Category: Journal

Turning Theory Into Reality: Vanderbilt Student Reflects on Lessons Learned in Sierra Leone

Josiah Holland, a Vanderbilt Human and Organizational Development student currently interning with Just Hope, recently returned from a trip to Sierra Leone with David Reeves, our Agriculture and VSLA Program Manager. He shares about his experience below. Driving along well-worn, dirt roads in Sierra Leone, I came to better understand a reality generally true for… continue reading

Letter from the President – March 2017

In April of 2006 I experienced what it is like to flee. I realized I was in the path of an F-3 tornado that seemed to appear out of nowhere from behind a tree line. I saw it just as it was destroying a local community college campus. A colleague and I turned off of… continue reading

Letter From the President – December 2016

During this season of thanksgiving and celebration, we are grateful to Just Hope supporters for the ability to provide education and opportunity to people facing extraordinary circumstances. The work itself, and the dignifying way in which we attempt to go about it, is returning strong results and it is incredibly rewarding. We are blessed as… continue reading

Bearing One Another’s Burdens with the Women of Sierra Leone

Ashley Turner, wife of Just Hope’s president, Ben Turner, joined our team on a recent leadership trip to Ghana and Sierra Leone. Ashley beautifully shares her experience at a women’s conference she led in Lunsar, Sierra Leone with Just Hope’s founder, Karen Bruton. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let… continue reading

Women learn sewing, find hope and position in Sierra Leone

If you’ve been around Just Hope for any amount of time, you know we believe that the most lasting way to help a person out of poverty is to empower them to provide for themselves and increase their household income. Giving a person a meal will last a few hours, but giving them hope, opportunity and training… continue reading

Hendersonville High School Students Donate to Panama Survival Skills Program

When Andrew Crockett, 9th grader, was assigned a cultural exploration in poverty project for his Spanish II class at Hendersonville High School, he knew immediately who he could talk to: his dad. Andrew is the son of Phillip Crockett, Just Hope’s Director of Projects, and Andrew was aware that Just Hope had projects in Spanish-speaking… continue reading

Blind Farmer and Chaplain Rejects Blindness as Excuse for Dependence

Blindness results in dependence for many people living in poverty, but Amidu “Francis” Kayina, age 65, has refused to let blindness rob him of his independence. Moreover, has used his blindness to encourage others not to give up on themselves. Blindness has been an integral part of Francis’ life for many years. As an ophthalmic… continue reading

Letter From the President (March 2016)

We are growing. We are growing geographically, and now have an active presence in five countries. We are growing in the ways we are empowering people — in addition to farming, we have branched into survival skills and business mentoring. And we are growing relationally. When you give people a genuine hand up, you don’t… continue reading