Viridiane’s Hope for Children’s Health and Education (Viridiane’s Hope) is an organization established to provide health and educational opportunities for children in underserved and underprivileged communities at both local and global levels. Viridiane’s Hope was inspired by the life of a little girl born in Cameroon who lived a short, but full and impactful life. It memorializes the legacy of this amazing child who touched so many lives.

It is the mission, duty and purpose of Viridiane’s Hope to build sustainable partnerships for children to enable and empower them to face and address challenges encountered in their communities. Viridiane’s Hope also aims to advance children’s rights and to correct inequality in underserved and underprivileged communities by coordinating and facilitating outreach and education activities.  Its central mission is to provide aid and relief to eradicate illiteracy and promote healthy behavior in children at local, national, and global levels.

In memory of Viridiane, Viridiane’s Hope first project involved building a school in Cameroon and will be used as a model for other projects in the United States and around the world.

A Tribute to Viridiane on her 25th Birthday – June 19, 2024

A child is not meant to die
Happy 25th Birthday, Viridiane
25 years ago, you were welcome into this world – a great gift from God to all who encountered you
A beautiful child with a glorious smile that filled any room by her presence
A thoughtful child that always brought cheers and happiness to others
Handmade birthday cards under the door the night before – a signature of yours I’d never forget

A child is not meant to die
At a very young age you were already impactful
As a little child, you had lots of dreams and aspirations
You always said – You wanted to be a nurse or a doctor when you grow up
A reflection of your strong desire to help others, especially those suffering and in need of care
You brought immense love to me and those around you

A child is not meant to die
You were the most healthy child anyone could ask for
A very athletic youth involved in soccer, swimming, basketball, and running
You had an angelic voice that you used to praise God while singing in the church’s children choir
Your talents were incredible and you were also very smart as shown by your school grades

A child is not meant to die
Yet, God had a different plan Which we all learned about during your last basketball game on February 17, 2007
That day, your beautiful smile often taken for granted, dissipated for the last time in front of many
When you collapsed at the beginning of the fourth quarter of the best basketball game of your life
Despite all the efforts by medical professionals, friends, and family
God called you home on February 19, 2007

A child is not meant to die
You were only 7 years old
Many of your goals and aspirations collapsed on that day
The physical separation was devastating
The feeling of loss was grave
The grief was immense Much suffering unfolded

A child did not die
You didn’t die
God determined that your many talents were needed in His Heavenly Kingdom
He chose you to join the choir of Angels
You now live in heaven for ever, preparing a place for us

A child is alive and is now an adult
You live on earth as well
In thousands of children and families you have impacted through Viridiane’s Hope VHCHE
You bring hope to those who despair
You live in many underserved and underprivileged communities, very poor villages
Some of which have suffered the impacts of war

You’ve built schools and furnished them, drilled water wells, and provided school supplies
You supported the propagation of faith with church vestments and vessels donated to many priests
You provided medical supplies and equipment to those in need of critical care
You provide opportunities to those who suffered the loss of loved ones
To channel their grief through Viridiane’s Hope

You inspire and empower youths, to push to their maximum potential through the Swim A Thon

And you provide them with leadership opportunities through the Youth Advisory Council
Yes, that’s what you wanted to do when you grow up, be of service to those who are suffering

Or just to help and serve others while providing opportunity for growth and personal development

Your goals and aspirations didn’t collapse with you on February 17, 2007
They were repurposed on February 19, 2007
Today, on June 19, 2024, you’re 25 years old
At 25, you’re an accomplished nurse, a well-rounded doctor, a faithful servant, an Angel in Heaven
You have shaped me, inspired me, motivated me, and more importantly, you have helped me channel my grief by doing good deeds to those around me who are most in need, and to those who are going through excruciating times as I did as a result of a loss of a loved one, you

There’s more work ahead and today I’d like to pause to wish you a Very Happy 25th Birthday Viridiane! You’re an Angel in Heaven, until we meet again.

For the love of Viridiane

With much love
Your loving father
Joe Tiago

Viridiane’s Story

Viridiane was born on June 19, 1999 in Yaoundé, Cameroon. She immigrated to the United States when she was only 10 months old and subsequently became a naturalized U.S. citizen.

Viridiane was joyful, caring, compassionate, always smiling, and was the child everyone wanted to spend time with. She was also ready to spread her contagious smile and her joyful spirit onto everyone she encountered in her life, whether at her church, school, or neighborhood. She spent most of her life in Austin, TX where she attended school and participated in various activities including singing with the church children’s choir and volunteering with her family in various charitable events. Viridiane was also a well-rounded athlete participating in various sports with her school and the YMCA, including running, soccer, basketball, and swimming. Viridiane was in overall very good health and had a goal to become a medical doctor later in life and to help others in need.

On February 17, 2007, like every Saturday during the basketball season, Viridiane was playing in an indoor game at the YMCA in northwest Austin, TX. She was playing what every parent spectator commented to be her best game since the beginning of the season. She was also lined up to play the entire game. One minute into the fourth quarter of the game, she desperately walked out of the court towards her father who was there with her at the game. She looked pale, exhausted, and could not say a word. The first thought was that she was dehydrated. She immediately was picked up and carried towards the water fountain that was just at a couple of feet from the court. Upon arrival to the fountain, she collapsed in her father’s arm. No breathing! No pulse! No heartbeat. She was immediately rushed toward the lobby of the YMCA and a YMCA staff was asked to call 911 while her father was performing CPR. After a series of chest compressions and mouth to mouth breathing, Viridiane was able to get a couple of breaths but the pulse was still not quite there. An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) was requested from the YMCA staff and the EMS arrived, then took it from there.  Resuscitation was attempted with the AED and Viridiane responded with a sign of heart fibrillation. She was then transported to Brackenridge hospital unconscious and connected to an external source of oxygen.

Despite every attempt to bring Viridiane back to life, she passed away on Monday, February 19, 2007 at 3:25 AM. Autopsy results determined that Viridiane had been born with an undetected congenital anomaly of the coronary arteries. Over four hundred people participated in Viridiane’s funeral in Austin, TX.

To memorialize Viridiane’s passion, goal, motivation, and impacts on others, the Viridiane’s Hope for Children’s Health and Education was incorporated in the State of Virginia on May 4, 2018, and was authorized by the Internal Revenue Service to operate as a 501(c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit organization, recognized as Viridiane’s Hope.