Francis Chikwado, a Nigerian, and Joackim Abel, a Tanzanian, are the beneficiaries of the grants given by Harambee in this field in one of its 2014-2015 projects. They have been given the possibility of studying in Rome, at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Chikwado attending the Department of Theology and Abel studying Philosophy.

“In the Diocese of Onitsha, in the South East of Nigeria, where I come from, there are 2,000 trainee priests and the Archdiocese consists of 140 parishes served by 480 priests. The number of vocations is increasing”, says Chikwado. The region, although also populated by Muslims and Christians of other denominations, is majority Catholic. “These vocations are amongst our greatest assets; the Church has always played an important role in a very difficult political and social context. Where the State is unable to reach, the point of reference remains the Church, with the priests being close to the people and their problems on a daily basis, and as an institute the Church strives to contribute to the ethical progress of the country.”

Chikwado is aware of the privilege of studying in Rome and also of the great responsibility this brings. “To have the possibility of studying spiritual, academic and social questions in depth, here, close to the Holy Father, allowing myself to be guided by my teachers and the quality of their teaching, enriches me greatly, enabling me to grow as a person and at the same time to reflect often on what it will be like when I return to the “new Jerusalem”.

Joackim Abel, who comes from the Diocese of Musoma, north Tanzania, on the banks of Lake Victoria, is of the same opinion.

“Added to this, we have the opportunity to widen our horizons, living here in Rome in a college which welcomes people from dioceses around the whole world,” he remarks, underlining their desire to study in depth and improve their possibilities of evangelization.