Founded in the United States in 1958, Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere) is an international health care organization. This charitable institution also provides health education to impoverished people around the globe. This group is listed as the 55th largest on the recent list of Forbes’ 100 Largest U.S. Charities.

The first peacetime hospital ship is SS Hope, the organization’s most visible aspect which was converted from the USS Consolation (AH-15). It was in 1974 that the vessel was retired after visiting several countries. Among these countries where the vessel docked and provided service were Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guinea, Indonesia, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Peru, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, and Southern Vietnam. There were nurses, doctors, and several technical staff who had lend their medical care and training to the people in these countries. 

There are currently three countries that have this organization: Germany, United Kingdom, and the United States. Project HOPE exerts efforts in the eradication of infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in various developing countries. They set up educational systems that would teach parents how to treat and prevent diseases for their children. In addition, they also set up village health banks that would grant women small amount of loan for their improvement of their health and their family’s welfare. 

In 2009, this charitable organization deployed navy missions in the areas of Antigua, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ghana, Haiti, Kiribati, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Nicaragua, Panama, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Western Samoa, and Vietnam. These missions were not in relation to the SS HOPE of the organization as emphasis was switched entirely to land-based operations after the vessel was decommissioned.

Project HOPE maintains their operations in various countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East, Central and Eastern Europe, and Eurasia. This organization is currently headquartered in Millwood, Virginia at the Carter Hall.