HOPE TAKES ROOT NEWSLETTER — Aug 2026
This year has reminded me once again of the importance of investing in ourselves so that we can better serve others. Both Bev and I have had the opportunity of experiencing coaching through Katharina Prost's generous gift of time and expertise. Her guidance have brought fresh perspectives, renewed inspiration and personal growth.
If you've been thinking about investing in your own growth, I warmly encourage you to take part in the Coaching Fundraiser. By investing in yourself, you'll also be helping us continue to invest in vulnerable children, families and communities.
As you read this newsletter, I also invite you to discover our new Growing Futures approach—the vision guiding how we invest in children, leaders and communities to create lasting, sustainable change.
Looking ahead, our commitment remains the same: to walk alongside vulnerable children, families and communities with compassion, purpose and hope.
With gratitude,
Karin Hoole, Founder A Reaching Hand
START YOUR COACHING JOURNEY
To Celebrate her Birthday, Katharina, a Leadership and Executive Coach, chose to give back by offering a Coaching Fundraiser insupport of A Reaching Hand. Instead of accepting payment for her coaching sessions, she is inviting participants to make a donation directly to A Reaching Hand.
Katharina Prost, a California resident, is both a Board Member and a dedicated volunteer at A Reaching Hand, generously supporting us with technical expertise, website development and strategic guidance. When she’s not volunteering for ARH, she is also a Director of Engineering in the technology industry and along with her husband, raises their two children, who also volunteer for A Reaching Hand.
Katharina’s visit to the kindergarten in the township in Cape Town
The world is changing fast!
If you're feeling overwhelmed, you're not alone.
Our Growing Futures Philosophy
Strengthening the Foundations
for Children to Thrive
🌳 The Story Behind Growing Futures
Over the years, A Reaching Hand has had the opportunity of walking alongside children, caregivers and communities through both hardship and hope. Their resilience has inspired us to think differently about how lasting change happens—and has shaped the Growing Futures Philosophy that guides our work today.
🌳 The Philosophy
Children do not grow in isolation. Neither do families, caregivers or communities. It is when we create a functioning network between the different parts that we can achieve lasting change.
The Growing Futures Philosophy represents an ecosystem of care, where every area of support works together to create resilience, opportunity and lasting change.
🌳 Growing Futures at a Glance
A Reaching Hand understands that growing futures is much like growing a tree. It requires strong roots and patient nurturing.
Trees must be given the chance to develop long and strong roots. They must never dry out, but neither must they be drowned by excessive watering. They must be nourished in the right amount and at the right times. They require constant supervision, patience and commitment - then the trees can grow strong and bear the fruit we desire and long for.
It does not bear fruit in the first few years. But then comes the reward, the harvest.
For every meal we serve, every lesson we help children understand and remember, for every caregiver we can inspire and for all the flow of creativity we can tap into - for every such small thing, an important part of a person is created who grows into a better future, filled with hope.
As we close this edition of our newsletter, we simply want to say thank you!
Together, we are growing brighter futures.