The vision began with our founder, Dr. John Chacha, and his passion for raising up godly leaders.
Born and raised in Tanzania, our founder, Dr. John Chacha was no stranger to poverty, and he yearned for something better for his people.
After completing Bible College in the US, Dr. Chacha married his college friend, Regina Horst, in March 1986. They immediately founded Teamwork Ministries International to address the needs of the church in East Africa, and in particular to help Christians grow as leaders and in their walk with God. Over the next 25 years, Teamwork Ministries established hundreds of Bible Schools, created a cutting-edge curriculum, and published 20 of Dr. Chacha’s books. His dynamic teaching, writing, and preaching empowered leaders around the world.
In 2007, Dr. Chacha received a call to help the people in his home village of Ntagacha, Tanzania. His love for the children became all-consuming as he made it his mission to pour his life into giving back to the people in his community. Soon City of Hope included a children’s home serving orphans, Destiny Primary School, and Amani Medical Center.
City of Hope has been honored for its impact in bringing peace to an area known for clan violence and cattle theft. In 2009, the then president of Tanzania, Kikwete honored City of Hope with a personal visit and later that year sent the Mwenge (Freedom Torch) for a great celebration. In 2012, the Mwenge and delegation was again sent to honor our progress in agriculture and water collection through cisterns. In 2017, we received this honor for the third time to recognize our contributions to secondary education, particularly our chemistry and biology lab facilities.
On April 16, 2015, while Dr. Chacha was traveling to enroll City of Hope's top student in one of the best secondary schools in Tanzania, the truck in which they were traveling veered off the road and plunged into the Sondu River. His daughter and the driver were rescued, but Dr. Chacha and the student, Dorcas Huran, died. Thousands attended the memorials held in the US, Kenya, and at City of Hope in Tanzania where Dr. Chacha was laid to rest. Although he is gone, his influence and impact on the lives of the children at City of Hope and countless thousands around the world will never be forgotten.
Continuing the legacy
Regina Chacha
Building a secondary school had been the next part of Dr. Chacha’s vision. The new secondary school at City of Hope was therefore named in his honor when it opened in January 2017, and this school has had a further significant impact in this community.
HopeCo – our new name adopted in 2021 - continues to advance Dr. Chacha’s original vision as we establish new programs in further locations. Our story of creating transformed lives and flourishing communities continues!
Vanity Fair 2017 Hall of Fame
Regina Chacha and City of Hope were honored to be nominated to Vanity Fair's 2017 Hall of Fame
2018 Alumna of the Year
Regina Chacha honored as 2018 Alumna of the Year at Eastern Mennonite University