For this month’s Charity Spotlight, we spoke with Bill Walsh one of the founders from the African Hope Initiative. The organization is a joint effort between the Denver, Colorado-based African Hope Initiative, and the Parole d’Espoir Foundation of Pastor Michel Ourdraogo, who lives in Burkina Faso, Africa. Walsh discussed how the organization was started, their mission, current projects, as well as other goals they want to achieve in the long-term. African Hope Initiative aims to strengthen Christian ministries, and development initiatives of local individuals, churches, and organizations in Africa.

The African Hope Initiative was started in January 2010 after Walsh and his partner Dave Bidwell had made two prior missionary visits to Burkina Faso in 2008 and 2009. But to fully understand the roots of the organization, one must go back twenty-five years ago and learn the story of Pastor Michel Ouedraogo. He graduated from seminary school, and sought to spread the message of Jesus Christ from village to village in Burkina Faso. While he was initially told to leave by elders in the village, they accepted him after he came to the aid of a young ill-stricken girl named Sarah. After facilitating her to good health, the elders soon asked Ouedraogo to aid more children, and so the Village of Hope was created. Today, the Village of Hope offers assistance in the areas of housing, food, and education for over 400 kids from 15 villages. Recently, Walsh and Ouedraogo partnered together to create the African Hope Initiative.

Dave Bidwell has been doing missionary work in Africa for more that 30 years. “We felt we could do this together, joining our two different life time experiences,” said Walsh. Walsh had previously worked for decades in the marketing and fundraising industry in an executive role.

In addition to the Village of Hope, some of the organization’s other initiatives include the Light of Hope University, and the Ephphatha School for the Deaf. The University’s goal is to offer a multi-discipline Christian education, and develop the future leaders of Africa. The University is currently devising the layout of the future campus, training staff, and developing partnerships with other universities. With the help of volunteers and Advocates, the Ephphatha School for the Deaf strives to equip teachers with the resources to provide an overall education strategy for deaf children. One day, the School will supply hearing aids for the children and change their lives.

“This is a 15-20 year project,” said Walsh of the organization’s goals. Wash also has aspirations for a television show that sheds light on things that are working in Africa, and a large annual fundraiser.

To learn more about the African Hope Initiative, their mission, or to get involved, please visit their website. You can also check them out on Facebook. We want to thank Walsh for taking the time to share his story with us.