HopeBuilders International was founded by a few ordinary Christian guys who have a commitment to break the cycle of poverty and with support from a small group of friends.

The dream began in 2007 when Damian was given a vision from God as to how to build a village and how the funds could be raised by riding his bike.  This was shared with Rob Doedens who just happened to have a similar vision about building a village and with Glenn who was full of support, ready to play his part too. The vision took flight when Damian shared this with Johann, where he also shared his concern for orphans in Africa, and together the campaign to start HopeBuilders was born. The campaign itself, was for Damian to ride his bike from Perth to Sydney and to attempt the World Record and raise sponsorship funds for the envisioned project. Although the record attempt was itself unsuccessful, the fundraising was the real measure of success and enough funds were raised to start and to buy land. In the 2008 the following year, Damian undertook a second record attempt ride, this time from Perth to Melbourne and he now holds the record for that ride, and the fundraising goal was well surpassed.

While Damian was getting ready for the second ride, Johann, Glenn, Rob and Andrew Boonstra (who joined the group in 2008) travelled to Uganda and purchased four acres of land which is now the Village of Hope in Uganda. This was also the beginning of Uganda HopeBuilders International a charitable organisation and NGO in Uganda.  By the end of 2009 the first houses were complete and our first children had moved in.

Since then project after project with people volunteering time and financial generosity bit by bit HopeBuilders has grown organically, whether it has been the work of the very first team of volunteers or Ron and Ann who spent twelve months on the ground and then started the school or Luke who also spent a year on the ground and has now started the project support for youth or it has been someone who has donated twenty dollars like the truckie on the Nullarbor, everyone has played a real part to see peoples live changed on the opposite side of the globe.

HopeBuilders (International) Trust is registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission ABN 51315982776.

 

HopeBuilders (International) Trust (ABN 51 315 982 776) is proud to be a partner for Project J314 HopeBuilders Uganda with Global Development Group (ABN 57 102 400 993), an Australian AusAID approved Non Government Organisation carrying out quality humanitarian projects with approved partners and providing aid to relieve poverty and provide long term solutions.

Global Development Group takes responsibility of the project according to AusAID rules providing a governance role and assisting in the areas of planning, monitoring, evaluating and auditing to ensure the projects are carried out to AusAID requirements. Tax deductible receipts for gifts over $2 with a preference for this approved aid and development project will be issued by Global Development Group for project J314. If the project is overfunded, funds may be directed towards other approved project activities. Please note that no non-development (evangelistic, political or welfare) activities are funded by any of these projects. For more information please visit Global Development Group.