The Vision of HEAL is to form the African Child in the principles of servant leadership for the positive transformation of African Society. I would like to take a few steps back and highlight the comprehensive nature HEAL’s mission. What specifically needs positive transformation in Africa and what is the means we will employ to achieve such a transformation? A brief overview of the conditions of the poor and marginalized orphans, widows, and rural villagers will give us a hint.
People in the rural areas in Africa and in our own mission territories of Nigeria and Cameroon too often lack the opportunities to escape from the effects of debilitating poverty. Adequate food, shelter, healthcare, education, and employment are frequently as unaffordable as they are inaccessible. For over 25 years Deacon Leo has worked, in the self-emptying Spirit of Christ (cf. Phil 2:6-11), to bring these necessities into the rural areas. In fact, to fend off poverty in his own family, he missed three years of school and worked as a bonded servant from age 11-14.
HEAL, in conjunction with its Nigerian partners, Water For Life Mission and the Messengers of Justice congregation, has a three-part plan to combat the effects of extreme poverty in the rural areas. First, the Kindred Redeemer Farm (KRF) will 1.) provide income generation to cover the operational costs of HEAL’s mission and; 2.) teach “on the job” agricultural skills to our orphans and widows. Second, the Agro-Based Emancipation School of Excellence (ABESE) will teach agricultural science in a classroom setting to complement the “hands on” skills learned in KRF.
Besides agric skills, students who excel through our standard academic track will have the chance to go on to university. However, through ABESE and KRF, all our students and widows will be able to start their own small-scale ventures to begin or recover a more dignified economic life! This brings us to the third part of our 3-part plan. ABESE “graduate entrepreneurs” will be eligible to receive credit for startup ventures through HEAL sponsored micro-financing. These small ventures will be called KRF Cooperatives, initiating a chain reaction of upward economic mobility for the poor and marginalized in the rural areas!
As of now, the mission in Nigeria and Cameroon is offering the standard academic and spiritual formation elements of our service to the poor and marginalized. But, we must take the agricultural dimension to the next level for the vision of positive transformation to be realized. Please support us by donating or introducing me to people who you think can help us fulfill our vision.