Transformational Capacity Building for New Hope for Girls:
A Forever Home
This short film tells the story of New Hope for Girls and shares the next step this incredible family is ready to take, with your partnership and support.
New Hope for Girls (NHGO) is a caring and healing home and locally registered NGO (non-profit) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Nearly 60 girls rescued from modern slavery, abandonment, child marriage, and other forms of gender-based violence currently find safety and hope at NHGO in the care of African Road Changemakers Consoler and Eliya Wilbert.
NHGO’s mission and transformative power are informed by Consoler’s own childhood experience of gender-based violence and marginalization. Consoler and Eliya devote themselves to creating a family home and safe haven where girls who have suffered can heal and be loved, cared for, educated, and gain life skills, enabling them to grow to become independent young women. This family plays together and works together, sharing the day-to-day responsibilities for their large household.
African Road has partnered with Consoler, Eliya, and the New Hope for Girls family since 2015, supporting their goal to become increasingly financially self-sufficient. Funding for small business initiatives provides a means to generate income for the work of NHGO and offers opportunities for meaningful training and jobs for girls. This creates lasting stability.
The Dream: A Forever Home
The long-time dream of the New Hope for Girls family, and the next step in their journey of financial stability, is the construction of a ‘Forever Home.’ Currently, the family rents a four-bedroom, two-bathroom house in Dar es Salaam. The house is bursting at the seams with this family of more than 60 people. Proper housing means increased relief from financial pressure and increased capacity for Consoler and Eliya to support the young women in their home, as well as space and joy for decades to come.
As of July 2024, more than $334,500 has been raised in support of the project. A parcel of land was purchased inside the city limits, in a pleasant, mixed residential area that is located ideally for accessing schools, medical resources, and transit. Architectural designs were conceptualized and finalized with the input of Consoler, Eliya, and the girls. Designers spent time with the family, observing their use of space and family needs. They listened and considered cost-effective but quality solutions for the construction process.
Click on site plan to zoom in.
The house will serve the family and their unique needs well. No longer will there be a daily need to improvise sleeping spaces or move furniture outdoors to eat a meal together. Energy will be saved, creating stability, peace of mind, and plentiful room. Outdoor play spaces, recreation, and gardens ensure the girls will also have room to run, play, and exercise outside safely.
Additionally, this thoughtfully designed gathering space will provide a hub for training, gathering, and equipping others to parent vulnerable children and support the expanded impact of their effective model for long-term fostering that heals and prepares girls to launch as independent young women.
Timeline:
A .78 acres land purchase and architectural designs for a 12,800 square foot home are complete. Construction has already begun: a clean water well bore is producing fresh water, retaining walls have been built, and footings and foundation have been laid. Now, funds are being raised for walls and roofing. Main building construction can begin immediately once the next fundraising target is met. With enough funds raised, occupancy will be possible in Spring 2025. The Forever Home compound includes further opportunities for development. Individual donors, corporate support, and grants will make this powerful project possible.
Your Impact:
For a family who gives sacrificially to help those most vulnerable, this home will enable New Hope for Girls to continue to serve the community around them for the long haul. Proper housing means more energy and capacity for Consoler and Eliya to support the girls and young women in their home, and space and joy for the entire family. Your investment brings impact not only for providing a special home. You are investing in sustainability, empowerment, and valuable visibility to reach others for the future.
You can join in this special opportunity to support a truly remarkable family, and their work to equip and empower young women in Tanzania with love, care, and family for brighter futures.