Welcome
The Beginning
12 y/o's goal: $800,000 for Malawi
4 years ago, Jaako, a 8 y/o boy, living in Canada, started raising $800,000 for the poor and hungry children of Malawi. What on earth could he be thinking? Not of himself, that's for sure.
In June of 2006 Jaako told his parents he wanted to go to Africa and help the poor.
"That's a nice idea." Jaako's parents answered, thinking this was a good goal for the future, when Jaako grew up.
"When can I go to Africa?"
"Some day." For many parents that would be the end of it. Everyone knows that you have to grow up, take special training, join a charity group to help the poor. Jaako persisted.
"When Jaako said he would need a note to take to school becuase he would be away for more than a week," Sue, Jaako's mom explains, "I knew he meant to go to Africa now." After discussing it with Jaako more throughly and with each other, Sue and Andrew (Jaako's dad) agreed that Jaako needed to go.
So plans began.
Who we are
Hope for Malawi was started by 8 year old Jaako Polkki in 2006. He had a dream to go to Africa to help the children there. He wanted to hand out Bags of Hope to every child he met (little Ziploc bags full of toys, candy, crayons, paper, stickers etc.) He also wanted to provide food and needed supplies for the people of Malawi.
Hope for Malawi is now run by Mom Sue and Jaako. Together they share a dream to help Malawi one person, one village at a time.
Hope for Malawi is in the process of becoming it’s own non-profit organization, but presently operates under the charity status of Thunder Bay Christian Fellowship. All monies are run through TBCF’s books and are accounted for by it’s board and accounting firm. Tax receipts are issued at year end for any donations.
