Nigeria/Nebraska Partnership

The Nigeria/Nebraska Partnership was born from the Council of Bishops' Hope for the Children of Africa. Conferences in the United States were asked to partner with conferences in Africa with the purpose of improving the lives of the poorest of the poor children.

A partnership team between Nigeria and Nebraska was formed in 1999. At the end of March and beginning of April 2000 a group from Nebraska went to Nigeria to assess the needs of the Nigeria Conference. Seristina Johnston was then a Missioner of Hope and told the group of her dream of an orphanage near Jalingo, Nigeria. This orphanage became the project of the Nebraska Conference. The initial goal was to raise $250,000 to build on property that was owned by the Nigerian Conference. In 2005 the orphanage opened with 28 children who had lost their parents and were living with guardians who were most likely extended family members. In the fall of 2007, 20 more students were added.

The Partnership continues today, with the Nebraska Conference being the primary source of funding for the orphanage in Jalingo; it is currently home to 48 students. In addition to the costs of running the orphanage, approximately $2,000 per child, per year is needed to provide for the resident orphans.

That is why your contributions are so important—whether your church or organization adopts support of individual students or participates in Nickels for Nigeria, it all helps to ensure these young people have a future. A future filled with caring role models, a good education and support for their basic needs. For more information on how you can help, contact Nigeria/Nebraska Partnership Chair Dottie Halvorsen at 402-269-3125 or e-mail halvorsen312@yahoo.com.

To donate to the partnership, make checks payable to "Conference Treasurer," put Advance #851 in the memo line, and send to the Nebraska United Methodist Conference Center, 3333 Landmark Circle, Lincoln, NE 68504.

• Meet the students

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