Hope Highschool Report - India

By Emily Klooster

This is a success story which illustrates just how much your donations mean to Worldwide’s partners: the students, teachers and administrators at Christian schools around the globe.

Hope High School is in the city of Madanapalle, in the Chitoor District of India. Founded by missionary Dr. Jacob Chamberlain in 1881, the school was named after Hope College of Holland, Michigan and is currently managed by the Church of South India. Since its inception, Hope has had a strong academic reputation. Its alumni include ambassadors, civil servants, doctors, engineers, ministers and political leaders. Most of the students at Hope come from families whose parents are rickshaw pullers, auto rickshaw drivers and daily laborers. Tuition is 50 cents per year per student, and in 2004 the school had enrolled close to 500 students.

Even though wonderful things are happening at Hope, in 2004 the school was struggling to meet some of its basic needs, such as proper toilet facilities and access to good drinking water. Hope’s prayers were answered when God blessed them through a donation to Worldwide Christian Schools from Christ Memorial Church of Holland, Michigan. Their gift paid for the digging of a new well and pump for drinking water, furniture and renovation for four classrooms, toilets for the students, a computer room with four computers, library books, and laboratory supplies for science instruction. Missionary Linn Gann wrote, “To God’s glory and the delight of Hope High School, all their needs will be met through the generous gifts of a local church in Holland, Michigan. They will have...the hope and encouragement that brings with it knowing their brothers and sisters in Christ stand with them.”

Worldwide sent staff members to Hope High School to witness the progress made through the donation firsthand. They were warmly welcomed at the school, which arranged an assembly in honor of their visit. The staff members were introduced to Hope’s committee members, correspondents, and the headmaster, and thanked them for their service to the school. The Worldwide staff reported that the joy of life in Christ was evident throughout Hope’s campus, the Hope community was kind and gentle, and the effort they spent learning.