What does it take for a CarePoint to move from external support to being led and sustained by local community leaders? Recently, HopeChest brought together three country staff—Tenbit Zeleke (Community Relationship Manager, Ethiopia), Isaac Okwang (Community Relationship Manager, Uganda), and Sam Montero (Program Manager, Guatemala)—alongside CEO and president Ken Sparks, for a roundtable discussion on CarePoint graduation. Their conversation offers a rare glimpse into the realities, lessons, and triumphs of empowering CarePoint communities to take ownership and lead their own development.
Learning and Adapting Across Contexts
Graduation is as much a process of discovery as it is a milestone. Each country team adapts the Community Development Plans (CDPs) based on what they see in real time:
“Lots of changes around there, you know, COVID happened in the middle and also we were passing through different changes and also we also have started to internalize what graduation means even in our context. So we need to revise the CDP as it’s time to revise and plan for the next years.” — Sam, Guatemala
“Every time you plan something, it’s perfect on paper. But once you start implementing, you have to adapt and change and see what we did well, what we need to adjust to get to the graduation.” — Isaac, Uganda
“As we began implementation across our CarePoints, there has always been learning as we implement. And as we learn, we realize that there are certain things that need revision and so these revisions are taking into account all the learnings that we have gathered as an organization over the many years.” — Tenbit, Ethiopia
Preparing Communities for CarePoint Leadership
At the heart of CarePoint graduation is building strong local leadership. Tenbit described how leadership teams are formed from every part of the community, from church and government leaders to parents and even older youth:
“The leadership team who will be taking over the CarePoint should be well equipped. We have started organizing this community leadership team from different bodies…they are discussing continuously to cast the vision for the future.” — Tenbit, Ethiopia
Sam emphasized that ownership is not just about training but about continuous dialogue and engagement:
“We believe they need to be equipped to take full ownership of their CarePoint’s ongoing activities and to own the vision.” — Sam, Guatemala
Alumni Associations: Sustaining Impact Beyond Graduation
Graduation also relies on alumni networks, as young people who have grown through the program step into leadership roles. Isaac shared the impact he’s seen:
“All our CarePoints, apart from those that are about six years and below, have alumni associations and they gather together for meetings to discuss issues that affect the CarePoint and the community at large…They have the skill, they have the knowledge and they are able to actually rally and run the CBO (community-based organization) very effectively.” — Isaac, Uganda
Sam described how alumni are giving back to the next generation:
“We have individuals who have graduated from our care points and whenever we meet them, we see this deep desire to give back to their community…They are our discipleship teachers, they are coaching and training and mentoring our youth at the CarePoint.” — Sam, Guatemala
Cross-Cultural Learning
The leaders also emphasized how much they learn from each other:
“I remember one of the things that came out very clearly for us actually when we visited Ethiopia. We found that Ethiopia had a very strong arm that would strengthen families…And that is something that we borrowed and we were able to learn from that.” — Isaac, Uganda
“Since we’re kind of the youngest country, we learned a lot about Uganda’s experience and Ethiopia and for us. One of the main things I learned from both countries is the importance of establishing that leadership team so well.” — Sam, Guatemala
Through this conversation, one point became clear: CarePoint graduation is not the end; it is the beginning. Graduation marks the transition from donor dependency to community-led impact, where youth step into leadership, families strengthen their capacity, and transformational programs continue to ripple outward.
It’s a process of transformation that touches every level of the community. Leadership teams take ownership, revenue-generating initiatives provide sustainable income, and alumni networks mentor the next generation. Through intentional discipleship, the work extends beyond practical support, fostering spiritual and personal growth for both children and adults.
As Ken Sparks reflected during the discussion, it’s all about equipping communities to continue the work that HopeChest started:
“The culmination of our engagement is to help the community reignite hope within their area and carry forward their own vision.”
CarePoint graduation is a reminder that true impact is measured not by how long an organization stays, but by the capacity it leaves behind. By investing in leadership, sustainability, and community ownership, HopeChest ensures that each CarePoint continues to thrive long after graduation.
Don’t miss this special roundtable conversation!
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