Restoring Hope Together

EDUCATION

Hope for the Living Joy Steve Foundation was born out of the ordeals of one man, who has known pain, not just as a concept, but as a lived experience. One with a firm resolve that no one should relive those experiences.

From a humble home, money was never enough and school was never guaranteed. Education was something fought for, school fees were a constant struggle. At a critical point in his academic journey, the pressure to stay in school pushed him into making decisions that conflicted with his beliefs. It was a painful reminder of how lack can force people into impossible choices.

Step by step, with so much struggle and grace, he moved forward. And today, having walked that road, he made a decision: no child should have to struggle to get access to education. Nobody should have to choose between their future and their values.

That decision became one of the foundations of Hope-L. Our education focus exists because we have seen what lack does to potential. We understand what it means to want to learn but not have the means. Because we know that education should never be a burden that breaks a child, but a bridge that carries them forward.

At Hope-L Foundation, education is not just a program, it is a promise that we will stand where help is absent, and offer hope.

HEALTH

Our health focus came from a place of personal pain- watching a loved one fall sick and have it gotten really serious, while family ran around, from one hospital to another, religious centers, and everywhere possible, seeking for relief, and solutions.

Medical bills and expenses kept piling up, family ran out of their ‘little’ resources, life got very hard and eventually the loved one died- in his arms. This was a very traumatic event that changed everything and ignited a strong resolve: no one should lose a loved one simply because they cannot afford care. No family should be left helpless in the face of illness because quality healthcare is out of reach.

These experiences shaped HopeL’s commitment to health. Our work focuses on improving access to affordable, quality healthcare, standing with people in their most vulnerable moments, and reducing suffering that could have been prevented. For us, health is personal, it is a response to real problems, a commitment to dignity in illness, a belief that no one should suffer or die because they lack the means to survive, and an assurance that no family is left to carry such burdens alone.

Almost always, lives are lost not because care is impossible, but because it is unaffordable, inconsistent, or out of reach and we are here to stand in that gap to ensure healthcare is accessible and lives are not just treated but preserved.

LIVELIHOOD PROJECTS

Across many communities, people and families face economic challenges due to limited access to employment opportunities, and sustainable means of earning a living. Our founder too has had a fair share of what it means to be stranded and uncertain, with no meaningful source of income and heavy financial responsibilities. Very fresh out of NYSC (National Youth Service Corps), full of hope, he faced a labor market that had very little room for people without connections or influence.

Despite trying out different ventures, writing applications, going for interviews, financial instability still remained. At that point, he knew it was not just about his talent, intellect or skills- the employment world required more. Access often depends on who you know, not just what you can do, leaving many capable and willing individuals stranded, despite their potential.

Eventually, through grace, opportunity and perseverance, a door opened and with dedication and hard work, that opportunity became a pathway to growth and stability. But the journey left a lasting impression, especially the understanding of how painful it is to carry responsibility without means, and how frustrating it is to be skilled and capable, yet excluded from opportunity.

These experiences influenced Hope-L’s commitment to livelihood project empowerment. We work to empower individuals and communities by supporting access to skills, opportunities, and sustainable income pathways. We seek to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity by linking people to employers, supporting entrepreneurship and income-generating activities, and empowering women and families toward financial independence.

Our livelihood initiatives are focused on helping people move from survival to stability. We work to connect skills and talents to opportunities, support young people transitioning from school into the workforce, and empower women and families to achieve sustainable financial independence.