t need any more barbie dolls or clothes in this house although I’m sure my 6 and 8 year olds would still slightly disagree although they were the first to pledge their $10. I have 4 children of my own and teach at my daycare/early learning academy for 2-4 year olds. Becoming minimalist has been effective in both my home and daycare, as less toys (to clean up!) means more time to listen, talk, play, care, sit down, connect, tell stories, give attention and actually DO stuff together with my children. Christmas will certainly be different this year and I am very excited and hopeful for the future. God bless and keep on being!
I commend you for acting on your passion to make a positive change in the world! Many non-profits benefit from the creative thinking and varied perspective a board brings to the organization. Will your organization be organized with a governing board? Can you describe that a bit? Thanks!
The Hope Effect has had an active Board of Directors from the very beginning. Their names are listed on the website.
this is so wonderful. it is obvious that you have sought out how to TRULY help the orphan…and not just throw money at them. as an adoptive mom of 2 rwandan sons that lived in an institutional setting at the beginning of their lives, i can attest to the brokenness it causes. they will forever deal with the scars (emotional and physical) from it. and we will forever fight for them to understand what FAMILY means. it’s so painful. praying for this endeavor to change so many kids lives!
Hey Josh,
I am curious about where the money will go if your $125,000 goal is not reached. Granted I have the best wishes that it will and I myself and ready to jump on-board with fundraising, but if I am to ask others for their donations it concerns me to know that their money has been put into good hands. I am new to your website so excuse my question if it has been answered somewhere else or otherwise shows my own neglect in not having researched your initiative. Thank you!
Thanks for the question Vinny. We will reach our $125,000 goal. We have received encouraging support already.
A different question might be, What will happen to future money raised after $1250,000? And for that, the vision and use of funds for the Hope Effect is decided by the Board of Directors—not myself exclusively.
This is a beautiful idea, & I’m grateful to have been able to donate. I hope you’ll keep us posted on the progress! Also, when you are ready, I would love to hear more about how the parental figures will be selected, more details on how they will function within the family units if they also have other families of their own?
You have my support Joshua, I have a Homes for the Holidays page and have started to promote it on Facebook, I will share on my blog too.
I plan to travel, live and work in Central America from 2017 onwards and I would love to get more involved with The Hope Effect, offering my services if they may be suitable. I will follow your progress and get in touch in the future.
Best wishes with all that you do.
It’s a great thought behind this – but have you considered joining forces with http://www.sos-childrensvillages.org, an organization who has been doing what you plan to start for nearly a hundred years in just as many countries? You could save a lot of money by using their experience and existing infrastructure – why invent the wheel all over again?
Thanks for the question Sibylle. Strategic partnerships are an important part of our process and plan. We have not reached out to SOS Children’s Village—but we have reached out to other orphan care communities. In fact, our first project (building a home on the site of La Providencia in Siguatepeque, Honduras) is a direct result of us joining forces with an existing institution for the purpose of learning from their experience and infrastructure.
Truly orphan care? Meaning no first parents or family members to help in the care? I’d like to hear more about how this will all work so that I support helping without hurting.
Thanks for the great work Joshua!
joshua beckers guideline is very great.Thanks a lot for sharing this.I hope you will post again like this.
Joshua,
I wholeheartedly admire the work that you and your wife are putting your time, efforts and energy into. You are living out your mantra–reduce your distractions (stuff) so that you can live out your greater purpose! My husband and I have built our family here in the US by way of a similar model. With 5 beautiful children, all adopted, we have been overwhelmed by the amazing process of creating family through adoption. In a family environment, the children are recipients of the entire rights and gifts that only a family can give–unconditional love, a place to forever call their own and a family namesake. How wonderful that the fatherless and the orphan can look forward in hope that they too can possess these gifts. From our experience, although difficult at times, this type of model is the truest gift that you can give children and it is entirely possible. The home mothers and fathers are the greatest heroes for they will be living daily instilling these gifts and encouraging these broken children. Thank you for your efforts and for providing hope for these precious souls.