On my first trip to Nigeria in 2014, at the airport, I met a baggage carrier named Jasper who had a university graduate degree. Because of government corruption and lack of connections, Jasper struggled mightily to find employment that matched his level of education and skills. For me, this personal encounter confirmed the necessity of the entrepreneurial aspect of HEAL’s mission.
The phrase “brain drain” refers to the exodus of educated people from poorer countries due to lack of opportunity. Brain drain exists in spades in many African countries like Nigeria, where the most educated citizens often leave and establish their livelihoods elsewhere. HEAL exists in part to prepare future Servant Leaders (Mt. 20:28) so that they won’t feel forced into economic emigration.
As Deacon Leo says, “HEAL imparts skills to our students to overcome unemployment and bad economic conditions in their quest of upward economic mobility.” Part of developing entrepreneurial skills includes our focus on teaching foundational and practical agricultural skills. At our mission schools, HEAL students work at farming for four hours a week with the MOJ sisters.
One food we process are palm nuts, which are picked from the top of palm trees and then peeled to expose the fruit. “The fruit is boiled and pressed to extract the oil, which is placed in 25 liter cans and brought to market. People buy palm oil for use in cooking or even making soap” says Rev. Leo. Also, we plant and grow a crop called cassava, which is processed into a staple Nigerian food called Garri.
Rev. Leo knows this work teaches invaluable lessons which the children will use the rest of their lives. “They learn the management of sensitive crops as well as their market values”, he says. In the future, these skills paired with entrepreneurial spirit will give HEAL students the option to “bloom where they are planted” rather than feeling forced into leaving their home.
We need YOUR help to develop our skills training and entrepreneurial programs. Join our family, so that we may continue our farming labors and meet the various costs associated with them!