Hello again! It's been a full day at the office, starting yesterday afternoon when I left you last. I was able to train Charles, Mumbi, the office manager as well as the three department heads for Hope Ministries on the new reporting system that we'll...
Read MoreHi Friends! It's been a slow and restful weekend, so there's not too much news on my end! I'd been feeling a bit under the weather lately, but a trip to the doctor and some antibiotics for an upper respiratory infection should have me all...
Read MoreHello again! It's been a productive Saturday at the end of a very long week, and I thought I'd spend today's blog sharing a few good stories from my time here that I haven't had the time or space to share yet. I hope you...
Read MoreHi everyone! I've got another short post today. The North Park students ran the final day of the clinic today, and we finished seeing all of the kids at the school as well as some of their parents and most of the Hope staff. We...
Read MoreHi everyone! Today's post will be a bit short because I'm overextending my time in the office, and everyone else has left for the day!It's been quite the busy 24 hours, starting with a dinner prepared by Mama Lillian for all of the North Park...
Read MoreHello again, everyone! I'm not sure how to describe just how excited I am about the work that has been done over the last 24 hours. In the afternoon yesterday, I had a fantastic and unbelievably productive conversation with Margaret, who is co-Executive Director of...
Read MoreHi Everyone! It is a sweltering day here, but I'm thrilled at the progress that has been made over the last day.The North Park students worked on planning the clinic yesterday after getting to the office from the church service. I was excited to see...
Read MoreHello again, everyone! Happy New Year to you all! The staff of Hope Ministries, the students here on the North Park trip and I all wish you all a very happy New Year, and we're excited to be spending the start of 2011 in Ndola.We...
Read MoreI'm back in the office after another great and busy day. After heading back to the office from the school yesterday, I did some work on financial forecasting for the poultry farm before heading home to find the four North Park students that will be...
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Hello again! I made it to Ndola! (I can't say the same for one of my suitcases though...
Read MoreI'm currently waiting in London Heathrow airport for my next flight, which will get me onto the African continent, dropping me in Johannesburg, South Africa before another flight that will take me to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. From there I take a short flight...
Read MoreHello All! This is Joann, Program Director of Spark Ventures.As we approach the New Year, I am heading off to Zambia to work with our partner organization, Hope Ministries, on issues ranging from accounting practices to poultry farming. I'm excited to share my trip with...
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(Rich again..this time writing from Johannesburg, South Africa)On Friday I gave a seminar to the entire Hope Ministries staff about Spark’s Partnership Model. I explained our mission is to come alongside of grassroots organizations like theirs and help to first stabilize, then strengthen and finally...
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(This is Rich)Saturday, June 26 was the dedication of the Shelby Goldstein Schoolhouse in Twapia--a village outside of Ndola, Zambia. Last year Spark Ventures raised the money to fund the construction of this new 7 classroom building serving now more than 350 orphans...
Read MoreJoann here again! This post is also coming a tiny bit late. It was written yesterday on our way to Lusaka. Hope you enjoy it!Over the last three days we have accomplished and seen a great deal, and we have had a great time throughout!...
Read MoreThis post was written on June 24, but we've haven't had the chance to post it. I hope you enjoy it! (This is Joann again!)Our day yesterday was a true eye-opener. We started by visiting a government school and a private school in Ndola,...
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This is Rich. I landed in Zambia’s capital city of Lusaka on Friday night after a delay in Washington DC. After a quick night of sleep, I spent all of Saturday with Charles Mumba and Sandie Kandolo (Executive Director and Chair of the...
Read MoreOur long-awaited June 2010 Transformation Trip has officially begun! We had a soft opening on Friday when Brady and Liz, a first-time Transformation Trip participant, arrived in Zambia, but we are now fully in the midst of our trip with today's arrival of Nancy and...
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