Junior Chamber International (JCI) Operation Hope was officially launched on 1 January 2005, in response to JCI members from all over the world expressing their desire to help the tsunami victims. During 2005, JCI members in countries affected by the tsunamis received assistance from JCI members from many other countries, as well as from other private contributors, such as Dr. Dato Tan Hian Tsin. Those donations were effectively used to assist tsunami victims, primarily children.

For example, in Sri Lanka, fishermen received boats to replace those they had lost and a school was rebuilt, and efforts continue. JCI Japan members support focused upon assisting abandoned orphans on the Island of Nias, Indonesia.

Village of Hope

JCI Offenbach (Germany) members worked to help fund the building of the “Village of Hope” in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka for its tsunami orphans. The inauguration ceremony for the Village of Hope was held on November 23, 2006. Consisting of 10 residential homes, each houses from 8 to 10 orphans, and one sister as a mentor. The houses are made of stone, which is unusual for the region. In addition to the homes, community houses, a sports field, a playground, and a well with a reprocessing plant for water. One of the two houses funding by JCI is called “Jaycees Home”.

To raise funds for the Village of Hope, JCI Offenbach members have been working through Kinderhilfestiftung, a charity organization for children founded by JCI Offenbach members 25 years ago. To raise funds for the project, they have organized two huge children's parties in one of the largest shopping malls in Frankfurt in 2005 and 2006 gathering more than 200,000 visitors.

The profit of its first children’s party was used to build two of the 10 residential homes. The profit of the second party will be used to build a hospital in the village, with JCI Offenbach committed in the long-term to continue its fund raising to help to complete and maintain the hospital.

Based upon its success, in responding to the need to assist other areas of the world, Operation Hope was extended as a permanent JCI fund to assist disaster victims, most recently those in the New Orleans area following Hurricane Katrina.