◎ TRACE MY ROOTS

From the diaspora back to your story.

Whether your family is now in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe or elsewhere, HOPe Africa International helps you explore the African people, places, histories and communities connected to your family story.

Start My Roots Search → Fund My Roots Journey Explore Roots Journeys →
YOUR JOURNEY MAY BEGIN WITH
Family Names Surnames, maiden names and remembered relatives.
Places & Communities Villages, towns, regions, ethnic groups and languages.
Family Stories Migration stories, occupations, memories and oral history.
DNA Ancestry Clues Existing ancestry estimates can support research, but HOPe does not require raw DNA files.
Human research Family history, records and local context.
Diaspora connection Built for people reconnecting across borders.
Careful evidence Findings should distinguish facts, possibilities and uncertainty.
Privacy first No raw genetic files are collected through this form.
HOW IT WORKS

A guided path back to your story.

HOPe can combine information from your family, documentary research, cultural knowledge and local connections to identify practical next steps.

01

Tell us what you know

Share names, places, relatives, stories and any ancestry clues you already have.

02

HOPe reviews the clues

Your information is reviewed to identify realistic research directions.

03

Research & connection

Depending on the service selected, research may include records, communities or local contacts.

04

Receive your findings

Findings can include sources, uncertainties, possible connections and recommended next steps.

FUND MY ROOTS JOURNEY

Let your community help you reconnect.

Some roots journeys may require paid genealogy research, archive access, document retrieval, translation, DNA ancestry testing, local researchers or travel. Members can request a fundraising campaign to help cover approved research costs.

✓ Clear fundraising goal
✓ Defined research purpose
✓ HOPe review before publication
✓ Transparent approved uses of funds
Request Fundraising Explore Public Roots Journeys
EXAMPLE ROOTS JOURNEY

Help Maya reconnect with her family history

Support family-history research, records retrieval and community tracing connected to her West African ancestry.

Goal: $1,200 Research + Records
Fundraising is not automatically published. HOPe reviews the request, proposed costs and campaign description before approval.
See HOPe-Approved Roots Journeys →
BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY

What do you already know?

You do not need a complete family tree. Even a surname, remembered town, grandparent's story or DNA ancestry estimate may provide a starting point.

About DNA information

You may tell HOPe which DNA ancestry service you have used and summarize the ancestry result if you wish. Do not upload raw DNA/genetic files through this form.

Research is not certainty

Genealogy, oral history and ancestry estimates can be incomplete. HOPe should clearly distinguish verified findings, likely connections and unresolved questions.