Our Story

For some years, I (Noah) had lost a lot of hope in humanity and felt like life was meaningless. Then in 2019, I volunteered to teach juggling in a kids’ shelter in Ecuador.

There I met Francisco, his wife Alba, and their kids Jim, Wes, and later their adopted baby Damaris. Francisco grew up as an orphan in the Amazon Jungle before finding the community at the shelter where he later worked as a gardener and construction worker. It’s his dream to help provide kids who are growing up in difficult situations like him with education, job skills, and a safe home. We are working together to establish a new kids’ shelter called New Hope.

See more of his story here:

Through sharing meals, playing games, and working in the garden, I experienced how they welcomed and cared for one another and I felt my hope and love for life being restored. They may have saved my life. Over the years, we became like family.

In 2021, the American founder of the kids’ shelter died from Covid, the family lost their jobs as the economy tanked, and operations shut down. I tried to take care of them while training with the Marine Corps and studying in Berkeley, but ended up breaking down sobbing as I was unable to afford rent and they were eating one meal a day. I dropped out and found a job at an AI startup so I could support all of us. I later quit that job because a client planned to use the AI automations we were building to fire 300 employees. Instead, I began working in more value-aligned projects while continuing to support the family.

Current Financial Situation

To date, I’ve sent $56,000 to them. Currently I am sending $3000/mth.

$2,700/mth is covering loan payments including 1 mortgage and 3 loans Francisco took out while we were struggling to get by as I was in university. The remaining total loan balance is $43,000.

History of funds sent

The good news is that the repayment of the loans finishes within the next few years.

The Plan

For years, Francisco has earned $10/day leading teams building houses from scratch. He’s led multiple teams in building several houses including the house the family resides in.

The plan is to continue doing the exact same thing, except this time, I (Noah) own the land and sell the house in partnership with a friend here who sells houses for a living.

Within two years, we project New Hope Construction Company would be making $40,000 a year in profit and every subsequent year profit would increase by an additional $10,000.

We would begin in the less expensive town of Arajuno and gradually move to more expensive towns in the region. Construction costs, time, and the percentage value increase in land value remain constant. Thus the profit from the increase in value from building the house in more expensive plots of land will be a greater net amount. We estimate that every two years company profit would increase by an additional $10,000

Here is the financial projection for the most promising property we are looking at: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sAi-tNDNI85LmZJeW_UFIlGxg5XqD4iq2jYCYRnA0Ck/edit?usp=sharing

We are requesting a loan of $50,000 to start this company.

If we do not provide this loan, I will continue using up most of my income on monthly payments, have less flexibility in my life, and 2 years from now I will have spent $72,000 that is gone forever.

If we do provide this loan, 2 years from now we project New Hope Construction Company would be making $40,000/yr in profit. 7 years from now we would be debt-free, the company would be making $60,000/yr, and we would be using these funds to establish New Hope Kids’ Shelter.

Terms of the Loan

⅕ of the loans are repaid on October 1, 2027.

⅖ of the loans are repaid on October 1, 2029.

⅖ of the loans are repaid on October 1, 2031.

2% annual interest will be added to the loan balance.

This would be an informal agreement with friends and family.

Funds would be sent in any form to Noah as the guardian of the funds.

Loan collateral: Francisco’s house, which is currently valued at $230,000

If we are unable to follow the loan payment schedule with profits from New Hope Construction Company, then we would sell Francisco’s house, follow the loan repayment schedule, and the family would begin renting an apartment.

Proof of Concept

April 2024, we successfully crowdfunded $13,000 to support Francisco as he built a space for the kids’ shelter.

See here: https://www.viaprize.org/portal/nueva_esperanza_kids_shelter_in_ecuador

This project:

-Cost $6,000 in material

-Took 3 months

-Increased Francisco’s house value by $50,000-$70,000

-Used the rest of the funds to support the family during the time of construction

We can do the exact same thing except in a plot of land that we intend to sell. This provides us with the opportunity to be self-sustaining.

If you wish to support with crypto, please send any currency on any EVM compatible chain here: 0x2bf1a0410910e1bD759Dd990375b41AE40EA8b85

To donate with Venmo (and avoid credit card fees) please send to @noahchonlee with a note "For New Hope"

We welcome you to call and to visit the community!

Contact Noah here: support@viaprize.org

Contact Francisco here: homerosharupi@gmail.com

New Hope Construction Company

Updates

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