In an increasingly interconnected world, JustHope fosters cultural understanding by creating mutually beneficial partnerships between US and Nicaraguan communities.
Our world grows a little closer every day. At JustHope, we recognize that the need for global cultural understanding is more pressing than ever. We encourage cultural understanding by fostering connections between our US and Nicaraguan partners and supporting them on their journey to grow as global citizens.
WHAT WE DO
Create Mutually Beneficial Partnerships
JustHope builds long-lasting relationships between communities in the United States and Nicaragua rooted in cultural exchange, cooperative learning, and mutual respect.
We partner with the Nicaraguan communities of Chacraseca and La Flor and several organizations throughout the United States to build mutually beneficial cross-cultural relationships. All of our US and Nicaraguan partners commit to maintaining connections between their communities long-term. They take the time to learn about each other and learn from each other, engaging in a dialogue that respects and benefits both parties equally. We also lead PartnerTrips, which give US partners the opportunity to visit Nicaraguan communities and grow in their understanding and respect for new cultures outside of a mission trip setting.
Promote Sustainable Development
We support our Nicaraguan partners as they create sustainable development solutions for their communities.
By UN standards, Chacraseca and La Flor are considered "critically poor" - that is, families there live on less than $2 each day. We collaborate with community-based organizations in Chacraseca and La Flor as they work to develop in the areas of education, agriculture, health, and social enterprise. Our Nicaraguan partners take the lead to initiate projects that will benefit them the most, and the goal for all of these projects is to create self-sufficient solutions. For example, we assisted Chacraseca and La Flor in creating clean water systems that are now completely self-sustaining!
WHAT WE DON'T DO
Lead Mission Trips
JustHope chooses to break the mission trip paradigm rooted in imperialism and colonialism.
Mission trips are trips in which one community bestows its resources and knowledge on another, often low-income, community. While they are done with good intentions, they often have inadvertent harmful effects that degrade cultures, as outsiders try to change communities without truly understanding them. Mission trips begin from the assumption that one community cannot sustain itself and needs intervention from a “more developed” outsider. This turns global relationships into giver-receiver transactions, where one community decides what the other one needs without honoring their agency. At JustHope, we recognize that mission trips can be harmful, and we strive toward mutually beneficial partnerships.
WHY SUPPORT CULTURAL EXCHANGE?
Value is inherent in all cultures, and sharing culture beyond national borders enriches our lives.
Our worlds widen when we participate in cultural exchange.
Every culture is unique and vibrant. Every element, from its language, to its customs, to its music, art, and food, is special. When we learn about another culture, we get to discover and enjoy all those rich elements. And, when we learn about another culture by spending time with others, we form deep, genuine connections.
By supporting organizations that promote cultural exchange, you promote greater tolerance and ultimately greater peace.
We are more similar than we are different, but there is beauty in our differences. Discovering our similarities while celebrating our differences allows us to come to a deeper appreciation and understanding of each other. Division comes from a lack of understanding of others, so appreciation and understanding lead to tolerance, respect, and peace. When you support JustHope, you help us expand the mission of cultural exchange, thus you encourage greater appreciation and understanding of others.
OUR CORE VALUES
Our partnerships are rooted in solidarity, sustainability, mutuality, and collaboration.
Solidarity
Our partnerships are intentional, long-term commitments rooted in solidarity. Our goal is for connections to grow and strengthen over time. Partners are committed to each other's well-being, and they form genuine, lasting friendships. They understand the struggles and joys in each other's lives, and they let those struggles and joys inform their actions.
Living in solidarity with one another is our primary goal.
Sustainability
We are dedicated to building the capacity and infrastructure of our partner communities in Nicaragua. Therefore, we empower our Nicaraguan partners to make decisions about what their communities need. We provide them with the financial resources they require to develop in the ways they see fit.
We emphasize the right of our Nicaraguan partners to self-sufficiency and self-determination.
Mutuality
Our partnerships are mutual relationships: each partner is on equal footing and genuinely cares about the other's well-being. Each partner gets an equal say in shaping the relationship. We aim to create partnerships with no coercion, manipulation, or attempts to make decisions for the other.
We continually reflect on our partnerships to ensure that they are mutual.
Collaboration
Every facet of JustHope reflects our value of collaboration. US and Nicaraguan partners collaborate with each other while consciously empowering Nicaraguan partners. Nicaraguan communities collaborate with one another, and US communities collaborate with one another.
We accomplish more together than we ever can alone.
OUR PARTNERS
Our partners include two communities in Nicaragua and organizations across the US dedicated to forming cross-cultural relationships with one another.
Chacraseca
Located on the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua, Chacraseca is a beautiful small farming community. The Asociación de Comite Pastoral para el Desarrollo is a community-based organization that works toward development solutions in Chacraseca. JustHope supports them as they complete projects in the areas of clean water, education, green stoves, and more.
La Flor
Nestled atop one of Nicaragua's rainforest mountains is the town of La Flor. JustHope has helped La Flor develop a leadership council, which has built a community center, created a clean water system, constructed new homes, and more.
United States
We work with several types of organizations across the US. Our faith-based partners travel to Chacraseca and La Flor to learn about Nicaragua's rich culture, grow in their cultural understanding, form new friendships, support development projects, and sponsor Nicaraguan students. Our community partners provide support to emerging entrepreneurs and leaders in Chacraseca and La Flor to encourage sustainable economic growth. Finally, our service-learning partners send students and professionals in health, music, and theology to Chacraseca and La Flor to share their expertise.
OUR PROGRAMS
We provide opportunities for our US partners to enhance their cultural understanding, and we support our Nicaraguan partners with their development projects.
Our first step in starting any project is to listen to the leaders of our partner communities. Sometimes, their proposals come as one-time, urgent needs, such as relief from storms or health crises. Other times, we have conversations centered around problems that the community faces and possible solutions. Over the years, those conversations have evolved into collaborative efforts toward long-term solutions in four main areas: education, agriculture, health, and social enterprise. In addition, we encourage cultural exchange by providing opportunities for our US and Nicaraguan partners to visit each other.
Education
Ten years ago, leaders in our partner communities told us that many families couldn't afford to send their children to school. We collaborated with them to provide shoes, backpacks, and school supplies to the families most in need, and we offer supplies and a small library to the school in La Flor. We also give scholarships to students in both communities to help them realize their dream of attending college.
"Our children are so excited...many of them have never held a real book - especially one with colored pictures. Now they are begging to read." - Chacraseca teacher reflecting on the impact of JustHope's education programs
Agriculture
Climate change, over-used soil, and poverty are making farming unsustainable in Chacraseca and La Flor. We maintain a model farm in Chacraseca to explore alternative farming methods and crops, and to train local farmers in more sustainable farming practices.
"This program gives me the courage to try new things, knowing that it will lead to a better tomorrow." - Carolina, Chacraseca community member discussing the model farm
Health
Our partner communities in Nicaragua face significant challenges related to health: the nearest doctor is a long bus ride away, people can't afford the medications they need, and unsanitary water and plastic houses with dirt floors contribute to health problems. In Chacraseca, we have spent the last 12 years building up a health clinic staffed by a full-time doctor, dentist, and two nurses. In La Flor, we provide funds to assist those who need costly medical care or prescriptions. We also assist both communities in building clean water systems, safe homes with concrete floors, latrines, and ecological stoves.
"I had a high-risk pregnancy and worried a lot about my baby. But my daughter was born healthy because the clinic helped me with prenatal care and taught me how to lower the risks. And now the clinic is making sure she grows up strong and healthy!" - Paola, a new mom in Chacraseca
Social Enterprise
Women in both Chacraseca and La Flor have the ingenuity and capacity to start small businesses, but they don't have the money to make it happen. Therefore, we started several micro-credit banks that offer women loans to start small businesses. Now, these women sustain those banks. In addition, we offer coaching to help the women succeed in their endeavors, and we have small enterprises that employ women in the community.
"My greatest success in this program has been learning to value myself as a woman and to know that I can move forward." - Martha, Chacraseca community member discussing her microloan
"Before these loans, I never even thought about fixing my house. All I could ever think of was how to feed my children for that day." - Blanca, La Flor community member discussing her microloan
Cultural Exchange
We support both our US and Nicaraguan partners in learning about each other's countries, cultures, and lives. US partners can participate in PartnerTrips, in which they travel to either Chacraseca or La Flor, support development projects, and form connections with the people there. Nicaraguan partners can travel to the US, where they stay with partner groups, help with local projects like visiting schools to teach about Nicaragua, and attend JustHope fundraisers. Whenever our US and Nicaraguan partners aren't visiting each other, they maintain friendships with one another through emails and letters.
"We've been partnering here long enough now to see a difference - a difference in us!" - Laura, US partner reflecting on her fourth PartnerTrip
OUR IMPACT
Since 2007, JustHope has made a tangible impact on US and Nicaraguan partners alike.
JustHope has helped over 5000 US partners travel to Nicaragua to learn about its rich culture and form friendships with our Nicaraguan partners.
- Service-learning partners have sent hundreds of students to Chacraseca and La Flor to apply the knowledge they learned in the classroom while learning first-hand about the link between social and economic variables in our global community
- Faith-based partners have reconsidered what it means to do "mission work" while serving their global neighbors
- Corporate and individual partners have invested over $1,000,000 to support local leaders, coffee farmers, medical professionals, and educators in Nicaragua
With the support of JustHope, Chacraseca has developed several community services benefitting thousands of people.
- An average of 2,000 people visit the community health clinic each month for essential medical care
- The community health clinic hosts medical specialists to share their expertise
- 8,000 people are able to access clean water thanks to Chacraseca's sustainable clean water system
- 500 community members have received loans from our micro-credit program, equipping them and their small businesses to accomplish their dreams
- Over 3,000 students at all levels of schooling have received JustHope scholarships
- We offer continuous support to farmers, teachers, and community leaders
- We collaborate with community organizations to build houses, schools, latrines, green stoves, soccer fields, community centers, and playgrounds
- We support the Chacraseca Cultural Center in offering regular art, music, dance, and sports lessons
Through its partnership with JustHope, La Flor has formed a trained leadership committee and provided community members with improved infrastructure.
- Like Chacraseca, La Flor has developed a micro-credit program to support small businesses and budding entrepreneurs, as well as a community health program
- La Flor has built a general store, 120 new latrines, a housing program, 45 ecological stoves, and a safe bridge
- We have worked with leaders in La Flor to provide community members with clean water and electricity
- 5 members of the La Flor community have graduated from university
Our US partners consistently say that JustHope helps them learn how to be responsible global neighbors and gives them the opportunity to create genuine, mutual partnerships across cultures.
"By the end of the week, we had done what we set out to do - we had worked alongside the teachers in the mornings and done some shared trainings in the afternoons. But more importantly, we had spoken in two languages, shared common struggles and laughed and learned and worked together. We had created a partnership!" - Dawn, US teacher who participated in a PartnerTrip
Our Nicaraguan partners agree that JustHope collaborates effectively with them to find sustainable solutions to real needs in their community.
"After 15 long years, I can say that [JustHope's clean water project] is sustainable! This year, we paid all our bills for the project and we have no debt! We also replaced a burned out pump without having [to] ask any North American groups for help and this project was able to give a little help to some of the other projects this year!" - Juan, Nicaraguan community leader speaking about JustHope's work to provide Chacraseca and La Flor with sustainable clean water solutions
Our lead translator, Julio, perfectly sums up the unique impact of JustHope.
"I have worked with a lot of groups, and JustHope groups are the only ones that start with building a relationship rather than a building. I see the difference in what you do and in how people respond. Your way gives people dignity. I think this way of 'partnership' is better for Nicaraguans." - Julio, after welcoming a group of US partners to La Flor
OUR CHALLENGES
Every organization faces difficulties. Civil unrest in Nicaragua and COVID-19 have posed challenges to JustHope, but we remain committed to our mission.
In 2018, civil unrest in Nicaragua forced us to pause our PartnerTrips, and the COVID-19 pandemic prolonged that pause. These crises resulted in significant revenue decreases and consequent reductions in staff. But, relying on the stubborn hope we learned from our Nicaraguan partners, we have sustained our core programs in Nicaragua and adapted hybrid models of partnership that have enabled our US and Nicaraguan partners to remain connected even without travel. We are relying on your support moving forward as we continue to build our new tomorrow together.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Our Long-Term Goal
Fulfill our vision of creating a network of global partnerships that enhance cultural understanding while collaborating to combat extreme poverty and nurture sustainable community.
Our Immediate Goals
Expand and improve communication among partners.
Connection and dialogue between partners in the US and Nicaragua is at the heart of JustHope's mission. Improving and expanding communication among partners through technology, closer partner ties, and greater staff involvement is essential to building JustHope's future.
Hire an executive director to guide us through our current challenges and into a dynamic and sustainable tomorrow.
Strong leadership is essential to an organization. Our board of directors deftly guided us through the challenges posed by COVID-19 and civil unrest in Nicaragua, but we need a consistent and effective leader to fulfill our mission.
Equip ourselves to access greater financial resources and build a more sustainable funding foundation.
Funding an organization requires significant time, effort, and expertise. From donor development, to grant writing, to marketing and event planning, financial sustainability needs consistent and skilled attention. Working with fundraising professionals and provided intentional training to our staff and board will be an investment that will grow with us.
Our Financial Needs
We aim to raise $80,000 to meet our immediate goals.
All funds we raise will go toward improving communication between partners, hiring an executive director, contracting with fundraising professionals, and training our staff and board in fundraising best practices. Not only will this allow us to fulfill our mission and overcome recent challenges, but it will also be self-sustaining. By investing now in our leadership and fundraising practices, we will be able to raise the funds needed to sustain our programs far into the future.
SUPPORT US TODAY
Help us promote cultural exchange, form mutually beneficial partnerships, and support sustainable development by donating at the link below.
For more information, visit us at https://justhope.org or email us at office@justhope.org.