Our Story 

2008

  • The Flower of Hope School was founded by Emmanuel Bastia and Theard Elficasse; students meet outside.


2009

  • Shelter created with a banana leaf roof and dirt floor.

2010-2011 School Year  

  • Flower of Hope Outreach (FOHO) founded as 501c3 organization

  • Sponsorship program begins: 20 students and 5 teachers

  • Enrollment: 76 students (Pre-K – Grade 4); By January 2011, enrollment had increased to 196 students

  • First construction project: Unfinished cement building with four classrooms (built in partnership with independent donors)

  • Outdoor kitchen is constructed

  • Food program begins; food provided by World Food Programme; three local women hired to cook

  • Outdoor latrine project starts

  • Medical Memorial fund established in memory of a student who passed away due to a preventable disease

2011-2012 School Year 

  • Sponsorship program increases to 40 students and 5 teachers

  • Enrollment: 200+ students (Pre-K – 4th Grade)

  • Hand pump and well installed on campus in partnership with a local well-digging company

  • First cement building is completed with steps, doors, etc.

  • Well-maintenance fund established

2012-2013 School Year

  • Sponsorship Program: 40 students, 6 teachers, 1 director, 3 cooks, 1 groundskeeper

  • Enrollment:  300 students (Pre-K – 5th Grade)

  • Elizabeth Valet hired as Director of the school

  • 5th grade added

  • Began scholarship program for teachers to complete their high school education

  • World Food Programme discontinues food program at the school; food program is taken up by Flower of Hope Outreach

  • Project to improve the road to the school is started with the help of community members

  • A new home is constructed for local family whose house was destroyed by a fire

Summer 2013

  • The first two-month summer vocational program is held, providing sewing machines in addition to instruction in sewing, embroidery, ceramics, and clay jewelry-making to students and community members

2013-2014 School Year

  • Sponsorship Program: 40 students, 7 teachers, 1 director, 3 cooks, 1 groundskeeper

  • Enrollment: 279 students (Pre-K – 6th Grade)

  • 6th grade class added

  • Second cement building replaces wood building (in partnership with the University of Nebraska)

  • Road improvements completed

  • Hand pump is modified to run on solar panels and fill a cistern that is accessible to the community

  • 100% of 6th graders pass their final exams

2014-2015 School Year

  • Sponsorship Program: 40 primary students; 5 - 7th graders (attending Pandaissou Vocational School), 10 teachers/aides, 1 director, 3 cooks, 1 groundskeeper

  • Enrollment:  315 (Pre-K – 6th Grade)

Summer 2015

  • 5 new stall latrine pit toilets are approved by FOHO board

  • A shorter summer program is funded that includes hand crafts, embroidery, and sewing.

2015-2016 School Year

  • Sponsorship Program: 40 Primary Students, 3 - 7th graders (attending Flower of Hope), 3 - 8th graders (attending Pandaissou Vocational School), 10 teachers, 3 cooks, 1 groundskeeper

  • Enrollment:  493 (Pre-K – 7th Grade)

  • A group from Bainbridge Island in Washington State commits to support the establishment and the maintenance of 7th grade.

  • First floor of 3rd cement building completed and will house preschool and 7th grade

  • FOHO renews commitment to Pre-K through 6th grade

Summer 2016

  • Full 2-month summer program is held that includes hand crafts, embroidery, and sewing instruction

2016-2017 School Year

  • Sponsorship Program: 42 Primary Students; 5 7th/8th graders (attending Flower of Hope); 3 9th graders (attending Pandaissou vocational school); 10 teachers, 1 director, 3 cooks, 1 groundskeeper

  • Enrollment:  513 students (Pre-K – 8th Grade)

  • New kitchen built with funds from a legacy gift

  • The group from Bainbridge Island in Washington State commits to support the establishment and the maintenance of 8th grade in addition to 7th grade

  • FOHO works with Karis Project to explore replacing school well which had become non-functional.

  • Construction on 2nd story of 3rd cement building begins

2017-2018 School Year

  • 9th grade is added. The group from Bainbridge continues to support grades 7-9 (salaries, taxes, food).

  • Sponsorship Program: 50 students (Pre-K - 9th); 1 director, 11 teachers, 3 cooks, 2 groundskeepers

  • Construction complete on 2 story building

  • New home constructed for mother of sponsored studen

  • Food distributed to community members at Christmas

  • Church services begun on the school campus

  • Summer program: embroidery and tailoring

2018-2019 School Year

  • Sponsorship Program: 50 students (Pre-K - 9th); 1 in -country coordinator (Theard Elficasse), 1 director, 11 teachers, 3 cooks, 2 groundskeepers, 1 bathroom monitor

  • Playground construction begun. Martins Creek Mennonite Church Vacation Bible School donates $1402.51 toward the project.

  • Medical clinic established and nurse hired for the school and local community

2019-2020 School Year

  • Sponsorship Program: 50 students (Pre-K - 9th); 1 in-country coordinator (Theard Elficasse), 1 director, 11 teachers, 4 cooks, 2 groundskeepers, 1 bathroom monitor, 1 nurse

  • Scholarship fund was established to support graduates from FOH school to attend technical school or university. This year we are assisting 16 students in grades 10-13.

  • Campus updates: Playground, front gate, road improvements

  • New home built for a family that lost their house in a fire

  • School was shut down in the spring due to the Covid pandemic. We continued to provide food as able and supplies for handwashing.

2020-2021 School Year

  • Sponsorship Program: 50 students (Pre-K - 9th); 1 in -country coordinator (Theard Elficasse), 1 director, 11 teachers, 4 cooks, 2 groundskeepers, 1 bathroom monitor, 1 nurse

  • Scholarship Fund: assisting 17 students in grades 10-13

  • Enrollment: approx. 350 (Pre-K - 9th)

  • FOHO celebrates 10 years as a non-profit organization

  • Tree planting project, May 2021

  • Summer program: small engine, refrigerator, and cell phone repair - 50 participants

2021-2022 School Year:

  • Sponsorship Program: 50 students (Pre-K - 9th); 1 in-country coordinator (Theard Elficasse), 1 director, 11 teachers, 4 cooks, 2 groundskeepers, 1 bathroom monitor, 1 nurse

  • Scholarship Fund: assisting 12 students in grades 10-13

  • Primary School director Elizabeth Valere completed university training and received a diploma in educational science.

  • Enrollment: 300-350 (Pre-K - 9th)

2022-2023 School Year:

  • Political unrest, increased violence, and high inflation make a difficult start to the year. Daily attendance is down to around 100 but increases to more normal levels by spring.

  • Sponsorship Program: 50 students (Pre-K - 9th); 1 in -country coordinator (Theard Elficasse), 1 director, 11 teachers, 4 cooks, 2 groundskeepers, 1 bathroom monitor, 1 nurse

  • Scholarship Fund: assisting 10 students in grades 10-13