Project Have Hope

 Project Have Hope empowers women in the Acholi Quarter of Uganda by providing educational opportunities and supporting sustainable businesses that foster long-term economic growth. Since 2006, the organization has collaborated with talented artisans to curate a collection of fashion-forward, ethically handmade jewelry and home goods that elevate personal style while ensuring a reliable, dignified income for the women who create them.

But the impact goes far beyond vibrant, thoughtfully crafted designs.

Project Have Hope inspires hope within the Ugandan community through a wide range of support initiatives, including scholastic sponsorships for artisans’ children, vocational training to expand employment opportunities, small business loans and grants for women, a community breakfast program, and ongoing outreach efforts to assist families whenever needs arise.

Project Have Hope began in 2005, when photographer Karen Sparacio traveled to Uganda and visited the Acholi Quarter—a community of Acholi people displaced by the country’s decades-long civil war. There, she met women who shared their powerful stories of survival, resilience, and hope. Despite facing extreme hardship, they showed remarkable strength and generosity, inspiring Karen to find a way to support them.

During her visit, Karen noticed the vibrant beads women crafted from recycled paper and saw their potential to create sustainable income. She brought a small batch back to Boston, where the jewelry sold immediately. In early 2006, she returned to Uganda and worked with 55 women who chose to call themselves “bed ki gen”—“the group that has hope.” Project Have Hope was born.

The organization has since grown to support 100 women artisans and nearly 1,500 people through educational programs, vocational training, micro-loans, and community outreach. One artisan, Labuka Santa, summarized the impact best:
“Thanks for taking us from nowhere to somewhere.”

Project Have Hope continues to empower women and strengthen the Acholi community through opportunity, creativity, and hope.

Project Have Hope supports vocational training and microfinance opportunities for women in Uganda, offering a pathway to financial security through sustainable business development. The organization’s sponsorship program invites individuals to contribute $25 per month for one year to help a female entrepreneur in the Acholi Quarter build and grow her business.

Through this sponsorship, a woman receives essential funds to invest in her future, while the sponsor gains a meaningful, personal connection with one of the many resilient entrepreneurs within the Project Have Hope community.