Project HOPE wins international ‘Economy of Fraternity’ award for empowering abuse survivors and vulnerable youth in India
In a moving ceremony held on Sunday, May 25, at the historic Church of St. Mary Major in Assisi, the international award "Francis of Assisi and Carlo Acutis, for an Economy of Fraternity" was bestowed upon Project HOPE, a grassroots initiative based in Goa, India, working tirelessly with at-risk youth and survivors of abuse.
An acronym for Healing, Opportunities, Protection, and Empowerment, Project HOPE emerged from the dedicated efforts of Caritas Goa—originally the driving force behind the “Childline” helpline that served to rescue and rehabilitate vulnerable children from marginalized rural pockets. When governance of the program shifted to the state in 2023 and troubling inconsistencies surfaced, seven young individuals already engaged in Caritas Goa’s work with the deaf-blind community took initiative. Their resolve gave birth to Project HOPE.
Focused on youth over 18 and abuse survivors—including those with sensory disabilities—Project HOPE operates a call center offering immediate emotional and social support. More than a service, it is a lifeline.
Beyond emergency intervention, HOPE emphasizes economic independence through vocational training. Young participants learn to produce sustainable, handcrafted goods—ranging from soaps and toilet paper rolls to eco-friendly packaging and hospitality kits tailored for environmentally conscious clients. The initiative has already found success with Taj Hotels, a major luxury chain that now stocks and sells HOPE’s artisanal products, offering both dignity and livelihood to those once silenced by trauma.
Accepting the €50,000 prize on behalf of the project was Fr. Sanford Rodrigues of the Archdiocese of Goa, who emphasized that “hope” is not merely an emotion or concept—it is action. “Hope is a movement,” he declared, “a new economy rooted in fraternity, where businesses champion ecosystems that ensure dignity and autonomy.”
He underscored how financial independence breaks the cycle of abuse: “Our entrepreneurial training equips youth with the means to walk away from oppressive environments, refusing to be trapped by their past.”
The award doesn’t simply offer financial support. It promises connection. Fr. Rodrigues announced plans for a global network of changemakers, starting with a WhatsApp group to facilitate ongoing training and leadership exchange. “We are not recipients—we are stewards,” he stated. “Every healed wound, every empowered soul, is a ripple of global hope.”
The regional leadership of Goa hailed the award as a signal of renewal. “Project HOPE exemplifies how despair can be transformed into opportunity,” a statement read. “It is a model of sustainable, integrated development—where compassion fuels innovation.”
The recognition has resonated across Church leadership as well. Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa and Daman, expressed heartfelt joy, and Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino of Assisi emphasized the model of “political charity”—a kind of love that becomes structurally transformative.
Project HOPE is not simply an award-winning program. It is a paradigm shift—redefining aid not as pity, but as partnership. Its journey from Goa’s quiet corners to the global stage in Assisi is proof that hope, when nurtured, becomes a force that heals, uplifts, and transforms the future.