Category: Panama

December Project Round-up: From Motorbikes to Bananas

Ghana Our VSLA effort now includes 182 people (more than a fourth of them women) in nine groups! We have another group in the early formation stage and expect it to launch soon. Some of the groups have progressed to issuing their first loans, for investments like pesticides, seeds, school fees and inventory for petty… continue reading

Letter From the President (December 2015)

Letter From the President It is an exciting time at Just Hope. We are growing and it is thrilling to be undertaking new projects. As we grow, we have to remember our mission. The mission of Just Hope International is to make an impact that lasts by empowering remarkable people who face some of the… continue reading

Giving Tuesday: Give a Hand up

Give differently this #GivingTuesday. First things first: what is Giving Tuesday? It’s a worldwide day dedicated to giving back. On Tuesday, December 1, people around the world are celebrating generosity by giving to a cause they care about. In honor of Giving Tuesday, we’re launching a brand new campaign, and we hope you’ll celebrate with… continue reading

November Project Roundup: New Businesses in Bauya, Selling Shoes in Honduras, VSLAs Saving Members Money

AFRICA Ghana We are now working with 98 people through VSLA groups, 34 of them women.We are finding it slightly harder to involve women than men, because most women farmers see themselves too busy at home, in the field and in their trading businesses to commit to a weekly meeting. However, we are hearing about… continue reading

October Project Roundup: Exiting Pineapple Project, Boots on the Ground in Panama, Corn Harvest in Ghana

AFRICA Ghana We now have six established VSLA groups plus several pending. We look forward to sharing more information about those with you soon. The first plot of corn from the demonstration site has been harvested. As a reminder, this was the crop the cows attacked early and had poor germination. The team is conducting… continue reading

With appreciation for Bailey Bruce, our summer intern!

Over the years, God has blessed Just Hope by crossing our path with the path of others — people whose interests, skills and passions line up with a need of ours. One such person is Bailey Bruce, a recent college graduate who interned with us this past summer. A Cross Cultural Studies major in the… continue reading

September Project Roundup: Pineapples Harvested for Fresh Market, New Cases of Ebola in Sierra Leone, Ghana Team Adds Another Advocate

AFRICA Ghana We are excited to announce another new hire in Ghana, Joseph Appiah, who will join Collins as a farmer advocate! Peter Mueller, our project manager, and Joshua Fiagbedzi, our advocate manager, have been spending a great deal of time with Joseph in training and orientation. Joseph has a background in agriculture and will… continue reading

August 2015 Project Roundup: First VSLA Group Launches, Pineapples Approach Harvest, Mulch Proves Its Worth

AFRICA Ghana VSLAs Our first VSLA group has been launched! The group is called Sesa Mu VSLA, and it consists of nine women and nine men, who are mostly pineapple and corn farmers in the area around the town of Berekuso. Demonstration Plots at Sesa Mu Since our last report, four additional demonstration plots have… continue reading