Special Hope Network
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Special Hope Network is a Christian ministry to children with intellectual disabilities in Zambia. We teach children and train their families in academics, therapies, nutrition and feeding and positioning with an excellence unrivaled in Zambia.

We run Community Care Centers in the poorest compounds, as well as one Center for children with ID from families who are able to pay for our services.

The need is growing exponentially, and we are in need of more teachers of children with special needs, and office staff/managers who can oversee operations and keep our ministry running smoothly. People ready to hit the ground running to serve are very welcome to apply with us. We have been praying for gifted folks to join us.

Our History

SHN was started in the USA in 2008, when its founding family heard God’s call to move from the USA to Zambia to begin ministering to children with intellectual disabilities. On the ground in Zambia we began to see what the needs were, and how we could best meet those needs by visiting churches, orphan homes, therapy sites, clinics and schools.

From that point, we realized that needs fell into every category, and that there was shockingly little provision for children or adults with intellectual disabilities. At that point, we chose to begin with a Community Care Center model, hoping that teaching parents and caregivers how to educate their child every week with other parents and children would begin to change Zambian culture.

We currently have multiple thriving Community Care Centers, an active Community Outreach Program, a 24-7 care facility for children with moderate to profound disabilities, and a Child Sponsorship Program.

Our Mission

Special Hope Network exists to bring glory to God by creating a world where all kids are valued. We impact communities by improving care for kids with intellectual disabilities. This starts by equipping families and caregivers to provide these children with a loving home, holistic health care, and exceptional education and therapies.

Our Values

1. Driven by Progress
2. Values kids with intellectual disabilities
3. Faith active
4. SHN is in the front of your mind

What We Do

At Special Hope Network, we imagine a world where every child has access to home, health, and education. Our Community Care Centers (CCCs) are at the heart of what we do. We believe that children with intellectual disabilities have an important role in their families and in their communities. Because of this, we open centers in the community where Special Hope staff can partner with parents to provide the guidance, skills, and support necessary to see their children with disabilities thrive.

Community Care Center (CCC) services include medical guidance, family counseling, motor training, communication support, feeding instructions, and educational lessons. Each center provides a space for 60 children and their parent or caregiver. Our CCCs operate as parent training centers, and are “one-stop-shops” for everything a child needs, and all the resources and training that a parent or caregiver requires. Our CCCs consider every aspect of the child’s health and well-being so that each caregiver can be trained based on the specific needs of their child. The centers are located within each compound so that the community can feel the impact of a safe, inclusive space for children with disabilities.

In addition to this work, our Community Outreach Team has been partnering with schools, churches, clinics and other local community sites to host Disability Advocacy Trainings. These trainings educate and empower Disability Advocates as they create a world where children with intellectual disabilities are valued! Since this program began in 2021, over 2,104 Disability Advocates have been trained by Special Hope Network.

In 2026 SHN launched a Child Sponsorship Program allowing donors a way to show practical love and care to a child with intellectual disabilities in Zambia with a monthly gift that goes directly to meeting the critical needs of individual children we serve.

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Organization Name:
Special Hope Network
Contact:
Mrs. Holly Nelson
Phone:
(425) 224-3015
Website:
Social:
Address:
PO Box 50543

Bellevue, WA, 98015
US

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