Not only does Faith Alive Nigeria run a large hospital, their community care services extend to a free K-8 school in the countryside about 15 km away from the main facility.
The Hwol Yarje School (pronounced “hole yar jay”) started in 2008 with a gift of land from a community member and patient of the Faith Alive Hospital. The land was originally meant to be farmed for the benefit of HIV Support Groups, but it was noticed that school aged children were roaming about the area, so a small part of the land was purposed for a school. After gaining permission from local institutions, the Hwol Yarje school began operation with the goal of providing education and spiritual empowerment in accordance with Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
In Nigeria, there is no free education. Wealthier families can pay for school, but the poor have no educational opportunities. The vast majority of the population in Nigeria thus does not attend school. The Hwol Yarje school ministers to these families; tuition, books, uniforms, and medical care are all free to all students. 283 students attend the School, ranging in age from 3 to 15. The students are both Christian and Muslim, which mirrors Christ’s love for all of mankind and is a major feature of all Faith Alive’s ministries.
The school has ten teachers, and provides instruction in English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Agriculture, Home Economics, Computers, Reason, and Bible. The school sponsors various clubs and sports, and has a sewing school for the general community. After graduation, most students go into one of many trades, but about 20% of them go on to secondary school. The Faith Alive community funds the secondary education of the top three graduates each year.
Please pray for the Hwol Yarje students and the staff. The need for education is so great in all of Nigeria and it is an excellent way to show God’s love for those in need. Not only does the school spread the Good News of Christ, but it also provides skills its graduates to earn a living. The vision for the future of the school includes expansion to accommodate more students, adding secondary education, and building some multipurpose rooms to minister to the local community at large.