HopeChest is overjoyed to have built strong relationships with over 85 CarePoints. But how are these lasting partnerships built, and how does HopeChest’s approach foster dignity and sustainability for vulnerable communities?
We are pleased to share a beautiful example of a partnership launch through Children’s HopeChest. Entitled “How to Launch a Partnership with Children’s HopeChest,” this video illustrates the initiation of a partnership from both sides: Bethlehem Lutheran Church in the United States and San Antonio CarePoint in Guatemala.
"It means the world. It means giving love to someone and sharing Jesus and watching them grow up. I'm so excited!"
“How to Launch A Partnership…” follows the process of a partnership launch, from the North American church deciding to enter into a partnership with a vulnerable community, to the individual church members committing to partnering with a child, to the children selecting who they want as their Prayer Partner, to the North American church’s reveal where the partners learn which child selected them.
Community-to-Community Model
What makes HopeChest’s model different from others? And how have we seen so much success in our partnering communities? The answer is through HopeChest’s community-to-community Friendship model.
This model eliminates any levels of superiority and inferiority between communities and instead focuses on creating strong relationships that inspire growth. Through this model, an individual’s generosity does much more than provide support for an individual child, instead, it contributes to the transformation of the entire community. This method utilizes strategic analysis of a community’s natural assets to promote holistic community development.
Dignifying
HopeChest prioritizes maintaining dignity for the children and individuals living within the vulnerable communities that we partner with. One way this is accomplished is by giving agency to the children to select which North American partner they want as their HopeChest Friend. This subtle but intentional decision is empowering, giving them a sense of joy and excitement that they have ownership over their partnership.
In the video “How to Launch a Partnership…,” the different aspects of the Friendship Match event at the CarePoint are featured, including the setup, the children selecting their HopeChest Friends, taking pictures of the children with their HopeChest Friend cards, and recording why the children chose the partners that they did.
Sustainable
Another critical feature of our community-to-community Friendship model is sustainability. When two communities partner with each other, it opens the door for two-way transformation and holistic, long-term development. These relationships that are built empower CarePoints to create programs and provide resources where children are supported and educated to be successful once they “graduate” from the sponsorship program.
When a CarePoint is launched, HopeChest collaborates with local leaders to design a unique and specific plan for the CarePoint’s development, utilizing the community’s natural assets. This lays the foundation for long-term sustainability within the community.
Children’s HopeChest’s model for partnership is rooted in community, dignity, and sustainability.
"In some ways it seems like such a simple thing. We're willing to be friends... and then to think we're gonna change lives."
Curious to see a HopeChest partnership launch in action? Check out our video: “How to Launch a Partnership with Children’s HopeChest,” and be inspired by the North American partners’ generosity, the in-country staff’s intentionality, and the children’s hope.
