From left, Midn. 2⁄C Andrew Wickenheiser, Midn. 3⁄C Paul Hollwedel, Midn. 1⁄C Brooke Datko, Ensign Mike Slagh and Midn. 1⁄C Luke Albi pose with local children while working with the Faith Alive Clinic in Nigeria. Photo courtesy of Lt. Anne Gibbon.

The Midshipmen, joined by Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Jeffrey L. Fowler, Command Master Chief (AW⁄SW) Evelyn Banks, Midshipman Action Group (MAG) faculty representative Miriam Stanicic, and two junior officers, left for Nigeria July 28. After practicing the basic greetings, reading about local customs that suggest that women should always cover their shoulders, and pouring over the CIA country information fact book, the group began the long 41-hour day that would take them to the clinic.

But no matter how much preparation the team had, the Midshipmen quickly found out that there is nothing a person can do in America to prepare for Africa.

After a four-hour bus ride, the Midshipmen finally reached the Faith Alive Clinic. The Nigerian doctor who runs the clinic, Dr. Chris Isichei, found himself studying medicine in New Mexico in the mid-1990’s. His impression of healthcare in the U.S. led him to start a much-needed clinic in his home country. After 12 years, Faith Alive has earned an international reputation as the only clinic in Nigeria to provide free health care.

In recent years, the Faith Alive Clinic has become a model for the President’s Emergency Program for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program throughout the African continent. Even though the clinic is largely supported by funds from PEPFAR, the clinic still relies heavily on donors for approximately 30% of its funding.

‘‘We thank God for the lives of these dedicated young men and women that reassure us all of hope for this generation,” said Isichei.

The Faith Alive staff put the Midshipmen to work their first day on a new school being constructed in a village outside Jos. More than 110 children will enter a school building for the first time this September, and the Midshipmen were integral in constructing the new facility.

‘‘Hardship isn’t looked down upon,” said Midn. 1⁄C Darnell Billups. ‘‘Whether it’s a life-altering illness, a lack of both running water and electricity, or the almost impossible price to send their children to elementary school, they accept their particular challenges and build their character, making the best of their lives.”

The mix of projects fit the range of talents brought by the Midshipmen, to include Web site design, administrative work, playing with babies, construction, and several labor-intensive projects.

‘‘I was surprised by the hospitality,” said Midn. 3⁄C Tom Baxter. ‘‘We heard about how the Nigerians are considered to be the happiest people on earth, but living among them was a wholly different experience. They call you in to their homes from the street. They hand you their newborn baby named Wisdom and then bring out some candy from their store. It’s nothing like I’ve ever seen.”

One of the toughest lessons for Midn. 3⁄C Paul Hollwedel was learning how to get clean with buckets, well water, and a bar of soap in the dark, because the town of Jos only has electricity from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m.

‘‘You don’t realize how much you don’t know,” said Midn. 3⁄C Kyle Spiritus. ‘‘You think you know, but you don’t.”

Sponsored by the MAG, the group organized themselves in late April to identify a volunteer project in Africa and see what they could learn. Thanks to the work of the Naval Academy Foundation, the Class of 1992, and other supporters, MAG was able to locate international volunteer organizations. Based on the goals of the Maritime Strategy and the Superintendent’s vision for the Naval Academy, the Midshipmen looked to Africa both as a unique opportunity for learning about relatively unknown cultures and as an area of strategic importance to American interests.

The Africa Partnership Station and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), the U.S. military’s newest unified command, have seen extensive media coverage this past year. This rare experience for Midshipmen included an immersion into the indigenous culture, which provided firsthand perspective for the news stories of U.S. military experiences in Africa.

The Midshipmen were presented a list of five African countries important to both U.S. strategic interests and as priority countries for military education exchanges. Nigeria emerged as the top choice because of its hegemonic status on the continent and as a recent focus of Army Gen. William E. Ward, commander of AFRICOM.

The U.S. Embassy and the Defense Attache Office in Nigeria agreed to support the trip, providing critical manpower support and educational resources to prepare the group before the trip. The Department of State Nigeria desk officer provided an important briefing to the team leaders regarding public diplomacy, military importance and how to better understand this complex country, and a desk officer from State Department also joined the Midshipmen on their travels.