"Reaching
children through the healing nature of horses and the love
of Christ."
Trinity’s Hope was
started in 2005 as a joint effort between HOPE Unites and Trinity
Stables to assist
Children of Zion Village, a Christian home
in Namibia, Africa, for children infected and affected by HIV and
AIDS. HOPE Unites career missionary Sarah-Deppen Haver (currently working to
establish a program in S. Africa)worked with Children of Zion and
their riding program from 2005-2007, teaching, training,
working with the children, and helping to establish the
Trinity's Hope rider sponsorship
program.
The program is now
being overseen by our career missionary, Andrea
Gibson.
This was a
great success - the funds generated from the sponsorships not only
has helped the project to continue, but also to grow and
expand. (see "Program
History") 
The healing
and therapeutic nature of horses and riding, especially to
children who have experienced trauma or abuse, are
amazing. The children gain
confidence from learning to train and control an
animal 10 times their size, and in building their own riding
skills. Responsibility is taught in caring
for their horse and being accountable for its welfare. They
learn gentleness and kindness
in doing what is best for the horse at all
times. The children spend hours having fun riding and getting
great physical exercise, especially beneficial
for those who are HIV positive or have disabilities. And
perhaps the most important and unique of all, they slowly
learn to trust and love -
sometimes easier at first with an animal who they know will just
listen, love them, and accept them for who they
are.
Our vision for the future of Trinity's
Hope is to re-create this type of amazing program in
more locations throughout Africa.
We hope
to eventually develop community-based riding
programs, creating havens where at-risk, orphaned, and AIDS
affected children can experience the benefits
of horses and riding, at the same time giving them a place
where they can escape from some of the dangers in their
lives and find hope. The program could also be used as a
way to draw children in from the surrounding communities, allowing
us to share Christ and the true hope that He can bring to their
lives. Our goal is that in spending quality time with
them, we can discover and help meet the physical,
emotional and spiritual needs of children and their
families.
This project is endorsed by Frank
Bell, Horse Whisperer: http://www.horsewhisperer.com
*Please
make all checks payable to HOPE Unites*
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