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Introduction to the Legend of Hope
The Legend of Hope is an ancient story that has been passed down through generations of children from around the world. It is an account of how mankind became a species that is governed more by the influences of evil notions than good because a guardian named Pandora, unwittingly unleashed spirits that had been locked away in the Chest of Karma by the Gods of Olympus. Instead of evolving without the influences of good and evil, mankind has been subjected to the age-old battle between the spirits. The Legend explains how the spirit of Hope never escaped from Karma and to this day remains locked inside the chest until it can be released by a very special child. This child, called a “Hopeful”, will be one who understands the legend and commits to becoming worthy of releasing the spirit of Hope out into the world.

The Chest of Karma
Contrary to the popular version of the story of Pandora which identified the container that held the spirits as being simply a small jar or box, instead, the Legend of Hope describes a large fortified chest. Created by Zeus, Athena, Poseidon and many of the other great Gods of Olympus, this chest was designed to trap and hold every spirit which could ever have a potential impact on the development of the human race. Inside the Chest were such evil spirits as War, Hate, Poverty, Greed, Disease and Hunger, along with spirits of goodness, such as: Beauty, Compassion, Love, Empathy, Joy and Hope. These spirits were to be withheld from man allowing free will to be the determining factor in realizing the vast potential of the human race. The chest is impenetrable and to this day is still protected by the three guardians chosen by the Gods. The legend states that the guardians were named: Venado, Ra Jon and Pandora and all three were carefully selected for this guardianship. They have been watching over Karma in a secret location for centuries. Originally, the three were the only ones who had the power to open the Chest of Karma, but since the day Pandora opened the chest allowing the spirits to escape into the world, the chest has been sealed shut. Trapped inside the Chest of Karma is the most powerful of all, the spirit of Hope.

The Impact of Good and Evil
When Pandora mistakenly unleashed the spirits of good and evil out into the world, she was unaware of the long-lasting impacts they would have on the human race. For the Gods felt that shielding humankind from these external forces would allow man to follow their innate instincts toward goodness. Instead, history over the previous centuries has shown that the forces of evil continue to exert influence over the human race. The spirit of War has drawn man into thousands of damaging conflicts, while Hate has influenced despicable men such as Hitler, Stalin, Osama Bin Laden and Timothy McVeigh to end the lives of millions in the name of their own personal cause. Conversely, the influences of Good can be found throughout history as well, in people such as Mother Teresa, Ghandi and countless others. However, in modern times it appears that Good is losing ground in the battle for the human spirit. Purveyors of the Legend of Hope maintain that the cause behind this is that the spirit of hope is still trapped in the Chest of Karma. Now, more than ever, it is time for the “Hopeful’s” to organize and find the secret location of the chest and release Hope out into the world.

The Hopefuls
According to the Legend of Hope, the Hopefuls will walk the earth and give Hope to mankind. Uncorrupted by the influences of evil, they will take it upon themselves to influence the world around them through acts of kindness in their community and by filling their hearts and mind with knowledge and the spirit of goodness. It is said that the Gods moved the Chest of Karma to a place called, Hope Island and it is there that the Hopeful’s will find it and if found worthy, a special child will have the power to open it. It is believed that any child or young adult can become a Hopeful if they feel that it is their destiny to take ownership of their future. Regardless of their social, political or economic standing, a Hopeful will be filled with the spirit of goodness and strive to educate themselves by utilizing any and all means available to them. A Hopeful will always put others first by performing acts of kindness in their community and exhibiting leadership skills by influencing others who have not yet decided to become a Hopeful.