Scholarships
JustHope partners provide scholarships for primary school children and college students from our partner communities.
JustHope
Creating global partnerships that combat extreme poverty and nurture sustainable community.
JustHope Update
Dear Friends of JustHope,
Over the past few years JustHope activities have been in transition. During 2025, several JustHope partners visited Chacraseca, Nicaragua to continue our collaboration. We celebrate that we saw continuing success and growth of the microcredit women’s groups, ongoing commitment of the Stitching Hope women; and impressive progress of the scholarship students! Clearly, JustHope continued to generate creative blessing in 2025.
The biggest change we now face is one we’ve been working toward for years - the transition from being a North American based non-profit to becoming a truly local Nicaraguan organization led by Nicaraguans! This transition includes endings and beginnings, with reasons to celebrate and also to grieve. The Nicaraguan political system and international relations with the U.S. government have continued to deteriorate, making travel and organizational partnership more difficult. Although we have generous and faithful donors who continue to share financial resources, our mission and model must adapt to the changing context on the ground. Therefore, we will be closing down the Tulsa-based operations by July 1, 2026 and transitioning operational and administrative leadership to the new independent organization established by the women who have been leading JustHope’s micro-credit program for the last 17 years.
These amazing women have been in the complex and rigorous process of legalizing their own indigenous organization for over two years. And have continued to embody stubborn hope in the face of numerous road-blocks! Now they are ready to take on the hard work of not only managing their highly successful microcredit program, but also supervising the scholarship programs they are inheriting, managing the 8 acers that served as the model farm, welcoming friends and groups from the US, and pursuing other ideas and projects toward the dream of a thriving Chacraseca!
As part of the legal transition from being US based to being Nicaraguan based, we will be transferring all donated project funds to this new Nicaraguan-led organization. We ask you to please continue your financial support of JustHope through June of 2026 to make it
possible for us to complete the legal and ethical obligations in both countries to make this transition successful. Beyond June, the new leaders in Chacraseca will treasure your ongoing support. We will provide more information in the Spring about the ways you can continue your support.
Leslie Penrose wrote these words that appeared on the JustHope website for years:
“JustHope’s mission is to create long-term global partnerships between Nicaraguan
and U.S. communities in order to combat extreme poverty and increase global understanding.
By engaging one another in cultural exchanges, cooperative learning, mutual dialogue, and sharing resources, we work collaboratively to develop local leadership, empower self–determination, and embody our core values of collaboration, solidarity, mutuality, and sustainability.
Indeed, across the past 19 years, JustHope has lived out its mission. Together with all of you, we have coordinated long-term partnerships that have resulted in lifle-changing cultural encounters and will continue to develop in new ways going forward. And hrough our programs in agriculture, health, education, and social enterprise we have made a significant contribution to the present and future well being of people who live in Chacraseca and La Flor. We celebrate the rich relationships and sacred encounters we have shared in both countries, and look forward to watching how the work we started grows and develops in the hands of new indigenous leaders.
THANK YOU for your part in JustHope’s story! We hope friends of JustHope will continue to form teams and travel to Nicaragua in future years. If you have questions or want to discuss these changes, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our board members. (listed below). We will update you again in the Spring as the transition progresses. In the meantime, please continue to share generously as you are able. Your donations are still changing lives!
With Sincere Joy and Hope,
Kathy McCallie, Leslie Penrose
Board President Founder of JustHope and Board Secretary
Kathy.mccallie@ptstulsa.edu Revlesliepen@gmail.com
Michael Quintin Lynne Bradley
Board Treasurer Board Director
T150scouter@gmail.com lbradley93168@gmail.com
Education
Improving access to and quality of education has been a primary goal of the leaders in our partner communities. JustHope’s education programs focus on ensuring an inclusive and quality education that promotes life-long learning. Our programs are diverse, ranging from initiatives that support students in attending classes to creating more vibrant learning environments inside and outside the classroom.
Through our programs, we support families, students, teachers, and schools by providing experiences where individuals develop the skills needed to pursue steady employment and make healthy life decisions. JustHope’s scholarship program removes barriers to enrolling in and attending classes. As a result of this initiative, attendance rates in our partner communities steadily increase, allowing for JustHope to broaden its programmatic focus and impulse activities that enrich learning.
JustHope creates vibrant learning environments within schools by implementing Entrepreneurial School and Teacher Leadership programs in addition to equipping teachers with didactic materials and resources needed to enhance their lessons. Outside of the classroom, JustHope offers a number of programs through the Cultural Center that focus on experiential education for personal development and community engagement.
20 Women of Hope
In Nicaragua, it is twice as hard for a woman to make it through school as it is a man, and far fewer women secure the resources necessary for paying for school. Many do not even finish high school. So, JustHope created 20 Women of Hope in 2012.
Chacraseca Cultural Center
Cultural traditions and art are often the first things lost when a community struggles with persistent poverty, depriving young people of a sense of identity and belonging. This, in turn, puts youth at higher risk of gang involvement, drug use, and dropping out of high school.
Teacher Enrichment Program
Teachers in Chacraseca believe the greatest resource they have is themselves. Through the Teacher Enrichment Program, teachers receive supplemental trainings on requested subjects and learn innovative uses of teaching materials.
Classroom Resource Crates
JustHope distributes resource crates — stocked with reading books, maps, diagrams, math manipulatives, and a STEM kit — to fourteen schools in Chacraseca to supplement learning in the classroom.
A High School for Santa Emilia
Santa Emilia has a Primary School that goes through the 6th grade. However, going to High School has been a challenge for young people in Santa Emilia. There was no High School within the community.
Beca House
The "Beca House" is a house that was gifted to the community of Chacraseca, Nicaragua, which they have chosen to use as a dorm for young women from poor communities who are going to college on becas (scholarships). It is now a wonderful resource, that houses between 6 and 12 women each semester. After a few years of partner support with upkeep and maintenance, it is now fully self-sustaining!