River of Hope International, INC.

Our Mission

2009-04-12T11:42:00.000-07:00

The mission of River of Hope International is two-fold.
1. We seek to support schools in the Tigray Region of Northern Ethiopia. Our goal is to help schools in that area become self-sufficient so that they may continue to provide an education for the students in their area. We also provide supplies, materials and training as they are needed to improve the education of children in this region.
2. We strive to foster cultural awareness between children in the United States and children in Ethiopia. Our sister school sponsorship program allows students in the U.S. to see what life is like in Ethiopia.

The need

2009-02-22T11:48:00.001-08:00

The government of Ethiopia gives each school funding in order to get the school started. Soon, the government will be cutting off all funding for the schools. This means that each school will need to come up with their own source of funding, or they will be forced to close. River of Hope seeks to help each school become self-sufficient so that they can support themselves and provide a quality education to their students. The Ethiopians highly value education, and often see it as a way out of poverty. Most of the schools are sorely lacking in the way of supplies, and while they do well with what they have, there is so much more they could do. River of Hope wants to give them the supplies they need in order to help them get a better education.

Where we work

2009-02-22T11:46:00.000-08:00

River of Hope works with rural schools in the Tigray Region of Northern Ethiopia. There are approx. 55 schools in this area, many of whom are lacking essential supplies and equipment.

How We Started

2009-01-12T09:08:00.000-08:00

River of Hope is the dream of Craig and Stacey Klotzbach. After having three biological children, and losing two babies to miscarriage, Craig and Stacey adopted their youngest daughter from Ethiopia in June 2007. The trip to Ethiopia made a huge impression on them and like many adoptive parents, they desired to have a way to give back. One thing that impressed them the most in Ethiopia, was that many Ethiopians desire an education, but life, and survival, often get in the way. Craig and Stacey both have teaching degrees and knew this would be an area they could help with. They were able to connect with some missionaries in Northern Ethiopia who were willing to help connect them with schools in the area. River of Hope was born.