Hans and Mindy Thygeson, co-founders of Impact Hope, heard about refugees living in Rwanda in 2017. They discovered these refugees have been living in the camps for over 20 years as a result of the 100 days of bloody genocide in 1994. Next, they learned something that struck them at the core. The area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo where persecution was most rampant was predominantly Christian.

They couldn’t sit idly by, realizing that these 80,000 refugees, spread throughout five camps, were facing hopeless conditions.

They had to hear the stories of these refugees for themselves. So, in 2017, Hans traveled across the world and began learning more. While ADRA Rwanda and World Vision provided schooling in these camps, it only went through 9th grade. To continue education, the children would walk 9km roundtrip to the nearest high school. Along this dangerous route, they were vulnerable to victimization and abuse.

Hans and Mindy worked to implement Impact Hope, a sponsorship program that could send these students to safe Christian boarding schools throughout Rwanda.

At Christian boarding schools, the refugees enjoy better living conditions, quality education, and an opportunity to learn more about God and His loving plan for them. They can graduate with career eligibility and move their families out of the refugee camps for good!

Impact Hope has expanded efforts beyond providing secondary education. Now, graduates have the opportunity to increase their success through learning a vocational trade and starting their own businesses.

We invite you to be a part of this thriving mission and make a difference in young lives!