The HOPE Project began in 1999 by Sr. Dolores Fortier of the Missionary Sisters of our Lady of Africa.  It was turned over to Maryknoll in June 2001 and named the Maryknoll Fathers AIDS Orphans Project. In 2004, Maryknoll Lay Missioners took over coordination of HOPE from the Maryknoll Fathers.

The HOPE Project is most fundamentally an education project seeking to provide educational resources to orphans and vulnerable children, especially those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. The HOPE project operates in Mombasa, Kenyan and collaborates with community officials and volunteers including  over 500 Community Health Volunteers (CHV).   Our partners identify children who are out of school, bring them to the attention of HOPE, and assist in the monitoring of the children after their acceptance into the project.

We believe that education is the foundation of a thriving society and the means to empower the children we serve to escape poverty and live happy, self-sufficient lives. In Kenya, primary education is technically free. However,  in reality, each family must be able to pay for uniforms, shoes, and supplies. For our impoverished families, these costs are very difficult and many times out of reach. Furthermore, secondary and vocational schools are not free and the ability to attend these is beyond the means of many of our families, who face serious poverty and illness. While we provide educational assistance, HOPE recognizes that it is not enough to simply provide educational funding. We therefore employ a holistic approach to ensure that our children are not only developing academically, but also as well adjusted, well rounded young adults.

Tutoring is essential when the student to teacher ratio frequently exceeds 70:1. To address this need, we provide our students with weekly opportunities for free tutoring and the use of books from the HOPE library. During each of the three term breaks of the academic school year in Kenya, we expand the number tutorial sessions to three times a week.  Our HOPE staff performs regular home and school visits to monitor how our students are doing academically and in their home life.  We run educational workshops and trips as well as provide professional counseling and skills training. Based on the progress and personal aspirations of each student, placements are arranged for the students in primary, secondary and vocational schools. Since its inception, HOPE has enabled almost 3000 orphans to attend school. Most HOPE Project families subsist on $30 to $50 USD per month. The cost of sending their children to school is well beyond their reach.

HOPE relies solely on the generosity of benefactors to fund our programs and serve our children. The HOPE Project also assists with early childhood education  and provides assistance to students with disabilities. Without the financial support of HOPE, these children would have no access to educational services. They would have no future and many would end up on the street where they are vulnerable to drugs, violence and exploitation.  HOPE also assists families and guardians through skills training workshops as well as assistance in the form of food, clothing, and other items such as solar lamps.