Daniels Bio

Daniel was the 33rd of 35 children. At the age of five his mother died, leaving him largely abandoned and subsequently destitute.

At the age of 10, his condition was discovered by a benevolent missionary who was in Africa on account of the Gospel of Christ. This intervention served as a catalyst for almost unlimited possibilities.

Daniel flourished under the nurturing and guidance of his benefactors, learning French – the colonial language of Burkina Faso, graduating from secondary school and eventually college, with an undergraduate degree.

In 1994, amazing circumstances aligned across the world in Canada to bring another benefactor into Daniel’s life when an individual asked the simple question "what can I do ?" Before the red dust of Burkina had settled, Daniel was on a plane to Canada and enrolled at Eston College, beginning his journey into higher education.

A most auspicious meeting took place while at college as Daniel met his future wife Sara, who later became a nurse-practitioner and an integral partner in their future efforts to alleviate poverty and empower individuals.

After only two years in Canada, Daniel Zopoula became unsettled by the disparity he observed between his new life and the life he lived growing up in Burkina Faso. He began sending small amounts of money back to Africa to help relieve some of the suffering among his own people. This was the seed that would grow to become Bridges of Hope.

And thus began the challenge to bring hope and impact to as many individuals as possible and to kindle the flame of potential in children - ultimately, to move from beneficiary to benefactor.

Significantly, many of the lives that have been radically changed, come not from Africa, but are rather the individuals that were mobilized to serve. Medical professionals, educators, construction workers and laborers, farmers and agricultural specialists have gone on short term trips through the Global Connection Experience and have personally been touched by the transformative power of serving the least fortunate among us.

You too, can become a benefactor as did key people in this story. One effective option is to become a strategic partner with Daniel and Bridges of Hope and help to build vibrant and sustainable communities across Africa. There are so many Daniel’s – boys and girls whose imaginations have yet to hope and whose worth and potential is still unknown.

You could be their difference maker!

Daniel Zopoula is a dynamic motivational speaker and an engaging strategic thinker. Currently, he is the Lead Pastor of a little City Church in Lethbridge called The Miz (www.themiz.ca).  He is always looking for new partners and will make himself available whenever and wherever people are looking to share his vision of unleashing the worth and potential in people.

Read Daniels Blog - www.dzopoula.org