History
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Founder and President, Billy Bludgus
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Climbers came from all over the world to climb Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro in 2007 as a fundraiser for The House of Blue Hope.
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University of Miami alumni climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
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Once enough money was raised, land was purchased in Mabibo and plans were drawn up for a residential and educational facility.
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Plans for the house of Blue Hope.
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Construction soon began and The House of Blue Hope brought in its first class of boys in 2008.
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Construction of the house
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Construction of the house
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Supporters of The House of Blue Hope sang, danced, ate and gave to the cause at the House’s inauguration.
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The boys pose with General Mboma, the Guest of Honor at the house’s inauguration event.
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Soccer or futbol is tremendously popular with our boys. The boys played local school teams, visiting American high school students and local donors in friendly matches.
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The boys resting after playing soccer
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The group ran the Coca-Cola 5K together.
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Adam Weise and Billy Bludgus were roommates in Miami but neither imagined they would one day again share a room together in Tanzania. When Billy returned to the USA Adam moved into the house to oversee the project.
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Computer classes were taught on a nightly basis. Not only do the boys learn to type but each has extra English and Mathematics courses in addition to their school work.
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At The House of Blue Hope the boys are exposed to a wide variety of possible future careers. This program took the boys to meet General Mboma, the former Tanzanian Secretary of Defense.
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The boys also went to visit Mzee Mboma, the owner of Tax Professionals.
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Adam and Billy are joined by David Pendergrast, an ex-marine volunteer, and Innocent Bwogi, a Tanzanian, who played a key role in the success of the project.
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Innocent (far right) coordinates the addition of a water tank to the house.
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The boys of Blue Hope are given access not just to one of the top secodary schools in the country in Loyola Secondary School, but trips to the Tanzanian National History Museum…
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…and to a pool to learn how to swim are part of the curriculum as well.
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Athumani (in black) moved to Dar es Salaam as a small boy but his parents died. After living on the street he became part of the project and here is seen reunited with his extended family. An independent fundraiser sent his two sisters to a local school.
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A local group of law students visit the house to interact with the boys and donate food and other supplies.
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Justin sits with two children visiting on behalf of Habari Njema, a similar project aimed at younger disadvantaged youths.
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An American student talks with Evarist and Mussa while James laughs with another visitor.
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Outside of a local museuem, the boys and Innocent pose for a photo.
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In June 2009, Blue Hope joined forces with the Center for Blind and Visually Impaired Children to hold a charity walk, Strides for Kids, in Milwaukee, WI. Board member, Adam Weise, took the challenge and completed the walk blindfolded.
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In August 2009, Billy Bludgus and Adam Weise came back to Tanzania to prepare the house for new residents as well as set up the new outreach program. These are the donations they brought with them.
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One task completed while in Dar es Salaam was to repaint the inside of the house. Many thanks to volunteers from HOTYAA and several of the outreach boys for their help.
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One task completed while in Dar es Salaam was to repaint the inside of the house. Many thanks to volunteers from HOTYAA and several of the outreach boys for their help.
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The boys in the outreach program received solar powered lamps so they can study at home after school.
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Justin is showing off our appropriate choice of wall color.
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Adam and Innocent talk about the future of the project while the boys smile for a picture with the owner of a local preschool.
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The boys play with their new gifts: solar lamps so there will always be a way to study.
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