Our Work

Advocacy

Our greatest role is that of advocate for the villagers of Duékoué. We are their voice and bring hope to their situation. The challenges they face are often ignored, but are often a vulnerable region to violence.

What we’ve done:

•  We’ve been able to advocate for the people of Duékoué to the UN, Ivorian Embassy in DC, and others
• Promoted the awareness of the war and needs of victims to Americans by speaking at local events, colleges, and universities
• Made proposals and requests for aid from the UN to rural villages of displaced victims
• Contacted Ivorian officials in search of aid for war victims

Humanitarian & Emergency Relief

Ivory Coast has found itself in dire emergency situations and we are here to respond to those needs. Our organization was started from being compelled to do something.

What we’ve done:

• Distributed food to over 2000 people, 400lbs of donated clothes, & vitamins with CARITAS org & the UN during the civil war 2002-2005
• Obtained UN Peacekeepers to protect villagers during civil war
• Organized the clearing of roads for displaced war victims to return home & access markets during the civil war
• We have donated vitamins and medication to women and children in displacement camps during the civil war
• We housed 100 displaced victims during the 2011 Ivorian crisis in Doekoue and sent food & supplies to these victims, as well as 300 victims at a near by church

Microcredit & Agricultural Support

Ivorian Hope is taking the initiative to help villages become more economically independent and empowered.

What we’ve done:

• We have interviewed 300 women from rural villages with individual business projects. These women are widows, former teachers, or women left to fend for themselves after the war. They have developed business plans. With your help Ivorian Hope will select projects with the most developed business plans and empower our HopeWomen.

Infrastructural Rebuilding

During the civil war rebels destroyed villages and homes. These homes are still destroyed since 2005 need to be rebuilt. We want to give homes to our people.

What we’ve done:

• Ivorian Hope has facilitated meetings between Habitat for Humanity and heads of rural villages in Ivory Coast. Habitat for Humanity has committed to building homes throughout those villages using the help of local war victims. Ivorian Hope is collecting funds to send construction materials necessary to clear and clean roads so that construction can begin. These materials include: machetes, gloves, boots, and sharpening kits.

Scholarships

Ivorian Hope provides educational opportunities to students to encourage interest in developing countries and international issues.

The Hope Scholarship Competition is open to all Maryland High School seniors planning to attend an accredited college/university. To apply, contestants should send an application and compete in a competition organized by Ivorian Hope. The prize for this pageant is a $1500 scholarship to further their education.

There will also be an added college division available for current college students soon!

 What we’ve done:

• Awarded 2 High School Scholarships to students in Montgomery County, MD
• Charity Gachenge is the 2009 Hope Scholar. She graduated from Northwest High School. Charity plans to one day create a charity to help people throughout the world. Charity wrote her essay on the HIV/AIDs epidemic in Africa and why we should increase awareness and education about the disease internationally. For her personal talent, Charity performed a famous poem about struggle and perseverence. She impressed the judges with her talents and ambition and is sure to make a difference in the world.

Ivorian Hope organizes an annual trip to Cote d’Ivoire to deliver donated goods to rural villages, investigate the needs of displaced war victims first-hand, increase aid from local government officials and international organizations, and implement our programs.

What we’ve done:

• We organized 4 trips to Cote d’Ivoire.
• Interviewed the needs of over 500 war victims

Local Giving

 We do our best to serve the local community here in Maryland. We want to build bridges between all corners of the world and hope we can also have a place in the hearts of Americans.

What we’ve done:

To donate funds for these causes please see: How You Can Help