After visiting MANY of our schools in Nigeria, I can say with great confidence that the schools are doing very well. We spent WEEKS traveling with Reverend John Raji, our SFA Assistant Director, and his wife Josephine - THEY admin all of the Kogi State schools, a several others! School reports are very strong. Reverend John and Josephine have trained all of the teachers in teaching young children English phonetically. They monitor student progress, lesson plans, teachers and staff. They visit the schools regularly to check in on teachers and meet with parents. We are careful to hire certified teachers who will genuinely care for the children. And OH THE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN! They are very thankful for the opportunity of an education!
Enjoy a video greeting from Reverend John and Josephine HERE!
Several years ago, American teachers Jan Novak (second from right, above), Judy Hildebrandt (second from left, above, a recent addition to our SFA board), and Carol Barrett (third from left, and pictured below) developed, distributed, and trained teachers in the phonetic program that SFA uses now to teach English to children. English is the 'official' national language in Nigeria. Many Nigerians speak their own tribal language, AND Hausa, a common language throughout the nation, AND English, or some combination thereof. While visiting Nigeria in June/July, retired teacher Carol was able to see the phonetics programs still being used in classrooms! She worked with the SFA Nigerian team to retrain teachers and fine tune the program. What a wonderful success the phonetics program has been! Praise God for these kind teachers, and their continued work in phonetics!
Below are some of the MANY incredible teachers we have!
Many Fulani understand the importance of education. They have seen our schools, met some families with educated children, and highly value education for their children! One Fulani man told me that he used to get lied to by the veterinarian. He would purchase meds for his cows, but they would be inert, outdated, or even poison! Now that the children can read, they can check the vaccines bought for cattle! Education will change the futures of students, AND their whole families! They have HOPE for a better future.
Below are a few precious students of the thousands gaining education through SFA!
Meet Hassan, Overcoming Every Challenge!
Hassan (pictured below) started school at Hope Academy in 2010. As a Fulani boy, he struggled with cultural and language barriers. He came to Hope Academy barely speaking English, and adjusting to the new environment was difficult. Life at Hope Academy was not easy for him - it was filled with challenges. He lost his father at a young age, and since then, surviving became his daily reality. Without guidance or support, he had to grow up quickly and learn to face life on his own. Hassan had no family members who supported his education. He had to find ways to manage school responsibilities alone. Many times, he had to work to support himself.
In the midst of it all, Hope Academy became more than a school. It became a second home to him as he stayed in the boarding house throughout his school days. At Hope Academy he was shown care, understanding, and belief in his potential. With support from Reverend Phyllis and Schools for Africa, he was able to focus on his studies, stay in school, and grow in confidence. He received excellent marks throughout school.
Today, we are proud that he has gained admission into university, something that once felt impossible for him. A great thanks to Reverend Phyllis and our Schools for Africa partners. May God bless Reverend Phyllis with good health and enrich her for all what she has done.
Thanks, Reverend John Raji, SFA Assistant Director
