Nigeria

Have you ever struggled to focus at work because you were hungry or had to use the bathroom? Have you ever been afraid to go to the bathroom because it was slightly inconvenient or even dangerous?

This is the daily existence for the children at Holy Rosary Primary School in Ukpor, Anambra State, Nigeria. Their school has no bathroom facilities. When they have to “go,” their only option is a stand of bushes outside. But this is scary and dangerous for them because of one alarming reason: snakes.

These snakes are not afraid to bite the children, and several have had to be taken to the hospital after suffering a snakebite!

As a result, the students at Holy Rosary try their hardest to never have to use the bathroom while at school. They don’t eat before or during school. They don’t drink any water. And if worse comes to worst and they absolutely can’t hold it, they go home to use the bathroom—and often don’t return to school until the next day.

How can children learn if they’re hungry, dehydrated, or not even in school?

You can help today! To give these sweet students a new bathroom, complete with 6 commodes (3 for the boys and 3 for the girls), it will cost just $6,613.

Here are some concrete ways you can help:

• $278 provides all digging needed to build
• $306 provides all cinder blocks needed
• $111 provides 10 planks needed for construction
• $83 pays the plumber for his labor
• $47 pays for one toilet ($279 pays for all six!)

Give now! Click here to make a life-changing gift today.

New roof for Broadrick Street Primary School – 2018

In 2018, your generosity and fast action made it possible for the students to have a safe, new school roof to learn under. The old roof was rusting and falling away, making every day at school a dangerous risk. Students were either exposed to the elements or in danger of falling debris.

Thank you for making this dream a reality!

WATCH: Broadrick students celebrate the completion of their new roof!

Mission Trip – May 2015

In May 2015 missionary Felicia Amanambu visited Nigeria to alleviate the suffering of the poorest of the poor. When she saw the poverty in the villages she asked what their greatest needs were, and how she could fulfill them. School supplies and medical care were among the most urgent needs. We were able to respond immediately thanks to your support!

Felicia shared with us that wherever she goes people shout, “Catholic World Mission is here! Catholic World Mission has come to help us!” Thanks to your support, this joy is contagious.

See photos from the schools below:

We called on you in March with an emergency request to help Broadrick Street Primary School finish its roof. With just two days to go before our partner, Felicia, had to return to the States, this was an urgent need. But you rallied and gave generously! We were able to send the needed funds in time, and the roof was finished in April!

Here is what Felicia had to say in an email she sent to us from Nigeria:

“Happy Easter. This is the best Easter ever. I don’t know what else to say. God Almighty will never forget you all. The Children were too happy, all their prayers were for Catholic World Mission. God bless you all. Everybody in the city and community came to see the new changes at Broadrick School in Enugu. Thank you all. I am so proud of Catholic World Mission.”

More pictures are on their way, but for now, here’s a video of the students celebrating their new roof. Thank you for all you’ve done for these little ones!

Access to education is one of the key stepping stones for a person to escape poverty. Poverty in Nigeria is extreme, with many families living on less than $2 per day. Your gift today will give a child in Nigeria the quality education he or she needs to build a hopeful future.

Your dollars go far in Nigeria:

• $25 provides simple workbooks for 160 students
• $50 provides workbooks for an entire school (about 300 students, ages 4-16)
• $100 gives rice—a staple of the Nigerian diet—to feed one child for 50 days
• $250 feeds 125 children for one day

Please keep these schools, their students, and all teachers and staff members in your prayers.

Give today so a child in Nigeria has the tools she needs to escape poverty.

Shipping Hope

Unlike Ghana, Nigerians fall prey to illness more familiar to us, such as diabetes and heart disease. Medicines are selected carefully to ensure the areas are receiving what is most needed. Additionally, we were able to stock the local hospital in Nnewi with pediatric and regular-sized hospital beds–a valuable commodity. Too often, patients here are turned away from the hospital due to lack of beds and medicines to treat them.