Mt. Hope - We Have a Roof!
Over the past two months, the Sister Connection "House of Joy" on Mt. Hope has gone from foundation to roof! Employing 30 Burundians, some of them young people from Sister Connection families, the outer walls have been constructed and the roof is now complete. This was made possible by some generous gifts by Sister Connection supporters.
The initial construction will satisfy the government requirement that we commence building within one year of the land grant. But we now need to begin the interior finish work of the building, and additional funds are needed.
Transform a Mountain with Us
The House of Joy is the first phase of the Sister Connection Center on Mt. Hope. This initial project consists of a 6000 square foot multipurpose building with meeting rooms, kitchen, eating area, and storage.
The mountain is located on the main road between Gitega and Mweya. Gitega is the second largest city in Burundi, and is located right in the middle of the country. Mweya is a mission station with elementary, secondary and Bible schools. From this strategic location, we can comprehensively serve all regions of the country.
The Plan
Sister Connection center is a multi-phased project that, when fully implemented, will include the following facilities:
- Transitional Orphan Housing
- Training Centers
- School/Dorms
- Dining Facility
- Visiting Team Guest Housing
The initiatives that will be offered through Mount Hope include:
- Community Health & Education - Training widows and older Sister Connection children to take health education back into their own communities.
- Literacy Classes - There is an estimated 90% illiteracy rate among Sister Connection widows.
- Literacy Teacher Training - Widows & older Sister Connection youth will be highly effective literacy teachers.
- Trauma Recovery - On site as well as continuing training for our counselors.
- Micro Enterprise Training - Twelve Sister Connection widows are currently in training in the capital city. We need to centralize this training for maximum benefit.
How to Get Involved
Sister Connection does not carry debt, so additional phases will only begin when the funds become available.
To learn more about Mt. Hope, contact Denise Patch, President, at 317-517-5881 or denise@sisterconnection.org. Questions about giving can be directed to Dan Kurtz, Treasurer, at 517-841-5808 or dan@sisterconnection.org. Checks can be sent to:
Sister Connection, Inc.
8314 Union Street
Indianapolis, IN 46227
