Transforming Lives Through Education and Health Initiatives
2008
After coming from Nigeria in 2004, Fr. Kizito’s first assignment was at St. Thomas More Parish in Omaha, NE. During this school year, a donation of over $3,000 was given to Fr. Kizito for the purchase of desks for St. Joseph School in Garam. This came about through a “Casual Day” at school along with a generous gift given from the St. Thomas More Home and School Association.
2009
In late November, Fr. Kizito Okhuoya went home to visit his family. He did some filming at St. Joseph School, so the STM school children and community could see how their donation had helped the children there.
2010
Father shared the video with the STM community. Later that year Father decided to plan a mission trip to his homeland, Nigeria, so people would be able to experience the life and culture of the Nigerian people, particularly those who live in his diocese. Those who chose to go on the mission trip held their own little fundraisers, and Father began to collect school and medical supplies to be taken along.
2011
In July, Fr. Kizito and 6 missioners left Omaha for the first mission trip, 12 days in Nigeria.
The generosity of so many made it possible to make such a difference! They carried 14 pieces of luggage filled with school and medical supplies. Enough money had been donated that the footings for 4 new classrooms for St. Joseph’s School were already in place. The dedication and blessing took place while Father and the missioners were there.
After returning home, Fr. Kizito’s vision of a formal mission began to take shape. The name chosen was “Hope Connecting Hearts Nigeria.” A board of 12 along with Father was formed.
2012
The first board meeting was held in February, 2012 at St. Wenceslaus Parish in Omaha.
Planned fundraisers began to take place: “Girls’ Night Out,” “Bake Sales”, “Sept. Fall Fundraiser,” “Charity of the Month” at St. Wenceslaus, and so many other wonderful donations from individuals and groups.
Four missioners and Fr. Kizito went on the 2nd mission trip in June 2012. 700 pounds of school and medical supplies went with them. The new addition at St. Joseph School was blessed, and the footings for Divine Mercy School were dedicated.
2013
Fundraisers: “Charity of the Month” at St. Wenceslaus, “Girls’ Night Out”, “Sept. Fall FUNdraiser” at St. Thomas More, Book Sale at St. Wenceslaus, $750 Gretchen Walsh Book Donation for the St. Joseph School Library, $10,000 Scoular Foundation Donation, and many wonderful individual donor contributions.
Fr. Kizito and 9 missioners went on the 3rd mission trip in October, carrying over 1,000 pounds of school and medical supplies. The new Divine Mercy School and restrooms were blessed by Bishop Martin. The beginning construction of more classrooms at Divine Mercy was also celebrated. Family name plates were put on the cornerstone, as well as on the newly constructed desks.
At St. Joseph School in Garam library shelves, a teacher’s desk and student tables were built, sanded, and stained. The library was painted, and the 27 boxes of donated children’s books were put on the shelves, completing the new library.
Picnic tables were constructed at both St. Joseph School in Garam and Divine Mercy School in Erena.
2011-2013
St. Joseph School in Garam:
4 new classrooms, borehole dug for clean water, security fence with gates, library, picnic tables
Divine Mercy School in Erena:
a new school with 4 classrooms, borehole dug for clean water, flush toilets, new desks, picnic tables
2014
St. Joseph School in Garam
Construction of restrooms
Divine Mercy School in Erena
Kitchen Project completed
2015
Fr. Kizito and 4 missioners went on the 4th mission trip.
St. Joseph School in Garam
Beginning of the construction of 3 classrooms and a library
Divine Mercy School in Erena
Beginning of construction of 6 classrooms and a library
2016
Fr. Kizito and 7 missioners went on the 5th mission trip.
St. Joseph School in Garam
Completed construction of 3 classrooms and a library
Divine Mercy School in Erena
Completed construction of 6 classrooms and a library
Kutako
Construction started on a new school with 4 classrooms
Future Plans
The need for a secondary school in Erena is realized. A donor has offered a matching gift of $50,000 if HCHN is able to secure that amount in donations by June of 2017. Money was matched! Land for the school was donated by a group of Nigerian landowners in that region.
2017
Fr. Kizito and 6 missioners went on the 6th mission trip.
Continued construction on the new school at Kutako. Many delays because of rain and the remoteness of this rural area. The community of Erena, Divine Mercy School, laid the foundation for 4 more needed classrooms there.
2018
Fr. Kizito and 6 missioners went on the 7th mission trip.
The construction of St. Andrew School in Kutako (4 classrooms, an office and storage space) was completed in the spring of 2018.
Plans are underway to continue the construction of the 4 classrooms at Divine Mercy, initiated by the families there.
The hope is for completion in the spring of 2019. They will be designated for the Construction of “teacher housing” at Divine Mercy School was started at the end of this year. The plan is for completion in the spring of 2019.
2019
Fr. Kizito and 2 board members went on an administrative trip, the 8th mission trip.
Construction of 4 more classrooms at Divine Mercy School were completed; being used for the Jr. High students there. Construction of teacher housing was completed; space being made to house 16 teachers. The building includes a
kitchen and restrooms.
2020
The Coronavirus Pandemic prevented our annual trip to Nigeria
Construction began on a two-story high school at St. Joseph School in Garam.
2021
St. Joseph H.S. was completed, turning out to be the most beautiful school in the Minna Diocese. The new addition was named the Harry Danner Educational Center after a beloved, generous HCHN Donor.
Land was purchased for HCHN to begin a small farming initiative to supplement our new lunch program and add some revenue to our schools. Some of the students help with the farming, which includes yams, corn and rice.
Christ the King Minor Seminary in Gwada gave us a building that was not in use for a chicken coop to begin another project with laying hens. The eggs are also used in our lunch program.
2022
2023
Construction of a multi-purpose hall at Divine Mercy School in Erena began. It will be completed and ready for occupancy in early 2024. The next initiative will involve completing more classrooms.
2024
- Land for Technology school purchased
- Lunch program is now a 5-day
- Multipurpose hall completed at Divine Mercy with the addition of a second story for more classrooms and restrooms
- Renovation of 4 of the original classrooms at St. Joseph School in Garam
- 6 Classrooms built at Okpoma completed
2025