Luca Canal is a Lancaster University alumnus (Chemical Engineering, 2015-2019) and a trustee of Martha’s Dream, a story he would like to share with fellow alumni.

"Martha’s Dream is a charity founded in Lancaster in 2013 by Mercy, Mike, and David. Its mission is to build a school that offers free education to underprivileged children in rural Nigeria. This story is one of dreams, resilience, and entrepreneurship—tightly connected to Lancaster University—and it demonstrates how education can create lasting change in the world.

The dream we set out to fulfil was that of Martha Okoro, a woman who lived in the village of Ekenobizi, Nigeria, where she raised her family as a widow with unwavering love and determination. Despite facing her own challenges, Martha ensured her children received an education and extended her compassion to other children in her community by providing them with food and learning opportunities. Martha's greatest wish was for every child in her village to have the chance to pursue their dreams through education. Though she passed away in 2012, her dream has lived on as a beacon of love and dedication, driving our mission to build a world where every child can achieve their dreams through the power of education.

I joined Martha’s Dream in 2016 as a student after meeting Mercy, Martha’s daughter. I was deeply moved by her story and impressed by her resilience in fundraising. That’s when I began fundraising on campus. I started by setting up a weekly stall at the Alexandra Square market, selling Nigerian food cooked by Mercy (which, I trust, many of you may have tried during market days). Initially, the stall raised only enough money to cover food costs, but by growing our reputation and expanding our offerings, we eventually raised enough to turn Martha’s dream into a reality. In 2017, we established a school that initially educated 20 children, which grew to 200 by the end of 2018.

Thanks to the continued support of the Lancaster University community, we were able to continue providing education, even during tough times. Our reputation grew in Nigeria, and we impacted the lives of countless children. Remarkably, the first students who graduated from our school are now applying to universities in 2024. This is incredible when you consider that without Martha’s Dream, they wouldn't have had the opportunity to read or write.

In parallel, Mercy’s food stall has grown into a successful business. In 2024, she opened her first restaurant on the Lancaster University campus, which also helps us fundraise for the school.

I believe that the dynamic, ambitious atmosphere of the Lancaster University community was essential in making this incredible change in the world possible. Today, I am reaching out to fellow alumni, asking you to come forward with any ideas, skills, time, or donations that could help us take this dream even further.”

For further information visit www.marthasdream.org