Event in Marshall, MN

Check out this article about two young girls who set up a Hoops of Hope event in their community. It was an incredible event and we're so proud of them!

Click here to read the article

Florida

We're heading to Florida this weekend for the Florida Student Council Convention.  Hope to see you there!

austin

There's a Need and We're Going to Meet It

Since we have now been able to fully fund the medical clinic in Zambia, we are working on two new projects. First, our goal is to raise funds in order to build dorms which will house nearly 300 students at the Jonathan Sim Legacy School in Twachiyanda. We've found that the distance these children have to walk to get to school every day is so demanding that they have begun to sleep in the school buildings. The solution to this problem is to build housing at the school so they have a bed to sleep on and feet that won't wear from walking long distances. The other project we're working towards is funding 14 Orphan Hope Centers in Swaziland. Each center will consist of a safe, three-room facility that will be used for teaching, cooking, counseling, and organized activities and sports. The centers will also offer health care, life-skills education, training in gardening and animal husbandry, after-school activities, and nonformal education. In addition, the project will provide clean water, latrines, and improved sanitation to each of the Hope Centers. Children's lives will be radically changed by these projects!!

With your help, we can make this happen. The Hoops of Hope team has been blown away by the passion, dedication, and generosity of each participant and donor this year. We thank everyone and ask for your continued prayers and support as we jump into these projects. With the help of kids and adults across the world, we've been able to meet each of our goals in the past. I believe, without a doubt, that we can do the same this year. It just takes a little bit of help from a lot of people and we can all play a part.

Tara

Commonwealth Connections Academy Event

Check out this article from a recent event that happened in Lehighton, PA

By GAIL MAHOLICK gmaholick@tnonline.com

Gail Maholick/TIMES NEWS Chris Herbert, 12, of Gilbert, a Commonwealth Connections Academy student, prepares for a free throw during the Hoops of Hope event held recently at the Lehighton Middle School.

Commonwealth Connections Academy students recently played a game of basketball against their teachers and the winner was Hoops of Hope. The game was played at the Lehighton Area Middle School.

Hoops of Hope is a shoot-a-thon where participants take pledges for shots. The goal of Hoops for Hope is to raise awareness and funds for children who have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Zambia, Africa.

All funds raised through free throw marathons go directly to World Vision's Hope Initiative which targets care for orphan children in highly affected areas. Free throws represent the thousands of children orphaned each day and will raise money to build a second medical lab in Chilala, Zambia.

The $1,000 raised by the students who live in the local area, but take classes via the Internet will be used to help build a school and medical facility in Zambia.

Hoops of Hope was started by Austin, 15-year-old boy who wanted to help AIDS orphans in Africa. Austin was 10 years old when he started the event, which grew and grew and the annual basketball shoot-a-thon now has three national event dates.

Douglas Miedel, school outreach coordinator, Commonwealth Connections Academy, said that 14 students and 17 staff members took part in the event.

Six of the students had pledges of $100, plus there was a basket raffle and students and staff vied to win a basket worth $80.

Players paid $5 a shot to win the basket. A young student won the prize. Plus Miedel noted that Commonwealth Connections Academy donated $500 toward the cause.

"It was great for the children because they got to meet their teachers face-to-face, many for the first time," said Kim Evans, local community coordinator.

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Great job students of Commonwealth Connections Academy! We appreciate your help in changing lives of children in Africa.

Good News

Hey Everyone,

Thanks for bearing with us these past few weeks as the Hoops of Hope team settles down from their trip to Zambia. I'm sure you're anxiously waiting to hear stories. Well, I have good news for you! Beginning this week, we will post excerpts of Austin's journal from his trip. The goal is to pull you into each story as we capture the ambience of Africa through Austin's written words. We invite you to join us in being a part of the journey as you virtually encounter each page.

Be on the lookout this week for the first journal entry!

Tara