We Always Have Hope.
Our team came together as Team Hope in 2010 with the goal of helping disadvantaged children overseas. With a strong Christian foundation, we truly believe that it is our calling to have compassion, to combat oppression and to help foster and develop societies that protect and empower the people within them.
Based in Ireland, we saw the need for the creation of focused programs in communities less fortunate than our own. We focus on Africa and Eastern Europe, where children’s lives are still heavily impacted by poverty and inequality.
Our Mission
We work with communities to transform children’s lives by tackling poverty and inequality through our Christmas Shoebox Appeal, sustainable development projects and in raising awareness of poverty’s causes and impacts.
Our vision
Team Hope is committed to a world where children are able to fulfil their holistic potential, free from the injustice of poverty, discrimination and inequality.
Our values
Dignity and compassion
Team Hope believes that every human being has inherent dignity and we commit to respecting and promoting their voice and agency in our work. Foundational elements are our compassion for and empathy with those who are disadvantaged due to an uneven distribution of resources. In particular, we will help to empower communities and individuals who are vulnerable, marginalised or discriminated against.
Integrity
A belief in this inherent dignity also leads us to adopt the highest levels of professional integrity possible, in our conduct and also in the quality of work Team Hope delivers.
Inclusion
We value inclusion and primarily incorporate it into our work in two ways. Firstly, we seek to ensure that neither race, gender, ability, religion, politics or any other distinction limit a person’s opportunities. This means we work to benefit children based on need alone, with special consideration of additional needs or discriminations faced by them. Likewise, in Ireland we aim to create a diverse environment where everyone can participate in Team Hope’s activities, especially through volunteering. Secondly, Team Hope works to create an inclusive atmosphere where the opinions of our partners, volunteers and staff are included and represented in decision making.
Partnership
Team Hope works primarily through local partners in the countries where it operates. Our overseas partners bring an in-depth knowledge of culture, language and context. Working with them contributes towards an active and effective civil society able to speak and act on behalf of communities living in poverty. We are also committed to working in partnership in Ireland to complement others’ skills, knowledge or abilities and together achieve better results.
Accountability and Transparency
As a charity Team Hope is accountable both to those from whom it receives support as well as to communities with whom it works. A key way in which this accountability is fostered is through transparency on what Team Hope does, how it uses the resources at its disposal and what results this achieves. As part of this, our accounts are independently audited and published annually here.
Our Ethos
We believe that God has created and loves all individuals equally, presenting us with the call to do the same: to ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ This represents a radical challenge in a world where many are not treated equally and where poverty, discrimination and marginalisation lead to suffering and unfulfilled potential.
Christian teaching gives a strong call for us to address poverty in all of its manifestations. We are called to show love to the poor, to have compassion, to combat oppression and to create societies which protect and empower the disadvantaged. Poverty is not just limited to an economic interpretation but is based on a holistic model including economic, social, spiritual and relational aspects. Given the unique vulnerability of children, Team Hope works primarily to show compassion to them, to address the structural causes of poverty and to advocate on their behalf.
Meet the Team
Our dedicated team on the ground in Dublin, Ireland.
Deborah Lowry
CEO
Deborah joins Team Hope with a wealth of experience from not-for-profit, local authority and private sectors in Ireland, England, and Canada where she has lead teams, worked with volunteers and managed projects.
Deborah comes from Castlederg, Co. Tyrone, bringing her energy, passion and experience to the role of Team Hope CEO.
Stephen Conway
International Relations and Logistics Manager
Meet Stephen, on the team since Team Hope began. With a Masters in International Development Stephen co-ordinates the overseas elements of our work linking with our partners on development programmes and working out the logistics of getting Christmas Shoeboxes to their destination countries.
Rachel Browne
Education and Digital Communications Coordinator
Rachel joined the team in 2015. With a background in marketing and working with schools in Ireland, Rachel looks after communications at Team Hope, creating our content and keeping in touch with our supporters. She also spearheads our engagement with schools, creating our resources and working with our volunteers.
Declan Doran
Finance Manager
Meet Declan who has worked part time for Team Hope since 2018 and helps manage and account for Team Hope’s funds.
Eithne Brennan
International Programmes Manager
Introducing Eithne who joins Team Hope with a wealth of NGO experience and having spent time living and working in some of Team Hope’s key programme countries: Kenya, Malawi and Rwanda. Eithne works closely with Team Hope’s partners, designing sustainable development projects and working to secure funding for them. She also provides advice and support to partners on how their work with Team Hope can have the biggest impact possible on the communities we both work to help.
Nathalie Hand
Christmas Shoebox Appeal Officer
Meet Nathalie who joined Team Hope in September 2023 having been a volunteer for many years. Nathalie has a passion to see many vulnerable children receive the hope that a Christmas Shoebox brings.
Cathy McCloskey
Office Administrator
We have an independent board with a variety of experience who help to govern us throughout the year, meet the board.
Our Partners
Aside from our core team, we realise the importance of working with local partners in the communities where we operate. Our overseas partners provide insight into culture, language and the identification of opportunities for real change.
Where We Work
Sub-Saharan Africa
Burkina Faso
Burundi
DR Congo
Eswatini
Kenya
Lesotho
Malawi
Rwanda
Eastern Europe
Albania
Kosovo
Moldova / Transnistria
Romania
Ukraine
What’s happening on the ground?
Espérance’s Chance at Hope
What a difference 3 hours makes
