About Us

HOPE School of Leadership is an online Christian university for young African men and women who are capable, motivated learners but would benefit from an alternative to the traditional university system. HOPE School combines the best of online learning, the flexibility of mobile technologies and a strong relationship between teacher and students, to offer a two-year degree in 21st Century Christian Leadership, a Christ-centered general studies degree that will prepare students for a wide range of career opportunities. Our mission is to empower students to study globally with the purpose of leading locally.

HOPE students study in four core areas: 1) understanding human nature and working with people, 2) communicating professionally and effectively, 3) managing money and leveraging economic principles, and 4) entrepreneurship and innovative thinking. HOPE online instructors and mentors are highly qualified teachers, business people, and Christian leaders in their respective fields who are donating their time and expertise to work remotely with their African students. The hallmark of this school is the way in which students learn and interact with their teachers, who may live half a world away.

Preparing Christian Leaders

We hope to engage, challenge and prepare young African men and women to lead a life of Christian service in their families, their communities and their chosen profession. We hope to provide students the skills and passion to continue their learning and improve their opportunities for finding meaningful work.

By studying the question "What does Christian leadership look like?" we want students to think deeply about their God-given strengths, identify their motivations and calling, and learn to build effective networks and teams; all while challenging their minds and igniting their spirits. This general studies diploma program takes two years to complete, from start to finish.

As we progress through all twelve courses, we view the content through two unique lenses: 1) How do things run in the world? and 2) How do things run in God's Kingdom. In each term, we have a course that is based on Biblical principles and one based on the most current professional & world view. We do this to be intentional about being able to see from many perspectives and consider different viewpoints. We also do this to remind us constantly where we should put our allegiance, our trust and the investment of ourselves.

After the successful completion of each course, students will earn a certificate of completion that they can present to a current or potential employer, confident in their skills to make a difference in the workplace. In addition, students will have also built strong, lasting relationships with their classmates, teachers, virtual mentors, and the Kenyan administrative and support team. And just as important, students will have developed the skills necessary and the internal desire to continue their learning on their own.

How does it work?

All of the course materials and class communications are online, so students are able to work from any location at any time of day. We do this because most of our students must work daily to provide a life for themselves. As a result, HOPE School does not need to construct or maintain a campus and pay the ongoing costs that go with assembling students and holding daily classes. In addition, our online instructors and mentors donate their time, guaranteeing that our operating costs are kept to an absolute minimum.

Our target student is a bright, capable student who has demonstrated his/her ability to succeed academically, despite growing up in a life of extreme poverty and living and working in very difficult circumstances. We believe that building meaningful relationships with them over time will raise the odds that they will not only be able to make a living for themselves but make a difference for others. We limit enrollment to ensure a strong focus on individual learning and meaningful relationships.

In Kenya, we have an administrative and support staff who will work one-on-one with students as they work through their online courses. They will provide opportunities for students to meet together to discuss their coursework, work in a study group, or offer guidance and encouragement when needed. The staff also maintains a reliable WiFi connection for students to use free of charge.

Online Learning in Africa?

Not only do we think online learning is possible in Africa, we think it may offer many advantages over the traditional university system. The fact that our courses are online means that students can learn when its most convenient for them, while allowing them to keep a consistent work schedule. With their coursework on a mobile device, students can work from any location which will greatly reduce their transportation costs. Online learning also encourages and requires students to take control of their own learning, while staying connected (physically and virtually) to people who care about their success.

Mobile connectivity is a reality in many parts of Africa today, and continues to grow. We predict that 3G and WiFi will become even more widespread and the costs associated with it will continue to become more affordable. In most cases today, the cost for a student to get online is a fraction of the cost of a bus ride across town...not to mention the time and effort saved navigating a densely populated city or remote village.

The most significant benefit to online learning in Africa is the ability to get the highest quality curriculum and world class instruction in front of our students. We have gathered the best of free, high quality learning resources from across the web. Its not just text, but high quality audio and video instruction from Khan Academy, Education Portal, iTunes U, and TED.com, together with well-written articles from Seth Godin to John Maxwell and beyond.

Once our students get online, the physical location of our instructors and mentors becomes less of an issue. Students have daily conversations about the curriculum with each other and their teachers even if they aren't together physically. Whether its inside our course management system, via Facebook or Google Hangout, or via text messaging, we are reducing the distance between students and their support system. We keep our student-to-teacher and student-to-mentor ratio very low to ensure that students always have attention when it's needed.