DOH was founded by Joshua Sandy – a teacher in one of the secondary schools in the Wellington suburbs of Freetown, Sierra Leone.  Through community interaction with children he noticed that children were not in good health, were dropping out of school at an alarming rate (particularly girls) and were not exposed to opportunities and the resources that would enhance their health and total development.  He shared his concern with others in the community and Door of Hope was established to meet these and other community needs. 

From Joshua’s meager personal resources and investment of time, the vision of DOH was born.  Together with like-minded community members, DOH started meeting the nutritional, education and health needs of vulnerable and abandoned children.  DOH has since broadened its outreach to include youths and adults and grown to attract international support. 

The mission of Door of Hope is to build communities where all would have equal opportunity to live a dignified life and have access to available resources that will make them be the best they can be.  DOH believes in empowering people and enriching their lives.  We focus on providing access to opportunities and situations that will build up people.  We believe in the dignity of human life and in providing a door or channel of hope through which the total lives of people will be transformed.

DOH is passionate about empowering disadvantaged people, particularly children.  It was birthed out of a need to give people a “hand up” – that would enable them to develop themselves, make wise choices, become independent and contribute to national development.  This is a sure path out of the vicious cycle of poverty and into individual and national freedom.  Through investing in the development of people, they will be better able to take care of themselves and also support others.  DOH believes in helping or teaching a man to fish and is providing the necessary support to the weakest members of its community.  “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” – Chinese Proverb.