Who We Are
Build On Hope is a non-profit organization with a specific plan for the present and an infinite amount of ideas for a better future. Our work is rooted in Mozambique, Africa and geared toward raising money for and developing communities of the country. Once a top tourist destination, Mozambique, like countless areas of Africa, is in turmoil and requires a sustainable plan for the future.
The current and future priorities are valid and evident upon visiting this incredible landscape. Imagine walking through the bush and seeing the pained faces of children who have not eaten in days. Think about the landmine victims who are missing limbs. Close your eyes and visualize the elderly who can’t take care of themselves or any of the children left in their care. Despite the beauty of the surrounding area, there exists millions of orphaned children from AIDS and civil war with little hope, elderly individuals who need medicine and special care, landmine victims who are crippled and unable to work and contribute to the community, and a wildlife population in peril due to gaming.
Our mission is to provide care for orphaned children, the elderly and landmine victims; to teach African communities a self-sufficient way of life; and to promote wildlife conservation through a series of well-planned initiatives. One of the first communities we are concentrating on is the area known as Massinger.
In an area that has been decimated by war with very little infrastructure and job opportunities for its people, the need for a new way of life is apparent and crucial. Although it is necessary, donating money, food and clothes to put a band-aid on the situation is not enough anymore. A quick fix only solves the short-term problem and does very little to make an impact in the long-run. There needs to be an additional solution.
The only way to transform a community is not through handouts, but through teaching a sustainable way of life, providing work for the people and building infrastructure. This will allow the people to plant, grow and harvest their own food; and learn how to successfully run a farm for personal consumption and to sell goods in the community market place. Further, we want to teach the people to breed and support wildlife to maximize our region's beauty with the goal of establishing the area as a tourist attraction. We want to educate the citizens on how to better their lives by promoting wildlife and discourage poaching and black market sales. And we need YOUR help to achieve these goals!
Our History
Kudu Designs
Patti Bookout van Tonder established Build On Hope with her husband “Tiny”, a native of South Africa, as a way to give back to Africa, a country that has given her a new appreciation for life and a new hope for the future. Patti, a retired cosmetics executive, was quickly losing substance and a sense of purpose in here life. After a trip to Africa in 2005, Patti’s life would abruptly change forever and a new quest established. After hearing the cries of starving children, she no longer felt a connection to the material world, but instead to the maternal world. Her new goal in life was to better the lives of orphans, the elderly, landmine victims, and wildlife in Africa. She and her husband are also the founders of Kudu Designs, which features a product inspired by a hair comb they saw while in Africa called the Kudu Klip. What makes this product stand out is that a large portion of the proceeds from Kudu Designs is donated to Build On Hope, directly affecting the projects and purpose. Find out more about Kudu Klips at www.kududesigns.com.