HOPE Japan Celebrates 20th Anniversary
Wow. Has it been twenty years??!!
Since that first gathering in Nagoya in Feb 2001... a small gathering including Carl Gettinger, Robert Roche, Erik Olson Kikuchi, Martin Green, Michel Weenick, David Mackenzie, and myself at The Terrace in Hilton Nagoya, we have seen hundreds of thousands of people become self-reliant. The history outline says it all, but it is amazing that it all started with just a small group of friends.
There were many notable moments of kindness, generosity and compassion, but the most memorable, most poignant were the stories of the families who were not self-reliant and living lives where they could not afford to dream or plan for the future.
We have always focused on relationships in Japan. Even the dinners, which grew in influence first in Nagoya, then Tokyo and then in Kansai, were not so much about a party, but rather groups of friends and family gathering around a meal to learn about the plight of the neglected poor.
2020 has taken its toll on all of us, but amidst all this we mustn't forget the world's neglected poor. In 2019, we were encouraged to see the percentage of the world's population living in extreme poverty* falling. The figure in 2019 was 8.4% and the projection for 2020 was 8%. Sadly in the year of COVID-19, the figure rose to 9.4%.
*extreme poverty is defined as living on less than USD1.90 a day. Data from October 7, 2020 World Bank Press Release.
That is staggering and alarming, and confirms that the work of HOPE is needed now more than ever.
We have rightly been concerned in the last year with our own health and safety but have also been reminded that we are not isolated from the problems on the other side of the world.
During 2020, Jeffrey Behr and the team, including staff and the board, have valiantly pursued every avenue to ensure HOPE Japan remained in existence and that we honored our overseas commitments. Now we need to raise our eyes above the parapet and see the greater need.
Thank you for your support over the past twenty years. And now the neglected poor and our partners who serve them need us, you and I, more than ever. So in this 20th year, how about we do something extra, dig deeper and give? Wouldn't it be great if in this year we could release an additional 20 million yen to the field? This would result in about 1,800 people (Ethiopia data) gaining access to clean water for life, and learning how to wash their hands and be given the opportunity to advance to self-reliance.
Whether it is 2,000, 20,000, 200,000, 2 million, or 20 million yen, your gift will make a difference.
Please consider giving here:
Contact HOPE Japan office with any questions regarding giving: info@hope.or.jp
Be assured that your gift will be handled wisely and effectively. Let's look out from our windows in consideration of those that are suffering the most and do something. We can all do something.
Thank you,
Lowell Sheppard
Founder and Board Member
HOPE Japan
