Hope for Life
Youth empowered to escape homelessness and holistically thrive
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Over the last decade, the number of children living on the streets in Rwanda has rose sharply. Due to an increasing income gap, even more are at risk of becoming homeless. Children take to the streets for many reasons, primarily extreme poverty and abuse. Living on the street exposes children, some as young as four-years-old, to violence, hunger, disease, and drug abuse.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Rehabilitation Program
The Rehabilitation Program provides transitional housing and holistic services to enable youth to escape homelessness. 25 youth are served at a time with 24/7 rehabilitative care including education, physical and mental health services, faith formation, and family reconciliation.
Outreach Program
Connecting youth experiencing homelessness with resources and services to meet their basic needs and develop long-term solutions. Once a week, youth have access to services like meals, showers, laundry, referrals to community partners and individualized case management. The program currently serves an average of 50 youth per week.
Reintegration Program
Youth and families are healed and empowered through trainings and trauma-informed reconciliation. Once a youth is reintegrated to his family or community, regular follow-up from trained professionals is provided to ensure a successful and lasting reunification.
Where we work
External reviews
Videos
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Hope for Life believes that all children have a right to a fulfilling life. Our goal is to reduce the number of children living on the street while also rehabilitating those who are currently homelessness. Reintegrating with family is the ultimate goal.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Hope for Life utilizes three programs to empower youth’s transition off the streets and back into healthy families. All programs take a holistic approach, addressing the complete individual and the many, complex needs.
The Outreach Program connects youth experiencing homelessness with resources and services to meet their basic needs and develop long-term solutions. Once a week, youth have access to services like meals, showers, laundry, referrals to community partners and individualized case management. The program currently serves an average of 50 youth per week.
The Rehabilitation Program provides transitional housing and holistic services to enable youth to escape homelessness. 25 youth are served at a time with 24/7 rehabilitative care including education, physical and mental health services, faith formation, and family reconciliation.
The Reintegration Program works with youth and families to heal and empower through trainings and trauma-informed reconciliation. Once a youth is reintegrated to his family or community, regular follow-up from trained professionals is provided to ensure a successful and lasting reunification.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Hope for Life firmly believes in taking a community-centered, culturally-relevant approach to all programs. That is why all programs in Rwanda are staffed and operated by local professionals. Hope for Life's social workers, counselors, teachers, residential counselors, and support staff apply evidence-based and trauma-informed care.
Hope for Life is also a well-respected organization in Rwanda, well-known and revered by the local community and government. Many community members use Hope for Life's space to gather and learn.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Over the last 10 years, Hope for Life has housed and rehabilitated over 120 children, enrolled over 250 in school, and impacted over 1050 lives. 11 youth who were once homeless have successfully graduated high school or vocational training, and are now financially independent. More graduates are expected each year. Three children have received life-saving surgeries, two of whom can now walk for the first time.
However, the number of street children in Rwanda continues to rise. Our rehabilitative home has reached its capacity, but many children continue to seek our support. Construction for a second home began January 2020, with plans to open early 2021, housing 32 more children at a time.
Of course, we will continue to deliver on the excellent care we have come to be known for by helping each child seek an abundant life.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Hope for Life
Board of directorsas of 01/19/2023
Emily Kuhn
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Term: 2019 -
Philip Keeton
Edward Sumner
Hope for Life
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 11/03/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.