30 YEARS AND COUNTING This week marks 30 years since my first trip to the Philippines, a journey that unexpectedly propelled me towards financial empowerment. I had no idea what I was getting into when I volunteered to travel with Mylon & Broken Heart on their tour in the Philippines.  At that time they were […]

It’s been an interesting time for Hope For Change.  In many ways we’re entering into uncharted waters, new experiences! Directors James and Sarah Smith will be in Nagaland, India for another extended period of time also visiting Nepal. I am here in Manila starting the process of registering Hope For Change as a foundation here.  […]

Sometimes it’s the simple things that have the biggest impact.  In the picture above is Dulce, one of the local staff here working everyday in the “Smokey Mountain” community in Tondo, Manila.  Today she led a team up the steep mountain that was the former garbage dump where there are people living, although they are […]

This year marks 25 years since my first trip to the Philippines.  In most situations, like a career, you start thinking about slowing down or retiring.  For me in many ways it feels like things are just starting to take off. Like the sign posted on my bedroom door when I arrived, this place has […]

It’s time to travel again.  Tomorrow morning I head back to Manila…..and after this never ending New York winter….I can’t wait! This marks my 24th year traveling to the Philippines.  It was that first trip that changed the course of my life.  All it took was one visit to a garbage dump community.  It was […]

Impressive Ludington Library in Brwn Mawr, Pennsylvania was the setting for Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority’s monthly meeting On Thursday evening, September 26, 2013. Sarah Anne Smith, Hope for Change International’s South Asia Director, was the featured guest  speaker at the Zeta Chapter of Professional Educators who emphasized “World Understanding” as the theme for the gathering. […]

Over the past couple of days I’ve been visiting our students and interviewing new first year college students.  It’s been great to spend time with them.  So many of them make you laugh and are great fun.  But it doesn’t take long to see the reality of where these kids live and what they face […]