InterAct For Change :: Inspire, Act, Change

Project H.O.P.E.

Project Help Other People Endure (H.O.P.E.) is an extraordinary program established by a group of remarkable young philanthropists. Project H.O.P.E. strives to improve quality of life for children affected by AIDS in the impoverished village of Langkloof, South Africa. This project was created when founder Maya Amoils, whose family is from South Africa, created a partnership with her aunt and uncle who own the Little Switzerland Resort in Drakensberg, South Africa. On a visit to South Africa, Maya saw first-hand the hunger and devastation that AIDS wreaked on the children of Langkloof.

Upon her return from South Africa in 2004, H.O.P.E. was founded by Maya and several other young women from Cincinnati, Ohio: Jordan Baird, Taylor Baird, Carly Brightwell, Amanda Cohen, Ellyn Guttman, Christie Lindner, and Rachel Nussbaum. Their initial goal was to raise $10,000 to start a food distribution program for the orphans in the village. To date, H.O.P.E has raised over $ 1 million through successful fundraising activities organized by these eight amazing young women and their parents. All of the girls have visited Langkloof and have bonded with the children, which has inspired them to accomplish more. In addition to providing one meal a day and clothing to 350 people, H.O.P.E has promoted self-sustainability in the village by starting a greenhouse, improving farming in the region, and expanding the clean water supply.

InterAct for Change serves as staff support and fiscal agent for Project H.O.P.E. The young philanthropists of H.O.P.E. plan to raise an additional $375,000 for the village of Langkloof, to expand the scope and sustainability of the programs, with a long-term goal of making the village self-sufficient.

Contributions of any amount for H.O.P.E. are welcome. Make checks payable to Project H.O.P.E., in care of InterAct for Change, 3805 Edwards Road, Suite 500, Cincinnati, Ohio 45209-1948, or click on Take Action to contribute by credit card.

For photos and more information about H.O.P.E., visit http://www.southafricanhope.org/.