Investigation of Abuse at Hillcrest School
Resonate Global Mission has finalized contracts to carry out an independent investigation into historical cases of abuse at Hillcrest School in Jos, Nigeria, engaging the nonprofit Zero Abuse Project to conduct the investigation.
This is the latest development in a situation that first came to light when Resonate received a letter from a survivors steering committee in 2022 that set out allegations from survivors and other eyewitnesses of physical, emotional, racial, and sexual abuse of students during their time at Hillcrest School in Jos, Nigeria, from 1962-1992.
Hillcrest is a private, co-ed, K-12 school that was founded in 1942 as a not-for-profit school for the children of missionaries as well as other children. While the school is independently run, it is governed by a board that represents several cooperating bodies, including the Christian Reformed Church.
Among named perpetrators were staff and dorm parents affiliated with Resonate (named Christian Reformed World Missions at the time). The letter was sent to the board of Hillcrest School and to the cooperating bodies associated with the school.
In response, Resonate is one of eight mission agencies jointly funding and agreeing to fully cooperate with the investigation. In addition to funding the investigation, the mission agencies are jointly funding a victim advocate, Accord, to support survivors throughout the investigation.
Accord will serve as a resource for survivors and others who may desire a support person or additional services during this investigation. Anyone wishing to contact Accord can do so at [email protected].
Under the terms of the agreement with Zero Abuse, the investigation will be broad in scope, looking into allegations and reports of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse that occurred at Hillcrest or at mission hostels associated with Hillcrest. The investigation will also inquire into how mission agencies and those in leadership responded to any allegations or incidents from the founding of the school in 1942 until the present.
The investigation will yield a comprehensive report that will summarize findings and assess response by those in authority.
“Resonate has been actively involved in reaching the agreement out of a deep commitment for truth and accountability. We sincerely hope that the investigation will lead to a measure of healing for survivors and greater awareness and care for children under our responsibility and care,” explains a statement on Resonate’s website.
For more background information and to read a statement from Zero Abuse regarding the investigation process and its goals, visit resonateglobalmission.org/hillcrestinvestigation.
