Report 2008

We at The Hope Alliance are continuing to make advances in creating a sustainable difference in our work areas: Peru, Guatemala, Haiti, Nepal and Kenya.  The value of sustainable projects is that they empower communities to work out solutions to their own problems.  We have learned that "charity is not always the answer," and, as such, the importance of The Hope Alliance's accomplishments cannot be denied.  When we provide our services without some minimal cost or community buy-in, we encourage reliance on us as a charity.  The community leaders with whom we work should focus their energy on what they can accomplish with community-initiated goals.  In general, we are opposed to giveaways and handouts by themselves.  When we give handouts, we encourage dependence rather than self-help. 

The same principle applies to the individuals in our microcredit program.  We are inviting potential micro-credit borrowers to come to us with a business plan in order to borrow funds; we are in the business of loaning money, not providing participants with business ideas.  But we can teach business concepts that assist participants in making their business more profitable.  In fact, some of our new borrowers have increased profitability by 25%.  Our goal is that people will begin to look to either themselves or their own community leaders for solutions rather than looking for the next handout. 

Doctors Jack and Berne Page worked very closely with many of our volunteers in the "Hospitalito" Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala.  They volunteered a little over three years before returning home earlier this year.  Jack's insightful observations on the matter are right on target.  "... I went to Guatemala with expectations that I would dazzle the community with many medical life-saving skills and show them how to organize and operate a business... I do have good skills and they were needed.  But, in a community that has frequent lack of electrical power, no drinkable water, mediocre to bad human waste disposal, a worn down apathy for human suffering, the needs are very basic and my wonderful ideas were mostly out of place and/or out of order.  The bottom line: The most important thing any of us have to give to others is our respect and recognition that the other person is worthy of our attention.  Give from your heart, not from your talents... Giving of yourself is easy and there is no reason to not do so.  Some can give money; some can give time and talents; some can give material things.  All can give prayers or thoughtful good wishes and letters... When you see an injustice in the world, do something about it.  To let it continue unchallenged is the beginning of the death of humanity." 

-Monty J. Eggett, Executive Director

Report 2007

Since beginning operation in 1999, The Hope Alliance has accomplished many valuable projects.  Some projects include remote medical clinics, schools, libraries, clean water wells, and micro credit; all of which have lasting value to the communities served.  However, these community development projects have been in the past, secondary to our medical outreach.  Most of our previous trips focused on providing direct medical care to many remote villages.  While this has significant value to the communities and has been a positive experience for the expedition participants, we have questioned the long-term value to the communities.  In view of this, our medical committee has suggested that we limit our direct care and focus more on health assessment and training of village health workers.  We will be cooperating with and under the direction of the local health ministries.  The medical committee is convinced this new direction will have long term value to the communities supported by The Hope Alliance. 

Our committee has viewed our efforts in the past as focusing on the leaves of the tree; whereas, we should be focusing our efforts on the trunk of the tree and its roots.  In Peru, for example, we have had several meetings with the Ministry of Health asking where we should focus our training efforts.  The ministry is providing us with the training curriculum they would like us to present to each village health worker with appropriate certification upon completion. 

In other instances, they have asked us to conduct a house by house healthcare assessment in areas they haven't had the resources to complete.  In the villages completed so far, we have provided the MInistry of Health with a GPS map of the village and the completed health assessment for each family.  This will help the Ministry of Health determine where more resources are needed in the future.  We expect that this will result in The Hope Alliance being able to assist in the construction of remote medical clinics and training of more local healthcare workers.  Additionally, they have requested specific medical supplies and equipment for the hospitals and rural clinics.  During a recent expedition, we were able to provide much needed supplies to a burn center in the Iquitos Regional Hospital.  On future expeditions, we expect to follow up with specific training in treatment of burns, along with supplies and equipment. 

It is significant to note with the Ministry of Health's support it has become much easier to get items through customs and we have been able to continue to give trip participants a more meaningful experience.  We are very pleased with the step forward that The Hope Alliance has taken in providing aid to the countries in which we work and are confident this new direction will bring new HOPE to those it touches. 

-Monty J. Eggett, Executive Director

Report 2006

During 2007, The Hope Alliance will focus on projects and training that can bring about Sustainable Change.  Our expeditions are developing and implementing training that empowers and strengthens leader capacity to make significant improvements in community life.  Our training will include maternal and child health, mid-wife training, dental health, vision care and eye disease prevention, small business development, and clean water initiatives; all of which work to improve life and bring about sustainable change.  Our micro-credit program, that is proving to be very successful, will be expanded to include micro-enterprise projects that will impact whole villages.  In order to accomplish this, Hope is expanding its In-Country staff in order to work with community leaders, helping them to take actions.  Often, they will assist the leaders in changing their own behavior, working to improve their communities by example.  We are coordinating our efforts with the Ministries of Health, local service clubs like Rotary International, and educators that will assist in bringing the message to the villages served.  We are engaging the assistance of other local Non Government Organizations that have a similar mission of helping people to help themselves.  We are initiating dialog within our project communities that allow them to find solutions to problems using local assets.  We have experienced the ingenuity of locals to overtime expand beyond their initial thinking.  it is not that outside help is not necessary; it is a partnership with our communities and other stake holders.  The people in these countries are not ignorant or socially "lacking", they merely need us to act as a catalyst to initiate the process and give some start up resources and training assistance where needed.  It is particularly evident as we develop micro-enterprise projects that impact a total village.  Our first such project will involve developing a commercial fish farming operation.  Once this is underway, smaller fish farms in remote areas will be initiated.  As we present alternatives to villages, best practices develop from within the community.  The end result is communities who often improve upon our suggestions as they work to apply projects to their circumstances.  The local leadership that is developed carries the projects on after we have left the communities. 

- Monty J. Eggett, Executive Director

Report 2005

The Hope Alliance had a terrific year in 2005. We are developing the infrastructure and local staff to grow a strong sustainable program in the countries served by The Hope Alliance. As our vision of long term sustainable development takes shape we will share it with you.

We are working toward having all programs staffed by local in country personnel. Each project or program will be initiated by local community leaders. We have learned if programs or projects aren’t community driven, they more often than not fail. Training programs will be available to empower people to be successful within their communities.

While there is no single answer to reducing poverty, Hope’s programs will foster opportunity, build in-country staff capabilities, and reduce vulnerability. The Hope Alliance also arranges expeditions each year, providing participants the opportunity to work in our programs while enjoying the local culture. In 2005, 239 volunteers joined The Hope Alliance on it’s expeditions to Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Vanuatu. The trips are designed to give mostly North Americans the opportunity to experience poverty first hand. The experience is life changing and the common bond and personal connection gives a most memorable journey. We have so much and they have so little yet we have a great deal to learn from the simpler life they live.

Monty J. Eggett, Executive Director