Build Relationships. Break Poverty.

This year Children’s HopeChest is celebrating 25 years as an organization and we’re reflecting on where it all started. Katya Celenina, HopeChest Russia Country Director is recognized for her expertise in older orphan care, not just at HopeChest, but across Russia. She is one of HopeChest Russia’s most valuable assets! In this month’s episode, Katya shares about HopeChest’s beginning, how HopeChest CarePoints are breaking cycles of orphanhood, and the unique challenges and opportunities that Russian youth are facing.Support the show

Why doesn’t HopeChest allow travelers to bring bags full of toys to hand out to children? Why are HopeChest trips called “partner visits” and not “mission trips?” Why do we ask travelers to never leave behind money for children or locals? Why don’t travelers build or complete short-term projects while they’re visiting?All these questions and more answered by Guatemala CPM, Stephanie Mutert, who has been leading partner visits for 14 years, and Carolina Cardona, Guatemala Country Director who spends time with HopeChest teams while they are visiting.Support the show

Today we have a fun episode of “Build Relationships. Break Poverty.” This conversation is with JoE, who has spent at least 20 years emotionally supporting youth across various cultures, equipping adults to walk through grief counseling with vulnerable children, and delivering grief counseling training for HopeChest staff in Uganda and Eswatini. In today’s conversation we talk about some interesting topics, including how his name is not JoE, his favorite rugby team, and how he relates with the people he emotionally supports through having processed his own painful experiences. Support the show

Today we’re thrilled to share this conversation with Carolina Cardona, who is HopeChest’s Country Director of Guatemala. Carolina is a delight to speak with and this conversation is particularly encouraging. Carolina tells the story of her childhood and life story with graciousness and strength. We discuss many topics in this interview, including responding to the calling to serve and how Children’s HopeChest’s work in Guatemala is unique from other organizations. You’ll want to hear Carolina’s stories of how God frequently intervenes and answers her staff’s prayers in miraculous ways.Support the show

On today’s episode of “Build Relationships. Break Poverty,” we’re sharing a conversation with Joseph, who is HopeChest’s Country Director of Uganda. Joseph’s vision and love for his country is incredibly inspiring and we are blessed as an organization to have a man with so much passion to invest in Ugandan youth. In this interview, Joseph shares about his childhood, how HopeChest’s work in Uganda is unique from other nonprofits, and tells personal stories about how he has seen prayer answered in his work. You won’t want to miss the message he has for the youth of Uganda. We hope you enjoy today’s episode.Support the show

Today we’re sharing a conversation with Mickey Taye, who is HopeChest’s Country Director of Ethiopia. Mickey is the newest Country Director to join the HopeChest team, but he’s already rocking the position with strength, insight, and passion for his work. In this personal interview, Mickey shares about his background in child advocacy, the opportunities and challenges that Ethiopia’s youth are facing, and personal stories of children’s lives being rewritten into stories of hope. I hope you enjoy and are encouraged by this conversation with my friend, Mickey. Support the show

On today’s episode of “Build Relationships. Break Poverty.” we are sitting down with Eswatini’s Senior Manager of Programs, Bheki Motsa. Bheki is one of three senior managers, oversees all HopeChest programs, and carries an instrumental position in all of the growth and development of work being accomplished in Eswatini. He completed training in the Swazi Leadership Academy, and is now one of Matt Gerber’s “right-hand staff.”  In this episode, Bheki candidly shares about his childhood and how he joined HopeChest staff, discusses different religions in Eswatini, and illustrates how HopeChest programs are transforming lives.Support the show

In this episode, we sit down with Matt Gerber, HopeChest’s and Adventures in Missions’s Country Director of Eswatini. Matt’s dream is to see his country “heal itself from within” so that Africa can provide for the needs of its own people. We had lots of fun recording this episode and even discussed some surprising topics...including Matt’s birth weight! Of course, we also discuss challenges and opportunities that Eswatini is facing and what inspires him in his work.Support the show