Driving home into Chicago recently via the I-94 Expy, I noticed a building on the roadside with a large painting of abolitionist pioneer, Frederick Douglass. Next to his visage are the words, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free!” Indeed, there is no place on earth today where Douglass’ words about education are more pertinent than in rural southeast Nigeria, the home of HEAL’s mission!
A recent United Nations Children’s Fund report found that over 10 million Nigerian children aged 5-14 are not in school in spite of the fact education is free and compulsory. This social ill represents the educational vacuum being filled by HEAL sponsored missionary schools like BOMCA and MENPS. Indeed, if it weren’t for “missionary disciples” like the Messengers of Justice then how many more Nigerian children would be out of school?
As I wrote recently about physical education, today I write about the quiz and recitation competition which took place Monday, March 25th at BOMCA. Deacon Leo sees pedagogical value in this activity because future Servant Leaders must be able to speak publicly about what they know. “In the quiz competition, students demonstrate their assimilation of lessons taught in class while practicing public speaking and overcoming their fear of it,” he explained.
Teachers coordinated the quiz questions on subjects such as English, Math, Agricultural Science, and Computer Studies. French teacher, Mr. Nwagwu John, coordinated the spelling component of the competition. “I was particularly impressed at the level of composure displayed by the students during the quizzes,” John said. “I was overjoyed at how we are transforming these young ones into great people of sound intellect.”
One of these promising young ones is 13-year-old SS-1 student Ogu Modesta. He had difficulty in the spelling portion of the quiz. “I have had a French background and influence early in life and it showed in my spelling of English words,” he admitted. Ogu hopes one day to participate in national and international math and spelling competitions. “A thousand mile journey begins with a single step and through the quizzes and recitations BOMCA and HEAL are guiding my steps toward my dream.”
For the masters to become “forever free,” as Frederick Douglass once put it, HEAL must support teachers like Mr. Nwagwu John, who have emptied themselves out like Christ (Phil 2:6–11) for this cause. Without them, we cannot continue the quality educational programs enabling youngsters like Ogu Modesta to dream of a brighter future! Please give $19, $30, or $60 or more each month or $50, $100, or $250 or more just one time! And include your prayer intentions!