Sunday, September 27, 2009

Former HOH Volunteer, Zoe Wakoff, is raising funds to purchase farmland at HOH!



My name is Zoe Wakoff, and in the three months I worked at House of Hope in early 2009 I fell in love with each child who lived there, each teacher, and Jenifer, the amazing woman who founded and runs the program. I witnessed an inspiring community of people determined to stay afloat despite limited resources and trying circumstances. Now I want to help them in any way I can, especially by raising money to purchase land to start a farm at House of Hope.

Currently House of Hope has great difficulty in raising enough resources to provide a nutritious breakfast and lunch for each child. If they had their own farm, each child would have three full meals a day, and the extra $14,000 a year saved in food expenses could be used for the children’s medical bills and general support for the project. At the moment it costs about $80 to feed one child for a year, which may not seem like much to us, but it’s quite a lot of money in Uganda. Once a farm is started by House of Hope, costs per child will decrease to just $17 a year, a life-changing difference!

What struck me most about the children of House of Hope was that despite the many hardships and traumas they endure in their lives, they were by far the most enthusiastic and happy children I have ever met. All of them had lost at least one parent, most had lost both, and some had suffered physical or sexual abuse, but they did not see themselves as victims. In fact they seemed to embody a wild joy for life that was both very contagious and very touching. It was quite a testimony for the human spirit, and I hope you will join me in letting them touch your lives as well.


House of Hope has identified 3 acres of working farmland adjacent to the project that is available for purchase. World Action, led by Zoe, is working to raise $15,000 to support this project.

Help Zoe and House of Hope purchase its own farm by donating today!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

House of Hope Benefit Auction a Success!

Thanks so much to every one who came out to support our photography auction featuring beautiful photos of the staff, children and community at House of Hope in Uganda. With your support we raised over $2400 in one evening!

Of course, the evening couldn't have happened without the help of many generous folks:

Very special thanks to Heather Marx and Steve Zavattero for once again donating their beautiful gallery space to host the event;

Thanks very much to Clos LaChance Winery for donating the evening's libations;

Special thanks to my Dad, Bud Ellison, for donating his time to frame and matte the photographs with such professional care;

And l
ast but definitely not least, a very special thanks to Violaine Beix, Emoke Ficz and Sonia Atallah for donating their beautiful photography for this very special cause.

Wishing every one a great October and we look forward to seeing you at this event again in SF next year.. and possibly in New York later this fall!

- Nicole

Friday, September 4, 2009

Join us Sept. 15 in SF for Photo Auction benefiting HOH!

Join us for an evening of delicious wines and a silent auction featuring photography from House of Hope!

Tuesday, September 15
6:00 to 8:30

Marx & Zavattero Gallery
77 Geary Street @ Grant
San Francisco

$20 suggested donation at the door

RSVP: info@worldactionforhumanity.org