 Recently five of our oldest boys, many with House of Blue Hope since its inception, have graduated from Form Four – the equivalent to a High School degree. While their educational journeys are still far from over, we congratulate James, Evarist, Athuman, Musa and Maneno in their accomplishment. Currently they spend their time waiting on their national examination results, helping around the house and teaching the younger boys in a variety of courses on a daily basis.
The national exam scores will determine which schools they can go to and how much the government will help them with their educations. If they make certain levels, their options will be unlimited but as their scores decrease as do the options. It is much like the ACT but is subject specific and takes place over a period of weeks. The national form four examination is a large determining factor in the future of each student. Just completing form four, which they all will have done with a passing grade, will mean they are able to achieve a variety of jobs throughout Dar es Salaam and Tanzania.
Please join us in congratulating these five upstanding young men for their achievements and wish them luck with their test results!
 This school year, it has been announced that sports shoes (gym shoes) are a requirement for students. The schools are enforcing this new rule rather strictly and students without the proper shoes will not be allowed to participate in the sports practiced. As we strongly encourage the kids in our program to participate in extracurricular actives such as arts and sports, we are looking for your help to afford the expenses of the 18 pairs of shoes needed. Each pair costs $15, will you pledge $15 so one of the kids in our program can participate in sports at their school?
 Today, February 15th, the House of Blue Hope Foundation turns 5 years old! Over the past five years we have gone from supporting 4 kids in a rented room to now supporting 18 kids through school, owning our own building, renting a second building, and instituting a variety of weekend and evening holistic educational programs, all in the effort to drastically alter the lives of street children through education. It’s been quite the journey! Thank you for all your support and encouragement throughout the past five years. We look forward to many more anniversaries and hope you will continue to support our mission and the children in the program. Thank you!
Help us continue our success by donating here.
We are honored to introduce the newest board member for House of Blue hope, Liam Ahearn! Liam graduated from Georgetown University in 2005 with a BA in Economics and History. At Georgetown University, Liam was also the Director of Community Service for the college’s local chapter of the Society of Collegiate Scholars. Liam became friends with Billy Bludgus when they were classmates and teammates at St. Peter’s Prep High School in Jersey City where they also participated in a number of Christian service activities together. Liam is inspired by the cause of the House of Blue Hope and the dedication and commitment of its staff.
Liam works as a Director at Capstone Advisory Group in New York where he provides consulting services to companies and creditors involved in distressed/bankruptcy situations. Please join us in welcoming Liam to the team!
President and Founder Billy Bludgus spent last weekend speaking at all of the Masses at St. Mary’s parish in Bayonne, NJ. St. Mary’s has been a huge support in the founding and growth of Blue Hope since the project’s birth. During this past visit, the people of St. Mary’s generously gave $2650 in the second collections during the Masses. The House of Blue Hope is so grateful for the continued support and partnership with the people of St. Mary’s!
Join us for our first annual group journey to Tanzania — to see our work, to meet our kids, and to experience the beauty and culture of an  amazing people and country: The adventure of a lifetime! The trip will be August 5-11, 2012 with extended trip option to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Itinerary:
8-5 Arrive in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania!
8-6 Visit the Blue Hope House
8-7 Mikumi National Park safari (two days)
8-9 Flight to Zanzibar; night in Stonetown
8-10 Zanzibar spice tour, evening at the beach
8-11 Back to Dar; flight to arrive back in United States
 ** Extended Trip Option—climb Mt. Kilimanjaro
8-12 Travel to Moshi, Tanzania
8-13 Start Kilimanjaro climb;
8-17 Finish Kilimanjaro climb;
8-18 Back to Dar for flight to arrive back in United States
* Itinerary is subject to change.
Visit our FAQ page to learn more!
Please contact Billy Bludgus, President of Blue Hope, to learn more and to reserve your spot on the trip!
201-248-6703 or bbludgus@houseofbluehope.org
Highlights
 2011 Expenses Breakdown
- Seven boys between the ages of six and eleven, most of which had never attended any formal school, successfully completed their first year with exceptional grades!
- Loyola Secondary School accepted two more House of Blue Hope boys. This school has a reputation for excellence and preparing its students for college, we at House of Blue Hope continue to strive to give our kids the best Tanzania has to offer.
- Five boys in the program graduate from Form 4 (the equivalent to High School in the United States). Form 4 graduates are able to enter college or obtain a wide variety of well paying jobs in Tanzania.
- Two boys passed the entrance exam and will begin study at one of the best college prep schools in Dar es Salaam.
- A water well was donated by The International School of Tanganyika (IST) Alumni Association. House of Blue Hope now has its own source for safe, clean and easily accessible water. Blue Hope is the official charity of IST Alumni and they continue to support the hopes and dreams of Tanzania’s most disenfranchised youth.
 Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continued support of the House of Blue Hope. We look forward to our continued good work with immense hope. May the gratitude and hope of the holiday season be with all of us, our families, and our friends in Tanzania for the upcoming year. Happy New Year!
And don’t forget to make your year end contribution to Blue Hope! House of Blue Hope is a 501c3 not-for-profit charity that exists through the generosity of individuals and businesses throughout the United States and beyond. Your gift is tax deductible and you can donate here. Thank you!
Dear House of Blue Hope Family,
The work which we do together both for and with the youth of Tanzania simultaneously fills me with gratitude and hope all year round –
 Justin hard at work with his studies gratitude for all we have done thus far, and hope for all we are poised to do as we move forward as an organization and as a community. One month ago, at our annual Board Retreat, we reflected on these two pillars of our collective core as we broke bread each evening. As I write to you
today, after Thanksgiving and awaiting the December holiday season, I find myself in even more deeply and intimately immersed in gratitude and hope than usual.
As I wandered between retail clothing stores yesterday, I was struck by that constant tension between the consumerism and materialism of some parts of the world and the poverty of other corners of our globe. I wondered how much workers were paid to sew the shirts I was purchasing, and what their working conditions are like. I pondered how many pencils and notebooks could be bought for children who thirst for education with the money I was paying for a couple personal items. I constantly struggle with the structures which perpetuate drastic economic disparities among the members of our human family, and I wonder how I and how we at the House of Blue Hope can do more to work for social and economic justice.
As is reflected in our organizational motto, we believe that education is the most effective vehicle through which we can empower and support impoverished and underprivileged youth in their struggle to overcome their challenging realities and to build a positive, productive, and sustainable future for themselves, their families, and their communities. We have big plans for our work in Tanzania this upcoming year, and it includes all of us! Of course, I will ask that each of us considers making a personally meaningful contribution to our annual appeal which is included in this mailing. However, I would also encourage us all to become involved in our work in other ways as well. Also included here is an invitation for our first Blue Hope supporters’ trip to Tanzania; consider joining us for a journey of a lifetime! There are also a number of ways to
 Boys having fun get your workplace, school, place of worship, or community organization involved in our mission. Feel free to reach out to me directly with any interest or ideas.
I am closing this letter with the same two sentiments with which I began – gratitude and hope. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued support of the House of Blue Hope, and I look forward to our continued good work with immense hope. May the gratitude and hope of the holiday season be with all of us, our families, and our friends in Tanzania for the upcoming year.
Kwa Shukrani na Tumaini,
–Billy Bludgus
President and Founder
It’s a jewelry party for House of Blue Hope! Purchase beautiful Lia Sophia jewelry now and House of Blue Hope will receive 20% of the purchase price!
Buy three items receive your most expensive piece half off. If you take advantage of this great offer you can pick up to three more items at half off! (so buy three items, one of them will be half off and you can then get another three items at half off!) All your items will be shipped so that you will have them before Christmas. What an easy way to shop and save money!
Simply visit the Lia Sophia catalog, write down the item number and price of the items you want and then email your order to Jenna Riedi, our development director! All orders must be placed with a credit card, so have that ready when you call or include when you email. Jenna’s phone: 608-213-6591 and email: jriedi@houseofbluehope.org.
This amazing jewelry comes with a lifetime guarantee. Please save the receipt that will come with your jewelry. This is what you will use if you ever have to make a return. Reminder…all rings come in whole sizes.
A great gift this holiday season for that special someone!
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Recently five of our oldest boys, many with House of Blue Hope since its inception, have graduated from Form Four – the equivalent to a High School degree. While their educational journeys are still far from over, we congratulate James, Evarist, Athuman, Musa and Maneno in their accomplishment. Currently they spend their time waiting on their national examination results, helping around the house and teaching the younger boys in a variety of courses on a daily basis.
