“When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.”
(Igbo Proverb)
Can you guess what or who the grass represents in this proverb?
In Nigeria, where a corrupt and abusive government clashes with overly aggressive human rights activism, poor and marginalized people and especially children often become the collateral damage.
If the intellectual development of children was impeded by the closing of Nigerian schools during the COVID pandemic in 2020, their physical development has been impeded by the spike in violent crime stemming from heightened tensions between Nigerian authorities and citizen activists.
Rev. Leo Okonkwo explains, “In the eastern heartland, the cycle of disruptive human rights protests and government reprisals has effectively banned or rendered impractical most outdoor gatherings of people, including children engaged in popular physical activities beneficial to them.”
In spite of this challenge, HEAL continues to physically develop our students while steering clear of the proverbial fighting elephants. When I visited Nigeria last March, I brought an American football and taught the children something about our most popular national sport.
But, HEAL’s main physical education program is the annual inter-house sports event, recently taking place over a two week period at our school in Mbaise village. Dean of Students and event director, Mr. Stanley, explains, “Our inter-house sports event is all about talent discovery, leadership development, unity and teamwork, and marketing our school.”
In the event, students were grouped into four “houses” or teams that competed against each other in track sports such as shot put, discus, javelin, long jump and high jump and the team sport of football (soccer).
In the context of HEAL’s mission of forming youth into Servant Leaders, as Jesus commands His disciples to be (Cf. Mt 20:26-27), sports have a sacred purpose beyond the secular values of competition and entertainment.
Ogechi Uwalaka, a student competitor, explains, “In the football match, I experienced how the goalkeeper, defenders, midfielders, and strikers all played together with brotherly love and unity as a team.”
Teaching students critical leadership and teamwork skills through sports is an integral part of their character development.
Without our 24 school teachers and staff directing the inter-house sports event, our students, whom we serve as Masters, would have continued suffering like the proverbial grass being trampled by the fighting elephants.
So, please join us in building a brighter future for God’s children by making your best one-time or monthly gift today!