Providing Hope Through Education and Health in Rural Nigeria
How We Started
All it takes is one… We started with a single donation to help a school in Garam, Nigeria, the home of Father Okhouya, a priest in the Omaha Archdiocese since 2004.
What We Do
We are building classrooms and libraries; we are providing clean water, lunch programs, and restrooms. We are building bonds half way around the world.
Why It's Important
Father Kizito Okhouya was one of those children. He escaped poverty through education. With his leadership, we hope to provide the opportunity for more children.
Who We Are
Hope Connecting Hearts Nigeria is managed by a volunteer board based in the United States. Our founder, Father Kizito Okhouya guides our efforts.
How We Started
We started as a single donation to help a school in Garam, Nigeria, the home area of Father Kizito Okhouya who has been a priest in the Omaha Archdiocese since 2004.
When Father Kizito went home to visit in 2009, he brought that financial gift, which turned into desks for the St. Joseph School in Garam. He shot a thank-you video at the Nigeria school to show parishioners in Omaha the impact of their gift. It created the first bonds between the people in Garam and those in Omaha.
Two years later, he hosted the first mission trip, bringing six others to Nigeria for 12 days. They carried 14 pieces of luggage filled with school and medical supplies. A project began to build four new classrooms. When the missioners returned, an official organization was formed, Hope Connecting Hearts Nigeria.
What We Do
We are building an organization that can construct schools for children in rural Nigeria. To date, as we’ve worked in two areas, enrollment has grown substantially. In one school that previously had fewer than 80 students, there are now more than 750.
We are working with communities of people who are investing their efforts with us. There are parent teacher organizations that make sure the project produces results for their children.
We are building classrooms, libraries, lunch programs, providing clean water and restrooms. We are bringing books and building bonds with people half way around the world.
In the future we’ll tackle the teacher shortage by building teacher residences near the schools. Better educated young people can make good decisions that pull them from the grip of poverty and point them in the direction of opportunity.
Why Its Important
Hope Connecting Hearts Nigeria believes education has the power to transform lives and communities. Father Kizito Okhouya, the organization’s founder, overcame poverty in Nigeria through education and now leads efforts to provide the same opportunities to children in rural areas.
Each classroom built, book delivered, and clean water source provided represents hope and a chance for a brighter future. By partnering with local communities, the organization ensures its efforts are sustainable, empowering young people to break the cycle of poverty and create a lasting impact.
Board of Directors
Fr. Kizito Okhuoya
Founder
Biography
Fr. Kizito is the founder of Hope Connecting Hearts Nigeria. He is originally from Nigeria. He was ordained a Catholic priest September 14,1996 for Minna Diocese in Nigeria. Prior to his arrival in the Archdiocese of Omaha in 2004, he served as pastor in three rural communities in Minna Diocese for about 8 yrs. Since being in the Archdiocese of Omaha he served as Associate pastor at St. Wenceslaus Church and St. Thomas More Church both in Omaha, Nebraska; and was the chaplain of Our Lady of Africa Catholic Community also in Omaha. He is currently the pastor of St. Wenceslaus Church and St. William Church in Verdigre and Niobrara respectively. Apart from his eclectic pastoral experiences, Fr. Kizito has an extensive mission experience from working with the rural poor and with immigrant communities. He holds graduate degrees in both community counseling and Christian Spirituality from Creighton University Omaha. Fr. Kizito’s experience and interest in both human and community development has inspired mission trips to Nigeria offering hope and opportunity for solidarity with poor rural children supported by Hope Connecting Hearts Nigeria.
Mike Intrieri
Board Chair
Biography
I moved to Omaha in 1987 for my job with Catholic Mutual Group. We are the primary writer of the Catholic Church and worked closely with the hierarchy. I worked in various positions including President and CEO until my retirement in 2024. I have worked on several nonprofit boards and feel very blessed that God has provided me with much to be thankful for and therefore wanted to find ways to pay it forward. Serving on the board of HCHN definitely accomplishes this goal.
Mark Bishoff
Vice Chair & Treasurer
Biography
Mark has been involved in many Catholic and civic organizations over the years. Upon retiring from the insurance industry in 2017 after 43 years he joined the HCHN Board in February 2018. With more time on his hands, he found himself called to help the children in Nigeria and went on his first mission trip in 2018. It was truly a humbling experience and one he will never forget. The children desperately need our help and HCHN is filling that need. He feels blessed to be a part of it. He also spends time in their family business, Pets Earth, an all natural pet food supply store in Papillion, Omaha and Bennington. Mark and his wife, Phyllis have 3 children and 3 grandchildren.
Dave Volkman
Finance Secretary
Biography
Antonia Joppa
Secretary
Biography
I have worked in the hospitality sector for 25 years, gaining experience in various roles. I am a member of the African Mass Community, formerly Our Lady of Africa Catholic Chaplaincy, at St. Bernard Catholic Church. Over the years, I held various positions at African Mass such as Secretary and Head of Human Needs, where I played a key role in organizing and supporting community-based events, including serving as Pastoral Coordinator with Father Kizito for five years during his tenure as Chaplain. This experience deepened my understanding of community engagement and strengthened my leadership skills.
In November 2024, I joined the Hope Connecting Hearts Nigeria Board, bringing with me a collaborative spirit and strong organizational skills. I am committed to ensuring that all initiatives are carried out with excellence and integrity.
Elias Abalekpor
Biography
Bill Agnew
Biography
Bill has been involved with Hope Connecting Hearts Nigeria since 2015. Bill has traveled to Nigeria on two mission trips in 2015 and 2018. Bill is a retired Police Lieutenant with 27 years of service and retired in 2001 and now does various volunteer work in the community. He is a widower and has three children and 8 grandchildren.
Bill Altman
Biography
I retired in December 2020 from the Insurance and financial industry. In 2021 my wife Margie and I moved to Tucson AZ. We’ve been married for 47 years and blessed with four children and seven grandchildren. I’ve been on the HCHN Board since inception and privileged to join other HCHN missioners on six trips to Nigeria since 2011. Major highlights of my day include daily Mass and leading a pro life rosary group after Mass. Truly blessed!
Phyllis Bishoff
Biography
Phyllis has been a Board Member of Hope Connecting Hearts Nigeria since its founding in 2011. She has also volunteered her time at Spirit Catholic Radio, St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church and School, and Skutt Catholic High School along with several other organizations over the years. Currently she is responsible for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) for the schools HCHN serves. The financial need is great for so many parents. The children of Nigeria desperately need our help and HCHN is filling that need in so many ways. She feels blessed to be a part of it. A wife and mother of 3 and a grandmother of 3, she is kept very busy, even in retirement.
Jeff Bortolotti
Biography
I have been involved with Hope Connecting Hearts Nigeria since March of 2012 when I decided to join Father Kizito on his mission trip to Nigeria. I was very humbled by the wonderful people we met and experiences that we had, so I decided to help out more and accept a position on the board in July 2014. As an active member for the board, I am using all resources available to expand and grow our cause. Providing hope and a brighter future to the students and parents of the Parishes and Schools in the Minna Diocese brings a great sense of joy and a growing of stronger faith to my family and myself.
Steve Buehler
Project Coordinator
Biography
Therese Farnsworth
Biography
I went on the first Nigerian Mission Trip in 2011 and have been privileged to be the HCHN Board Secretary since its inception. My professional background is in education. I was an elementary teacher for 34 years, teaching in the Iowa and Nebraska Public Schools, and the Omaha Archdiocesan Catholic School System. I love working with children, so am especially happy to still be connected with the education of children; this time being in Nigeria, not in the classroom.
Dave Wilson
Biography
David Wilson, alumni of Omaha Creighton Prep, Wayne State College, and University of Omaha, Nebraska, (MBA), is a founding Hope Connecting Hearts board member and the first president. Following two mission trips to Nigeria, he has a greater admiration and respect for Nigerian priests, teachers, parents and students in their unique challenges in poor rural areas. Dave realizes the need to sustain three schools and supports the tuition assistance program.
Dave and his wife Julie are parents of three and grandparents of eight, seven of whom they share life with now in South Bend, IN.
Julie Wilson
Biography
After Fr. Kizito announced his first mission trip Julie and David Wilson hosted St. Wenceslaus parishioners to learn of needs in the Minna diocese. Since its beginning Julie has served on the Hope Connecting Hearts Nigeria board and crochets “scrubbies for sandals” for students.
A mother of three, grandmother of eight, and former piano teacher of children, Julie prayerfully supports Nigerian students seeking Catholic education through the board’s Tuition Assistance Program.