At the start of simplifying my home six years ago, my why to purge the clutter came from a need to reduce my frustration and exhaustion from all the stuff. I was a stay-at-home mom drowning in piles of laundry and toy explosions. Most days it felt like all I did was take care of things instead of the people I love. This wasn’t how it’s supposed to be I thought. As the journey to de-own all the excess evolved, so did my WHY.
I realized the best part about having too much was giving it all away.
I’ve continued to find more peace and contentment in owning less. Less stuff, less waste, more giving, more life. Reducing our possessions and simplifying our schedules has given us more time to pursue meaningful things, with our family, our community and the world around us. This past year I came across The Hope Effect — a nonprofit building two-parent family-style homes with 6-8 children. I’m excited about the work The Hope Effect is doing to revolutionize orphan care, and I think their 100% model is brilliant.
This past year I came across The Hope Effect, and I knew I wanted to help support their mission. The Hope Effect is a nonprofit building two-parent family-style homes with 6-8 children. I’m excited about the work The Hope Effect is doing to revolutionize orphan care, and I think their 100% model is brilliant.
The Hope Effect: Changing How The World Cares For Orphans
Worldwide, over 26 million children live without parents—but the problem does not end there.
Decades of research have indicated that traditional, institutional-style orphanages are not solving the problem adequately. In fact, in many places, they are only continuing the crisis. When children do not receive adequate personal interaction within a loving environment, development is stunted, and learning abilities are delayed or lost. Many kids age out of orphanages only to face a future of crime, prostitution, or trafficking.
Last year, fellow minimalist blogger Joshua Becker, launched a non-profit called The Hope Effect. Their goal, change orphan care around the world by focusing on new solutions that mimic the family unit.
Instead of building large orphanages with a high child to adult ratios, The Hope Effect is building smaller homes in a campus setting. Each house will become a home for 6-8 children and two parents—in so doing; these homes will provide the opportunity for each child to thrive, receiving the love, attention, and affection they would in a family.
I think it would be amazing, together, to partner with The Hope Effect and help carry out this meaningful work — building homes for orphans.
Together, as a community of people owning less to live more, we can help others live a better life too.
Through January 15th, The Minimalist Plate is running a campaign to raise funds for The Hope Effect. We’d love for you to join in and support our very own campaign with The Hope Effect to help build homes in Honduras and Mexico.
100% of your donation will be used directly for orphan care (construction of homes and operation of orphan care communities). Joshua Becker’s investment into The Hope Effect has provided the administrative funding, so all public donations are used for the reason they were intended. You can read more here. And because they are a registered 501(c)(3) organization, your donation is tax-deductible.
If you too would like to give more this year, consider supporting our campaign with The Hope Effect to build family style homes for orphans! You can give here or click on the image below.
*Special Giveaway* The Minimalist Plate is giving away ONE spot in the next Uncluttered Course to one lucky winner who donates to our campaign with The Hope Effect.
To enter the drawing.
- Donate $5 (or more) to our secure campaign with The Hope Effect here by 6 pm, EST January 7th. One random winner will be chosen and notified via email by 11 pm EST January 7th.