Hello, and welcome to our latest blog update for the months of May and June, 2016. We were so busy with lots of travel and schools letting out, we decided  to combine our  activities for the previous two months into one newsletter. A couple new additions; as usual, the end of this post will include media mentions for the period (we encourage you to check these out), and we are also creating a “sponsorship” section with details on how you can help contribute to the life of one of the many IDP children from Northeastern Nigeria.

Without further ado, let’s get to it…

May 2016

EMCI Nigeria

Update on the Placement/Relocation Program 

Our founders, Paul and Rebecca traveled to the U.S. in May. Meanwhile, back in Nigeria, our many relocated students continued to strive ahead.

The schoolchildren placed in the various schools in Nigeria came home on separate occasions for mid-term breaks. Their orientation to the big city and new environment continues to progress, even though we had some individual challenges with some of them. Several traveled back to their villages in the dangerous northeast to see their families during this time.

May 27th is celebrated as Children’s Day in Nigeria. On that weekend, EMCI staff visited with one of the school’s, and had a picnic with the 9 children we have there.

Update on Northeast Lesson Centers

Over in the Northeast, our lesson centers continue to make progress, as beacons of light in their communities. Currently, over 2,000 pupils attend the Borno center, while the Adamawa center has close to 1,000. An interview with the principal at the Adamawa site yielded the following:

“Much improvement has been witnessed in the overall climate of the center after the International Rescue Organization created skills acquisition workshops. These include manual activities like tailoring, shoe-making, and other gainful trade skills.”

“Caritas Internationalis, a Catholic relief and development organization also came and made two toilet facilities as well as dug a bore-hole for the center.” (Some of you readers may not understand the significance of such acts, but putting it in the context of the displaced victims, it means much better hygiene, better disease control and more access to water, to mention a few.)

“Then, we also entered in a joint project with American University of Nigeria to create TELA, technology assisted learning for all. Basically, children from ages 16 and upward are taken and given books and radios to facilitate learning. Last month (May), the top 24 students were taken to AUN to be further assessed. At the end of June, they will return to further reassess them as part of a research project being conducted by the University.”

SPONSOR A SERVICE 

When his disciples were sending the children away, our Lord stopped them, saying “let the little children come to me.” Here is your opportunity to contribute to the life of one of these little victims of insurgency in Northeastern Nigeria.

EMCI USA

Update on US School Girls

EMCI’s Girls Study Abroad Project successfully concluded its second academic year this year.

Update on the Three College Girls

Our three college students are making rapid progress through their programs.  One excelled on her writing evaluation, which placed her into a higher level program, another placed in the top five in her class, which exempted her from her final exam, and a third continues to hone her writing skills and to receive praise from her professor as her work is used as a model for the entire class.

Emma Ogebe our international director and the girls traveled to New York City to experience Broadway. Later that weekend, at a dinner, Emma remarked to the hosts how the previous day was the anniversary of the day terrorists murdered Zee’s pastor dad in front of her. Looking quizzically: “is today the 14th?” she asked.

STATEMENT BY SAA – ESCAPED CHIBOK SCHOOLGIRL – ON THE ESCAPE OF ONE OF HER ABDUCTED CLASSMATES

On Tuesday, May 17th, the first abducted Chibok schoolgirl to escape from Boko Haram in over two years ago was found. Amina Alli was discovered in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno state by civilian vigilantes.

Sa’a, an escaped Chibok schoolgirl who is currently attending college in the US courtesy of the Education Must Continue Initiative Charity, released the following statement by text from class on May 18th:

“That’s wonderful, and since she’s found it will be nice if she can tell where the other girls are and all the information about what’s going on with them there!”

This picture was taken in Abuja in April a week after the 2nd anniversary of the Chibok abductions.
People gathered at the BBOG meeting point by the Abuja fountain awaiting US ambassador to the UN Samantha Powers.
Everyone each picked a placard bearing the name of one of the 219 abducted girls.
Our International Director Emmanuel Ogebe picked a placard for missing girl #127. Guess what her name was?
Look at the picture and see for yourself.

Founders Visit to High Schools.

EMCI’s founders, Paul and Becky Gadzama together with our International Director and Educational Advisor, visited the high schools where the escaped Chibok girls are attending to interact and appreciate them. The schools were satisfied with the progress of most of the girls. They had dinner with some of the host parents and the EMCI team.

EMCI gave the 9 high schoolers who were not graduating after their two year sojourn in the US options for continuing education and renewing their student visas to choose from.  Ultimately, two of the 9 girls decided to remain under the academic program of EMCI in our approved academic centers of excellence while 7 dropped out and reportedly went to a certification summer course (GED) initiated by the Nigerian embassy. Five of the seven had just completed middle school.

June 2016

EMCI Nigeria 

Summer Preparations for Placement/Relocation Program

As the summer holidays approach (yes, Nigerian school children go on break about a month and a half after their American counterparts), we are preparing to host some of the younger ones in central Nigeria, while the others will be going back to their hometowns.

The end of the month brought about another visitation day at the school where we have 9 children. EMCI’s resources guy, Heriju, took some provisions, including bags of corn, gari, shoes, notebooks, torch lights, and other day-to-day supplies  to the school and had a small picnic with them. The children were quite excited; some were already calculating what they could save and what they could consume.

Nigeria Evangelical Missions Association Program

The Nigeria Evangelical Missions Association (NEMA) was established in 1982 as a networking association and fellowship forum for the church and missions movement in Nigeria. From June 8th to 10th, NEMA hosted a “Tribes Around Lake Chad Consultation” program, themed Re-Engaging the North-East. Many of the participants were key stakeholders in the rebuilding of the Northeast program; various NGOs, churches, individuals, and EMCI were among the invited guests. Paul Gadzama attended the program, contributing the educational dimension of the project of re-engaging the many displaced victims of the insurgency in the Northeast.

Founders Journey to Northeast with Church of the Brethren

Paul (our Nigerian National Director) traveled to the Northeast with a couple Church of the Brethren staff  for another visit to the lesson centers there. They were taken around each center meeting with staff and other stakeholders in the area to support them and to gain insights into some of their individual and collective needs. Relief items and some medical kits were donated to the health services staff there as well.

In conjunction with the CoB, we are seeking support for our displaced kids. EMCI’s desire is to have some lunch feeding for the 2000 kids at the EMCI school in Borno and perhaps elsewhere.

Efforts to Set Up Humanitarian Assistance 

EMCI is currently working to step up our humanitarian assistance to vulnerable victims. A relief food shipment from the US arrived late June. Let us know if you want to help us get urgent food supplies to children in need. You can save lives, literally! The media reports that 21 people are dying daily in one of the refugee camps we are going to.

EMCI USA

US High School Students Earn Honors!

One of our escaped Chibok Schoolgirls received recognition from her school for her outstanding work in the classroom. She received the music instruction award as well as the most improved ESL reading award. In addition, she also received recognition from EMCI regarding the successful completion of the academic year as well as the launch of her  Summer English Language Institute Program (College Preparation).

LAURELS FOR ESCAPED CHIBOK GIRL

One of the escaped Chibok schoolgirls won eight awards at her school’s prize giving day taking home the highest single number of awards in the entire school!

The school is generously providing authentic full scholarships for the next full academic year as the students complete their college preparation and advance to higher education.  They have not and do not intend to do any fundraising in order to meet their scholarship promises to us. We are especially grateful for the team of qualified educators and administrators who do continue to invest into the lives of the EMCI students with such excellence, grace, and professionalism. We are also grateful for the professionals, including physicians, dentists and eye doctors on our team who are providing full health care to our students.

Our host families are extremely compassionate, thoughtful, reputable, and highly educated moms, dads and grandparents, who are uniquely qualified and  consider it a special calling to love and care for our students during their time in the US.   One evening of particular blessing included the Mother of one of their still missing Chibok classmates encouraging and praying over our students.

We want to say a  special “thank you” to the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative for the efforts they made to making this journey a success.

This is how the US Heritage Foundation publicly introduced Becky during an event on Nigerian issues (after referring to the challenges in Nigeria):

US Senate Chaplain

The climax of the trip to the US was the opportunity to speak and pray with the United States Senate Chaplain.   The US Senate Chaplain officially opens each session of the US Senate in prayer.  This is an honored tradition started by one of the US founders, Benjamin Franklin.  Chaplain Black is the first African American to hold this position in the Nation’s history.  He shared with us that he had spoken an official prayer in the US Senate for the Chibok girls at the time of their abduction.  After asking us about Nigeria, he shared his inspiring life story of overcoming many life obstacles.  His mother only had a fourth grade education, but she supported his education, and he now holds  three Masters Degrees and two Doctorates and was an Admiral in the United States Navy.

He prayed for us and especially for Becky, and Mary and her missing daughter right there under the US Capitol Dome and under the auspices of the highest US appointed ecclesiastical position.  He shared a powerful verse from an inspiring hymn, This is My Father’s World:   “This is my Father’s world: Oh, let me ne’er forget; That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.”

After a beautiful time of prayer, he said that the Senate was pleased to add Nigeria to its prayer list.  After he prayed for us, we felt freedom in our hearts.  Indeed, it was an experience that we will forever appreciate.

Members of Congress Attend Broadway Showing of Eclipsed

On June 19th, members of the Congressional Black Caucus attended the Eclipsed show on Broadway in honor of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls. This was the final showing weekend of this Tony award winning play by Actress Danai Gurira in New York.
A special guest also dedicated the night’s performance to some of the 218 still missing.

The Pages Turn; We Send a Blessing

We pray a blessing for those Nigerian students who sadly had to leave our program due to EMCI standards and those US students who were abruptly lured away from our program by government agents and their proxies.

June is two years since we met the first girls and for an all volunteer organization that is not even 2 years old, we are exceptionally grateful at how far we have come. We are grateful for all who have helped in the way and whom we have helped on their way.

The best is yet to come…

Have a great summer every one!

Media Mentions and Important Links May/June 2016

Chibok survivor now thriving in the U.S. (CNN; May 09, 2016)

The First Chibok Girl Kidnapped by Boko Haram Has Been ‘Found’ Alive (Vice News; May 18, 2016)

Chibok girl snatched by Boko Haram found, activists say (WUSA(; May 19, 2016)

In the Land of Nigeria’s Kidnapped Girls: A journey to the village of Chibok, where insurgents hide in the bush as families mourn the loss of their daughters. (The Atlantic; May 21, 2014)

The Church Without Walls Interview with Nigerian Friends (The Church Without Walls; June 04, 2016)

Mother of Kidnapped Chibok Schoolgirl Pleads ‘We Need Your Prayers That Our Girls Will Be Found’ (The Christian Post; June 10, 2016)

WN Interview Emmanuel Ogebe (World News; Nov 06, 2014)

Congressional Black Caucus Concern for Chibok Girls

The 21^st Century Wilberforce Initiative’s #StandWithNigeria Medium

Hello, happy new month. Welcome to the latest newsletter from the Education Must Continue Initiative, for the month of April 2016. This month was quite busy for us, so without further delay, let’s get to it.

Relocated Children Home for End of Term Break 

At the end of March, close to twenty relocated schoolchildren had come home for break following Easter Holiday and end of term 3-week break. Some traveled back to their villages to be with their families. The ones who remained in central Nigerian city continued to fellowship in the EMCI community. EMCI engaged them in daily activities including chores, games and play, as well as tutoring and other responsibilities.

The new girls who had been relocated about a month earlier were tested at two different schools, placing them in classes ranging from Nursery 1 to SS2 (senior secondary). Thus, by the time the returning students were going back to school, this new set of girls were able to return with them. Several Church of the Brethren staff came around and encouraged them for their bold step in pursuing education.

While they were present, we followed up on a Skype appointment we had made with Todd Flory, a COB member and teacher at Wheatland Elementary School in Kansas. His class of about 30 pupils had done a “Skype around the world” day, and our students were the last stop. We spent close to an hour sharing our different cultures and backgrounds across laptop screens. Some of the areas we touched on were favorite subjects, the Kansas State Flag, the other countries they had Skyped, and what our different ecosystems were like. The students also asked each other what kind of jobs they’d want to hold when they became adults as well as the kinds of foods each ate. Some of our more shy students eventually summed up the courage to show their faces to the camera, smiling when they discovered some shared familiarities. At the end  of the session, Wheatland Elementary students sang their school anthem for us, and in return, our students sang the Nigerian national anthem for them while holding up our country flag.

Update on the Status of the EMCI Learning Centers in Adamawa and Borno States

51 SS3 (Senior Secondary 3) students are currently sitting for their SSCE and NECO (final year exams). These students are from EMCI Adamawa lesson centers and have been preparing for over a year.

Meanwhile, at EMCI Borno, a piece of land has been acquired for the future development of the EMCI Heritage Academy. More information on this will be available in future posts; watch this space. Also, a room has been refurbished  and converted into a reading studio at the center. Now, we are creating a computer lab and a library to facilitate the learning process through use of technology.

Finally, 250 desks seating 750 students had been made over the past few weeks for both of the learning centers.

Schoolgirls in the United States Achieve Academic Recognition

There were several classroom victories during the month which  we’d like to share with you. Their teachers are giving us excellent reports, saying that the girls are much more relaxed now and are better able to focus on their studies. In one location, 3 girls made it to the honor roll! One girl earned highest honors, level 1! The other two attained level 2 honor roll which means B average or better on a stringent grade scale. All three of them overcame specific academic challenges and have improved their GPA since the beginning of the year.

Our three college students are making rapid progress through their programs.  One excelled on her writing evaluation, which placed her into a higher level program, another placed in the top five in her class, which exempted her from her final exam, and a third continues to hone her writing skills and to receive praise from her professor and extra bonus points (160 out of 150!) as her work is used as examples for the entire class. Her teacher placed her paper on the board and announced to the class that, “this was written by someone in the same class as you, and you should take this as a challenge!”  This young woman’s father was brutally killed by Boko Haram terrorists in her presence, and yet she is going forward with her studies with excellence and determination as an inspiring tribute to her late father.  “Death, where is thy sting?”

One of our high school students is ready to advance to college in the fall, so if you or someone you know would like to contribute to this effort, please contact us (www.emcinitiative.org).

A Week of Action for Two Year Remembrance of GGSS Chibok

April 1st was the beginning of the 2-week countdown to the 2-year remembrance of the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from their dorms at Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno state. The EMCI coordinated several events in Nigeria and the USA to mark the desperately unfortunate incident and inspire action. Below is a summary to mention a few.

• On April 12th, EMCI student coordinator/mentor, Nubwa Gadzama and EMCI International Director, Emma Ogebe spoke on a panel at the World Bank  Spring Meetings on “Human Rights and the Status of Women and Children in Africa”. It was the Naija Worldwide Charities (NWC) and Global Women- Africa Network (GLOW) policy forum/global town hall meeting session entitled, “The Human Rights Status of Women and Girls in Africa and the Rest of the World,” and held on April 12, 2016, at the International Monetary Fund (IMF)- World Bank Headquarters Spring Meetings, Washington DC.

• Remembrance events were held in Washington D.C. USA, Abuja, Jos, and Borno
  • On April 13th, Boko Haram released a video showing 15 of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls. When we showed our Chibok girls the video they recognized some of their classmates.

• During that week of April 10th, the annual EYN Conference was being held at the Annex Church Headquarters. Close to a dozen Church of the Brethren (COB) members had flown in from the United States representing church leaders. To keep the memory of the missing girls alive, EMCI printed a list of each of their names on large banners. These names and banners were carried through the aisles of the church and afterwards, hung on the walls of the auditorium of the church for the week-long duration of the conference. This act even caught the eye of a national newspaper, and the front cover picture of the medium on April 14th was a senior COB representative holding up the banner.

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  • Our journey getting some of the escaped Chibok girls to school in the United States were inspired by visits of Congressman Chris Smith and Congresswoman Frederica Wilson amongst others . On the 14th of April, our US team accompanied the girls schooling there to a remembrance event at capitol hill attended by Rep. Chris Smith and Rep. Frederica S. Wilson, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep Sheila Jackson Lee and many others. There Sa’a spoke on behalf of her sisters, promising that they will never forget their missing friends and classmates. (At the end of this post is a list of all our media mentions for the month, including the events held at Capitol Hill on that remembrance)

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  • Meanwhile, across the pond, one of our co-founders, Rebecca Gadzama was being awarded by her Alma Mater, the University of Maiduguri for her efforts in furthering education at the institutions. The Graduate Records and Alumni Relations office in the University and the National Alumni Association was conferring the first “Annual Achievement Award” as part of the 22nd Combined Convocation and 40th Anniversary Celebrations. She was nominated to receive an award in recognition of the humanitarian services as an alumnus of the university.

• • On April 21st, members of US Congress invited the Chibok girls schooling in the US to participate in a Candlelight Vigil with a delegation of members of the U.S. Congress at the State Department. Initially, we were afraid it was going to be a time used to give speeches from members of Congress, but it turned out to be a powerful, spiritual and uplifting event. The Congress people brought their own podium and set it up outside of the State Department. Congresswoman Wilson (D-FL) organized the event, working with the US Capitol Police, who provided escorts for our girls and the Congressional Delegation.  Congressional Black Caucus Chairman G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), and Reps. Curt Clawson (R-Fla.), Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tex.), and the United Nations Representative Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) also participated in the vigil and shared inspiring statements.  The stirring event was filmed by ABC’s Nightline, which aired a documentary covering the event as well as other prominent networks (MSNBC and Voice of America).  The participants commended our girls for continuing their studies in the US and urged people all over the world to unite in standing up for the missing Chibok girls and to work together to eradicate Boko Haram. Several members of Congress spoke, and a Democrat asked a republican to pray. Illustrating the extent of broad bi-partisan support of the effort, the Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus said that “it is not a Democrat issue or a Republican issue or a Woman’s issue or a Man’s issue, or a Black Caucus issue, but it is a HUMANITARIAN ISSUE.”  Others re-iterated that the full Congress supports this. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee read from Psalm 91 on safety.   UN Representative Barbara Lee spoke eloquently, showing great support.  When it was our turn, Sa’a briefly explained who she was.   One of the non Chibok escapees, but a victim of terror from Northeastern Nigeria, known only as “Zee,” led Congress and the girls in prayer quite powerfully in the name of Jesus.  You could have heard a pin dropped as she prayed.  Then she and Sa’a read all 219 names while we all prayed for them.    NO ONE BUDGED.  Some of our girls and other distinguished participants were crying.  They were God’s tears.  Members of Congress’ hearts were touched.  As a fitting end to an inspiring tribute, Congressman Curt Clawson (R-FL) who had been asked by Congresswoman Wilson to pray for the effort, led the delegation in singing Amazing Grace to conclude the inspiring event.

Update on Activities in Nigeria when International Director was Around

Towards the end of the month, Emmanuel Ogebe flew to Nigeria to attend some of the goings-ons there. While here, he traveled to Adamawa and Borno states to visit the learning centers there, fellowshipping with families, staff, and victims of the insurgency. With him, he brought donations of computers from PLEA a US charity, to help further the learning process there.

Our objective remains networking with various organizations to see if we can collaborate on projects to bring back quality education and provide a more prospective looking future for people coming from that region. Please contact us if you want to help.

Somewhere on Broadway…

In the US, Danai Gurira, a famolus actress and playwright, who wrote Eclipsed, a Broadway play about enslaved women in Liberia’s 12-year civil war, was inspired by EMCI’s work upon meeting our International Director and human rights lawyer, Emmanuel Ogebe. As a result, all Broadway performances of Eclipsed will conclude with a moment in which the names of some of the missing girls are read and remembered as the performance is dedicated to them. Bono, the famous lead singer of U-2, appeared on stage with the Eclipsed staff as part of the launch of the remembrances. Eclipsed is the first production in Broadway history to feature an all-female director, cast, and playwright.

As Promised, here is a List of our Media Mentions

Escaped ‘Chibok Girl’ Pleads for More US Help

https://www.yahoo.com/news/escaped-chibok-girl-pleads-more-190634398.html

From Boko Haram Captive To U.S. College Student http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2016/04/18/474702756/from-boko-haram-captive-to-u-s-college-student

Nigeria’s missing girls: A glimpse of the stolen

http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/13/africa/chibok-girls-new-proof-of-life-video/index.html

#BringBackOurGirls Survivor Urges World Not To Give Up On Her Friends

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/chibok-girls-boko-haram-anniversary_us_570fee7ae4b0561c9f043c12?

Link for first Congressional event on 2 year remembrance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF5Von98DhM

Congressman Smith Tweets in remembrance of missing Chibok girls

https://twitter.com/RepChrisSmith/status/720730201685143556?cn=ZmxleGlibGVfcmVjcw%3D%3D&refsrc=email

As Video of Chibok Girls Gives New Hope, We Speak to Survivors of Boko Haram

https://news.vice.com/article/as-video-of-chibok-girls-gives-new-hope-we-speak-to-survivors-of-boko-haram

‘Eclipsed’ shows on Broadway to be dedicated to victims

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/aad9284b2349429281e0788270c9e00a/eclipsed-shows-broadway-be-dedicated-victims

Nigeria’s Stolen Girls: Inside Boko Haram Territory Where Children Are Forced to Become Suicide Bombers: Reporter’s Notebook

http://abcnews.go.com/International/nigerias-stolen-girls-inside-boko-haram-territory-children/story?id=38720139

How School Girl Escaped Being Kidnapped By Boko Haram: Part 2

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/school-girl-escaped-kidnapped-boko-haram-part-38726622

UM-Flint Grad Will Work to Save, Ensure Education for Victims of Boko Haram

https://news.umflint.edu/2016/04/28/um-flint-grad-will-remain-in-family-business-of-saving-ensuring-education-for-victims-of-boko-haram/

Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson hosts candlelight vigil at the U.S. State Department to honor the Chibok Girls

http://thewestsidegazette.com/congresswoman-frederica-s-wilson-hosts-candlelight-vigil-at-the-u-s-state-department-to-honor-the-chibok-girls/

Chibok Survivor Now Thriving in the U.S.

http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2016/05/09/chibok-survivor-in-us-sesay-intv.cnn

Names of Still Missing Girls

1. Lydia Habila
2. Rejoice Musa
3. Mary Madu
4. Hauwa Abuge
5. Laraba Haruna
6. Esther Ayuba
7. Maryamu Yakubu
8. Lydia Imar
9. Comfort Amos
10. Naomi Bitrus
11. Ruth Wavi
12. Mary Dauda
13. Ladi Joel
14. Saraya Samuel
15. Salome Pogu
16. 16 Sarah Abdu
17. Rose David
18. Esther John
19. Deborah Aji
20. Hauwa Dauda
21. Naomi Luka
22. Glory Dame
23. Saraya Dame
24. Hauwa Bula
25. Laraba Paul
26. Lugwa Samuel
27. Lugwa Sanda
28. Comfort Habila
29. Guba Bura
30. Lydia Emma
31. Glory Yaga
32. Iyhi Abdu
33. Kauna Lalai
34. Tabitha Silas
35. Maryamu Lawan
36. Yagana Jashua
37. Rejoice Santi
38. Godiya Bitrus
39. Awa Bitrus
40. Rahila Yohanna
41. Maryamu Wuri
42. Hauwa Musa
43. Kabu Musa
44. Rhoda John
45. Salome Titus
46. Maryamu Abbas
47. Safiya Abdu
48. Hauwa Adamu
49. Rakiya Gali
50. Ruth Ngitatar
51. Halima Gambo
52. Rebecca Ibrahim
53. Rakiya Kwamte
54. Rebecca Kabu
55. Christiana Yusuf
56. Jumai Muteh
57. Amina Bulama
58. Anna Ezekiel
59. Saraya Stover
60. Patience Jacob
61. Awa Abughe
62. Lugwa Abughe
63. Mairama Yahaya
64. Martha James
65. Awa Amos
66. Asabe Manu
67. Esther Usman
68. Mary Dame
69. Ruth Kolo
70. Hauwa Tela
71. Suzanna Yakubu
72. Amina Pogu
73. Yaayi Abana
74. Saraya Paul
75. Fatima Tapje
76. Saratu Micah
77. Elizabeth Joseph M
78. Amina John
79. Victoria William
80. Rakiya Shitima
81. Deborah Peter
82. Jummai Pogu
83. Mary Sule
84. Jummai Aboku
85. Rifkatu Amos
86. Rebecca Mallum
87. Ladi Wadai
88. Kwamta Simon
89. Esther Markus
90. Blessing Abana
91. Nguba Bura
92. Karu Stephen
93. Rahila Bitrus
94. Tapchi Hyelanpa
95. Deborah Solomon
96. Rahila Ibrahim
97. Monica Enoch
98. Dorcas Yakubu
99. Rifkatu Galang
100. Asabe Goni
101. Naomi Yaga
102. Rhoda Peter
103. Naomi Adamu
104. Hauwa Ishaya
105. Sarah Samuel
106. Saratu Ayuba
107. Hauwa Josepj
108. Jinkai Yama
109. Maryamu Abubakar
110. Deborah Abbas
111. Saraya Musa
112. Helen Ibrahim
113. Hannatu Ibrahim
114. Maimuna Usman
115. Maryamu Musa
116. Hannatu Nuhu
117. Asabe Ali
118. Yana Yaske
119. Rebecca Joseph
120. Naomi Philmon
121. Rifkatu Yakubi
122. Liatu Habila
123. Deborah Jafaru
124. Abigail Kugama
125. Hauwa wahi
126. Racheal Kheke
127. Amina Ali
128. Ayuba Grema
129. Saratu Dauda
130. Yaana Pogu
131. Grace Paul
132. Margaret Shitima
133. Pindar Nuhu
134. Hannatu Abubakar
135. Hannatu Ishaku
136. Hauwa Kwagwi
137. Parmata Musa
138. Hauwa Nkeke
139. Mary Dama
140. Mary Amos
141. Aishatu Musa
142. Mary Yakubu
143. Sarah ndaske
144. Hadiza Yakubu
145. Asabe Lawan
146. Tabitha Pogu
147. Ruth Bitrus
148. Lydia Simon
149. Mwa Daniel
150. Lugwa Mutah
151. Yana Bukar
152. Saraya Yaga
153. Christiana Ali
154. Kauna Luka
155. Hauwa Peter
156. Ladi Paul
157. Deborah Yerima
158. Juliana Yakubu
159. 159 Ruth Lawan
160. Laraba John
161. Mary Daniel
162. Hauwa Musa
163. Naomi Zakariya
164. Saratu Markus
165. Zabu Yaska
166. Saraya Samuel Yaga
167. Hajara Isa
168. Kwadzugu Haman
169. Hauwa Markus
170. Hauwa Maina
171. Comfort Bulus
172. Aisha Lawan
173. Martha Musa
174. Fibi Haruna
175. Falta Lawan
176. Maryamu Bulama
177. Aishatu Lawan
178. Glory Ali
179. Esther Jashua
180. Ruth Ishaku
181. FILO Dauda
182. Rifkatu Splomon
183. Margaret Watsai
184. Mary Ali
185. Ruth Amos
186. Bilkisu Abdulkahi
187. Martha James
188. Rebecca Ibrahim
189. Maryamu Lawan
190. Deborah Andrawus
191. Agnes Ngapani
192. Mary G .Dauda
193. Saratu Iliya
194. Saratu Tapji
195. Mairama Bashir
196. Victoria Dauda
197. Halima Ali
198. Maryamu Ali
199. Ladi Audu
200. Zainabu Yaga
201. Awa Ali
202. Talatu Adamu
203. Ladi Paul
204. Ladi Dauda
205. Hannatu Dauda
206. Lydia Yaga
207. Mary Paul
208. Naomi Yohanna
209. Jessica Habila
210. Jumai Paul
211. Saratu yahi
212. Helen Musa
213. Jumai Yaga
214. Grace Ahmadu
215. Hamsatu Umoru
216. Lydia Nuhu
217. Mary Yakubu
218. Saratu Thlawur
219. Aishatu Modu

Hello once again, we hope you had a wonderful Easter…

In Africa we have a saying, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, you go together.” We want this attitude to resonate with you once you’re through reading this blogpost. For our ardent readers, we were unable to produce February update because we were quite busy. Without much delay, welcome to our 2nd newsletter of 2016, we hope you take something from this update as we march into spring together.

Director’s Visit to EMCI Adamawa in February

In the second week of February our founders, Paul & Becky, traveled to Northeastern Nigeria to pay a visit to our learning centers there. There, we visited with parents and staff members to encourage and get feedback from them. Materials and other school supplies were procured to aid the smooth operations of school activities. 60 desks are being made for the center there, to add to the desks already there which currently seat 130 students. The new desks each seat 3 students for additional seating capacity of 180 students.

A need we observed was for a media room, where we can play educational CD’s and have sufficient audio/visual projection to facilitate the learning process to as many pupils at a time as possible. Stipends were paid to all the teachers and supporting personnel for the months of February and March.

EMCI Visit to Borno State Learning Center in March

During the first week of March, four EMCI members traveled to Borno and visited with the learning center there. Though they were out of session for their midterm break, we were greeted by many parents and members of the security team (vigilante there). Some of the current activities going on there include:

• 150 desks being made for the center there. Each desk holds 3 children and they will be transported to them after Easter
• 51 senior students to sit for their SSCE (final exam)
• Uniforms and ID cards made for each student
• Received and delivered donations of 48 Soccer Jerseys from a Catholic School in Manchester, UK

Finally, we also paid monthly stipends for February and March to all the teachers and supporting personnel there.

Update on Relocated Schoolchildren in Nigeria

After our return from the Borno and Adamawa states we were able to secure three openings for girl students at one of the schools in central Nigeria. Subsequently, we relocated eight orphaned girls from a Borno community to our home in central Nigeria, which has become a transition-house for these kids, in hopes to gain admission for them all. They range in age from twelve to twenty-three. One girl has already been enrolled in the school where we already have a couple girls. We are working on placing the girls into more schools in either the same city or another city in the same region.

The last Saturday of each month brings with it visiting day at two of the schools where sixteen children have been relocated in central Nigeria. Following our visits with them at the end of January, we took their school provisions requests and made arrangements to meet their needs as best we could. Foodstuff like garri and corn were supplied to the thirteen children at one of the schools and in early-March, they came “home” for a week during their mid-term break. For the three boys in the other school, we bought shoes for them as well as painting class and math utensils.

In early February, EMCI also visited with the two girls who were relocated to another city in central Nigeria. There the matron at the facility informed us of their progress in their new school and was happy to report that after an initial slow transition, the girls were acclimating well to their new environment. They made requests for school supplies such as books and writing materials, which we made arrangements for.

Easter with the Schoolchildren in Nigeria

Shortly before Easter, sixteen students came home for breaks, some of whom have 3-week holidays to mark the end of the session. While here, they have integrated with the eight new girls and made them feel at home too. Some of them were reunited as they had known each other from back when they were schooling in Borno together.  Those who were able to travel, went back home for the 3 week break.

On Thursday, March 24^th while most of the kids were around, we had a Skype session with Todd Flory and his fourth grade class at Wheatland Elementary School in Andover, Kansas. Todd is a COB member who after reading our article in the October issue of Messenger showed interest in Skyping us. His class connects with other classes and students around the world with Skype. We wanted both our students to become more aware of and involved in the issue of global education access, especially for the girls and refugees. The Skype session was great; our kids learned about limericks while we taught them some phrases in Hausa. Todd asked if we could Skype them again on April 14^th as they will be doing an all-day through midnight Skype Around the World project. We’ll be forward looking to that.

EMCI USA

Spring Break and Valentine’s in the US

Some of our relocated schoolgirls still high school in the US had a pizza night reunion on Valentine’s weekend.They asked for pizza – which is a good sign that they are acculturizing to American food. They also didn’t mind that it was half pork half sausage!

During Spring break we were able to conclude eye tests for half of the girls who had not had proper eye exams done prior. Most have issues which are being addressed by our wonderful new pro-bono ophthalmologist.

Similarly some of our girls got to attend their first Broadway show Eclipsed in New York and hang out with actress Lupita Yongo as guests of actress and producer Danai Gurira.

After a visit to the beach, they rounded up the Easter holiday as guests to the White House Easter egg roll. This is our second year at the White House and some of our girls who didn’t make it last year, made it this time.

Also that day, one of our girls and our international director were interviewed on CNN about the still missing girls.

April 14th will mark the 2-year anniversary of the abduction at GGSS Chibok. As we approach this date, several events will be held in remembrance of the tragic event and to continue to raise awareness and hope for their return.

Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is organizing several events at Capitol Hill and has invited a Chibok escapee staying with us to speak at a congregational forum and a press conference at the Capitol. Each week, that congress is in session, led by the congresswoman, they take photos of themselves wearing red and hold up signs, ensuring that the girls have not been forgotten. These days at congress have been dubbed “Wear Something Red Wednesday”.

Meanwhile, at Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, there will be a delegation of COB USA members coming around that time. EMCI will be holding remembrance prayers and gatherings at the church and home in central Nigeria, in solidarity of the missing girls.

For more details about participating in our anniversary activities, please contact us. See list below:

1. Houston, TX April 8

2. Houston, TX April 10

3. Washington DC April 13 and 14

4. New York NY April 15 and 16

5. Silver Spring MD April 16

Miracle’s Story

This Easter weekend, we wanted to share with you someone special. Let’s call her “Miracle.”

One day Boko Haram terrorists attacked her family in northern Nigeria. Her husband was a policeman so they beheaded him in front of her and her kids.

Although the terrorists usually don’t decapitate women and children, they made an exception because this was the family of a cop.

They beheaded her two children in front of her and then slit Miracle’s throat too and left her for dead.

Two days later, city workers were clearing the corpses for mass burial when the found Miracle’s body. As they picked it, she twitched.

Unlike her husband, Boko Haram did not completely sever and detach her head. She was a woman so they assumed slitting her throat was enough to kill her. It didn’t.
Miracle is alive today after two days left for dead. She was the sole person recovered alive from the heap of corpses.

She is trying hard to support her baby – her sole surviving family member – and restart her life as a refugee.

Although EMCI focuses on child victims, sometimes we see adults that we simply can’t turn our backs too.
With a small grant provided by a church mission team in Kingstowne Virginia, we sent Miracle to a class on how to start a business. Now she sells chickens to keep body and soul together.

You can be part of Miracle’s recovery too. Let us know if you want to help her buy more chickens, pay for her child’s school or help her with house rent.

Happy Easter from EMCI – countering terrorism, one book at a time!

 

Hello for the first time this year; glad you could be a part of this newsletter. The month of January was a chilly one (both in Nigeria and across the Atlantic), but the wheels of EMCI could not be allowed to freeze. Here is an update of goings-on while we turned the leaf of a new year.

Resumption of the Learning Centers

After spending time away from informal schooling during the Christmas & New Year period, the children at the EMCI leaning centers in Borno and Adamawa states resumed. They had been away for close to three weeks prior to resumption, which saw an increase in the number of registered schoolchildren. Presently, 50 of the the final year students are prepping to sit for their WAEC exams in May/June.

We will continue to strive to provide the resources to keep the center open and cater to the needs of the near three thousand children there, as well as the brave teachers, parents, non-academic staff, and various other stakeholders in the environs.

Return & School Resumption of the Relocated Children in Nigeria

Following the turn of the year, the relocated schoolchildren began to return to their various “bases” in central Nigeria. They came in different bunches; some in two’s, and other’s in groups of four and five.

Although their schools resumed within the first week of school,  some couldn’t make it back in time due to financial challenges at home. A set of orphaned twin girls had to wait for their mother to sell farm produce on the weekly market-day to raise enough money for her to put them on a bus back to the city.

The last Saturday of the month is reserved as a visiting day among some of the boarding schools they attend. Our staff got to catch up with with a few of them last Saturday (Jan 29th), providing them with durable snacks for the semester, and money to get more school equipment. The overall attitude of the children is one of gratitude and a desire to stay in school.

Visit from Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren

In Mid-January, fourteen volunteers from the Church of the Brethren community in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania came on a missions trip to Nigeria. We were blessed to host them for a dinner, during which we presented a comprehensive package surrounding the insurgency in northeastern Nigeria and our efforts at securing the futures of the affected children.

Continue to pray that our message will touch the hearts of those who it reaches and the plight of the children will be alleviated through collaborations with communities such as these. Thank you.

Founders Trip to the UK

Early this year, our founders traveled to the UK for the new year. While there, they shared EMC with community who had shown interest to support the displaced schoolchildren and learning centers.

Trip to the US, a College Update, and EMCI Annual Awards 🙂

Our managing partner and global resource person traveled to the United States and visited with the relocated schoolgirls. There, she also met with our Human Rights Advocate, who doubles as our International Director. Awards were announced amongst our domestic and international staff.

Our Education Adviser was nominated MVP in the United States for her invaluable work garnering more than $150,000 worth of genuine full scholarships for our high school girls in addition to numerous other enrichment programs.

EMCI’s Global Partnership and International Cooperation Director was nominated MVP in Nigeria for her tireless efforts in supporting IDPs, victims as well as candidates for our program both in the US and Nigeria.

Update on the Relocated Chibok Girls

The Chibok schoolgirls in the US continue to make strives in their education. Sadly, one of our Chibok Girls in the US lost a relative in the recent bomb blast in Chibok.

Thank you for taking the time to share with us. See you next month!

EMC

It’s that time of the year again. When we begin to look back at the previous 12 months and prepare for the start of another journey around the sun. To wrap up 2015, this post will cover our activities for the months of November and December while doing a photo recap of the year gone by. We will also highlight some of our major milestones, including presenting a summary listing of our media mentions.

Here we go!

November 2015 with EMCI

Relocated schoolchildren’s acclimation to their new communities 

• Currently, EMCI has facilitated the relocation of 31 internally displaced and/or orphaned children from Borno and Adamawa States to seven different schools in Jos, Abuja and Abeokuta.
• There was a degree of apprehensiveness among a few of them when they first came, but these brave young ones soldiered on.
• Some were able to come “home” in Jos for a midterm break towards the end of the month. There was much to celebrate as they are becoming more and more of a family.

Growing number of children at the lesson centers in Adamawa & Borno states

• The EMCI “lesson centers” have accommodated an increasing intake of children who have been out of school in the affected regions.
• Currently, the Adamawa location has around eight hundred children whereas the one in Borno state has over two thousand. In each of this centers, we had initially planned to accommodate no more than a couple hundred.
• Please pray for desks and adequate classroom materials for the lesson centers in addition a continuation of funding for the teachers’ stipends. Contact information for those interested in contributing is provided at the end of this newsletter.

Continued financial contributions from near and afar 

• We want to recognize and appreciate the cash donations received from UK philanthropists. By God’s grace, some of our founders will be visiting them in early January.

Acceptance into a higher institution of one relocated schoolchild

• One of our relocated daughters to Jos was formally accepted into a leadership institute to pursue a course leading to national diploma in community health!

EMCI USA Schoolgirls

• There was much activity on the other side of the pond involving our twelve schoolgirls in the States. Most of them celebrated their first American Thanksgiving with host sponsors there, while the familiar few showed them the ropes around how to tackle turkey roast.
• The girls continue to improve in their schoolwork, and are making new friends and connections as they progress through life in their new found home.

December 2015 with EMCI

Relocated schoolchildren were able to go home for the holidays

• After completing their first semester “at-board”, the kids were sent home to be with their families for Christmas.
• Medical treatment was provided to one who had post-traumatic stress-related symptoms.

Newspaper and media metions

During the month, a couple media outlets published articles with EMCI being referenced. Check them out:

• Morgan Winsor’s article highlights the devastation by Boko Haram on the education sector. Read it here.
• Following her trip to the Northeast with our founders from a few months back, Paul from Christian Science Monitor published her article. Read it here.
• In response to a report by UNICEF saying that Boko Haram violence has forced 1 million children out of school, Teo Kermeliotis, a deputy online editor for Al Jazeera Media network interviewed our founder and published this article: read it here.

Oversight trip to EMCI lesson centers in the Northeast

• In line with regular school scheduling, the lesson centers closed for Christmas and New Years, marking the end of the semester.
• Our founders, Paul and Rebecca Gadzama were on hand to oversee the closing ceremonies as well as to pay the teachers’ stipends and provide gift items to victims of the insurgency there.
• At Adamawa, there was prize giving for the end of the term. The top three children in each class were awarded prizes. That’s kindergarten one through three, primary one through form six (grades one to six), and JSS1 through SS3 (Seventh to twelfth grades). The top student received an additional gift of a Christmas card.
• At Borno State, there was a football (soccer) match held between children of the host community vs. the children of the surrounding environs. The real winner was EMCI.
• Awards were presented there as well, and a full-fledged end of year party was celebrated. Admonishments were dolled out to deserving individuals and stipends were paid including additional Christmas bonuses.
• The figure at the close of school was 788 in Adamawa, an increase from 400 just a few months prior. People had been urged to return home on the premise that the insurgency had been cleared. However, they were forced to come back to IDP/refugee status because there was no home to go to…

EMCI USA and the overseas schoolgirls 

• Perhaps the biggest milestone achieved was the formal acceptance into colleges (degree courses) by three of the trans-Atlantic schoolgirls. These girls have barely spent a year overseas; one of whom is an escaped Chibok Schoolgirl, the other was only recently admitted into high school there in September. Pray that we get scholarships to sponsor them. Please see our contact at the end of this newsletter if you are interested in helping.
• As the year rounded up, the girls placed in host families for Christmas, while a couple of them remained at their schools.
• Finally, our resident human rights attorney and co-founder Emmanuel was recognized as a hero of the year by the Darfur Women’s Action Group for his tireless advocacy to the plight of the still missing Chibok girls and against the insurgency in Norheastern Nigeria. Read more about this award here.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Here is a photo recap of EMCI from inception to date:

Media Mentions

If We Run and They Kills Us, so be it, But We Have to Run Now (Published October 14th, 2014 by Sarah Topol, Medium)

Boko Haram Escapees to Start Education in the US (Published December 25th, 2014 by Tomi Oladipo, BBC)

The Girls Who Escaped: One Year Afer the Kidnapping, Some Chibok Schoolgirls have left Nigeria (Published April 13th, 2015 by Sally Hayden, Vice News)

Chibok Girls Abduction One Year Later: European Union Delegation in Nigeria Remembers (Published April 14th, 2015 by Modupe Omopintemi, CNN iReport)

Capitol Hill Lawmakers Meet the ‘Malala of Africa’ (Published April 16th, 2015 by Julia Craven, Huffington Post)

Traumatized by Boko Haram, Kidnapped Girls fire on Rescuers (Published April 30th, 2015 by Sarah Kaplan, Washington Post)

 Denied Education by Boko Haram, Nigerian Kids make do in Derelict Schools (Published June 12th, 2015 by Chika Oduah, Al Jazeera)

Nigeria’s Chibok Girls Find New Start in US (Published August 30th, 2015 by Chika Oduah, Al Jazeera USA)

Salome, a Chibok Girl who Escaped Boko Haram Shares at #UpForSchool Town Hall (Published September 28th, 2015 by A World At School

A Chibok Girl Recalls Her Escape from Boko Haram (Published September 30th, 2015 by Staff, Women in the World in association with the New York Times)

Hon. Robert Idoko/Family Flag off Education Support Program as a Foundation (Published October 7th, 2015 by Engr. Dan Atayi, IPN News)

Chibok Girls in America Ask US Govt to Grant Student Visa to Escape Leader on One and a Half Year Anniversary of Abduction (Published October 15th, 2015 by Emmanuel Ogebe, IPN News)

Nigeria’s Education Crisis: Boko Haram Targeting Schools, Teachers, Students is Devastating Africa’s Largest Economy (Published December 2nd, 2015 by Morgan Winsor, International Business Times)

In War with Boko Haram, Nigerians Battle to Keep Classroom Door Open (Published December 7th, 2015 by Paula Rogo, the Christian Science Monitor)

Virginia Man Opens his Home to Boko Haram Victims (Published December 8th, 2015 by Allison Seymour, Fox 5)

One Million Forced from School by Boko Haram War (Published December 23rd, 2015 by Teo Kermeliotis) 

Bring Our Girls Back to School; A Project by GOFundMe (Supported news links at the bottom of the page)

You may contact us on our Facebook page or through our email (pmgadzama@yahoo.com or info@emcinitiative.org) if you are interested in supporting any one of our efforts.

Greetings and welcome to another update on recent affairs here at Education Must Continue Initiative. What many people don’t know is that EMCI is comprised mostly of victims of terrorism themselves helping others. We would not have been where we are today without the sacrifices made by people who have also been affected by similar situations. Through the concerted efforts of these fellow sufferers, education will continue to reach those in most dire need of it, even in the most isolated and violent regions of northern Nigeria.

Here we go…

CHIBOK GIRL GOES TO NY

Salome’s UN visit with Gordon Brown (An EMCI escaped Chibok schoolgirl being interviewed by UN Special Envoy on Education – Gordon Brown former prime minister of The United Kingdom. Syria has over 2 million displaced children. Nigeria has 1.4 million!)

Salome is one of hundreds of girls abducted by Boko Haram from the Nigerian town of Chibok in April 2014, sparking the global hashtag campaign Bring Back Our Girls. She is one of just a few dozen to escape.

She spoke to Women in the World on the sidelines of an event in Manhattan on Monday September 28th, where she took the stage with United Nations Special Envoy for Education Gordon Brown. The event, called Up For School, was hosted by UNICEF and children’s charity Theirworld, drawing leaders from around the globe to talk about the importance of getting kids to school.

She was one of many powerful voices at the event on Monday, including a former child soldier from Sierra Leone, Mohamed Sidibay, now a schoolteacher. Others included Sarah Brown, president of the charity Theirworld; Graca Machel, the first education minister of Mozambique; Holly Gordon, chief executive of the initiative Girl Rising; Kennedy Odede, the founder of schools for girls in the slums of Kenya, and many others.

Tens of millions of children around the world are out of school, due to child trafficking, forced marriage, child labor, and war. “Some of these children will never see school unless we do something about it,” said Gordon Brown. You can do something about it by signing the Up For School petition to encourage governments to take action.

DOCTORS FAMILY DONATES TO EMCI

Donation from Dr. Ameh Foundation and Peace Corp Alumni (Dr. Ameh Idoko Foundation donates to Education Must Continue Initiative’s efforts.)

The family of a renowned Pediatrician and founder of Madonna hospital in Makurdi, Benue State, Dr. Idoko, has made a donation to EMCI in honor of their family patriarch.

Dr. Idoko whose family is one of the most illustrious in Benue state and indeed the north central Nigeria comprising a lawyer, medical doctor, pharmacist, IT Guru amongst others, recently turned 76.

Making the donation on behalf of the Dr. Ameh Foundation was Hon. Robert Owoicho Idoko first son of the distinguished doctor and former chairman of Okpokwu LG.

In a brief message to EMCI, the pharmacist and family scion said that they were touched by the story of EMC’s “newest arrival” in the US – a schoolgirl orphaned by Boko Haram sponsored. “May God bless your kindness to humanity,” Owoicho Idoko added.

Some of the children present at the education support event by the Dr. Ameh Idoko Foundation on October 5th

EMCI GETS MUCH NEEDED MORALE BOOST FROM DONATIONS 

(October 23rd; Our founder, Mr. Paul Gadzama went on another trip to the IDP camps in Yola as well as to Lassa. An excerpt from his POV is provided below)

“The reality is that there are still great risks undertaken to access victims of the insurgency in Northeastern Nigeria. It was in the news that there was a bomb blast at a mosque in Yola that weekend.  Fortunately, Paul had already departed Yola for Lassa at the time and returned safely.

We had a great and fruitful day. Started at the EMC Yola IDP School. Church of the Brethren (COB) donated for the construction of 65 desks which has filled the classroom block donated by the Family worship center. The donation was also used to erect demarcations between 6 classrooms up to the roof and black chalkboards were also made. For the first time, we were able to pay stipend to all the volunteer teacher staff comprised of internally displaced persons. This has boosted the morale of the teachers.

UNICEF also donated 3 tents while we were there.”

Our thanks to the Peace Corp Alumni of Nigeria for their support to five f our teachers. In a donation letter, Al Hannans, president of PCNAF said “The Peace Corps Nigeria Alumni Foundation (PCNAF) was formed in 2001 by a small group of former Peace Corps Volunteers in the Washington, DC area with a desire to play an on-going role in supporting the country where we have seen first-hand evidence of how it helps to reduce poverty and promote economic growth. Therefore, our mission is to help foster economic growth in Nigeria with programs designed to increase equality and access to quality education.

One of the most important things children displaced by Boko Haram terrorists need is help with continuing their education. So we commend the Education Must Continue Initiative for recognizing that need, and for creating a school in Yola to ensure that the children of refugees can continue their studies.

We know that one of the biggest problems you are currently facing at the school is the need to provide financial support to your teachers. So we are making a donation to cover the costs for five teachers.” President Hannans had taught classes in Nigeria during the civil war in the 60’s – a time not unlike the present in Nigeria.

EMCI appreciates the generous donation to support 5 teachers at EMCI’s IDP school in Yola, Nigeria. The school which was started as essentially a home-schooling activity for people internally displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency has actually become a brick-and-mortar institution over the past few months.

While we received donations of computers from the European Union Election Observer Mission and blocks of classrooms built for us by a church, PCNAF group’s donation is the first cash donation specifically providing regular support to the critical element that makes all of this work – the human capital of our priceless teachers!

EMCI has an all-volunteer staff of over 40 teachers who themselves are victims of Boko Haram. Morale has been low and the donation comes at a crucial time when these professionals are wondering how to cater for their families as the holidays approach.

During the recent Teachers’ Day, Nigeria’s union of teachers reported that over 600 have been killed by terrorists. The donation serves to encourage the surviving victims who continue to educate children in a high-risk profession targeted by a group called “Education is Forbidden.”

EMCI OPENS NEW SCHOOL (POV)

“The journey took four and a half hours rather than the usual two and a half hours. This was due to increasingly deteriorating roads and countless military checkpoints.

Instead of arriving at 11 am when school was supposed to close for the weekend, we arrived at 1 pm. Nevertheless, the children waited despite the hunger and thirst. I got biscuits for them on the way, which they were over excited to get, maybe for the first time in years. I was however saddened that it could not make it possible for the children to have more than 2 pieces each.

We have over 1,300 children from primary 1 to JSS 3 (grades 1 to grades 8) in the register, and the number is increasing. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only school available in that area and outside Maiduguri and Biu local governments; this is the only town a school is operating in Borno state. So we must remain very low keyed. In fact, we have instructed that it be called a lesson center to avoid unnecessary attention and therefore distraction.

There are only 12 teachers, so I asked the coordinator to interview and recruit 3 more. Initially, we had planned to start with 150 students and 5 teachers. We have provided basic amenities and facilities for the school but the excitement in the community is overwhelming. Many of these children are also refugees from neighboring villages. These are the villages at the fringes of the Sambisa forests and therefore remain a hot spot.

We provided funds for them to construct a soccer and volleyball pitches which is providing relaxation and trauma easing for children and even adults. They have requested for a handball court now.

Before departing, I was able to pay stipend to all the 12 teachers today, and you need to see the excitement and tons of appreciation. These guys are going to give their soul to the teaching of the children.”

Between both schools, EMCI now has enrolled over 2,000 displaced kids back in school.

Founders Trip to Maiduguri to Attend NEMA and Other NGOs Conference

A week after the Yola/Lassa trip, Paul was in Maiduguri after attending a two day engagement session between National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Presidential Initiative in the Northeast (PINE) and other stakeholders in the reconstruction of the affected region.

They addressed the issue of cooperation, coordination and communication. The Vice President gave the keynote address after other top government personalities have presented.

However from the communique, they were gathering raw materials for further preparations for the Presidential Intervention in the Northeast. We were able to make contacts for possible future collaboration.

The US Schoolgirls Attending a College Fair

Some of the girls studying in the United States had the opportunity to attend a college fair as they seek opportunities to continue their education. Please pray for resources and admissions to make this possible as college education is very expensive in the US. The loss of records resulting from the burning of their school has been a major setback which we are working to address.

Update on the progress of the school children here in Jos and Abuja

Nineteen of the relocated schoolchildren spent a week of their mid-term break and returned to their school towards the end of the month.

Since these breaks are short, it is not cost effective for them to make a journey of 12 hours back to the Northeast. We need hosts to keep them during such short breaks.

Update on Hauwa (Petition to get her Visa)

If you will recall, we have been trying to obtain a visa for one of the Chibok school escapees to allow her continue her studies in the U.S.

After three denials, we just started a petition on the White House Petitions site, “We the People”. Please sign it and take a stand with an escaped Chibok schoolgirl. You can play a part by signing this in just five minutes. Here is a link: http://wh.gov/iPs5H

Here’s some more information about this petition:

Give a student visa to Hauwa – a courageous Chibok schoolgirl who escaped after Boko Haram abduction #bringbackourgirls

Ms. Hauwa is one of the 57 escaped Nigerian schoolgirls after their abduction by Boko Haram terrorists from Chibok a year and a half ago today. In fact, she was the very first girl to inspire the others to escape and she led the way by jumping herself.

She and several other girls obtained scholarships to school in the US and applied for student visas. Hauwa is the only one who was denied a visa by the US embassy in Abuja three times.

The terrorists put her out of school. The US should not keep her out of school any longer. #bringbackourgirls.

Please show the world that he US stands with girl education and show the terrorists that these girls will achieve their ambition for a good education.

Give Hauwa a student visa now. She’s a heroine who should be encouraged, not denied!

EMCI

Greetings! This is coming a little late, and we apologize for that. We’ve been busy trying to catch up on happenings back in Nigeria. The month of July was quite a productive one with moving pieces from Askira, Borno State, to Tampa, Florida. Here we go…

Chibok girls meet the sagacious former Nigerian Minister for Power, Prof Nebo yesterday. Professor had spoken about social action and justice as cornerstones of our faith. He said when John the Baptist sent to inquire if Jesus was the expected Messiah, Jesus’ reply showed what important evidences of being a Christian are: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. Matt 11:5 Preaching was the last evidence Christ listed. He mentioned actions before words.

July 11th – 16th – Church of the Brethren Annual Conference meets EMCI

Aug 3rd – Back from the U.S. 

 

The month of June was full of activity for us here at EMCI on different fronts; both in Nigeria and in the U.S.A. For starters, June 1st brought about a regime change at the Federal and State levels. Efforts to combat the Boko Haram insurgency were reinforced by commitments made by the incoming President, Muhammadu Buhari. We continue to pray fervently for an end to this menace and for a sustainable peace that will foster an educative environment.

The first week of the month saw a joint effort between EMCI  and Family Worship Center (FWC), Abuja go to IDP camps in Yola where we donated relief materials to camp officials as well as internally displaced persons. Some of the teenage girls (pictured) have lost contact with their families while escaping terror attacks. They are called “unaccompanied minors.” It took a  short time to mobilize the Unaccompanieds. Many others showed up too and you might have a fracas or stampede. National Emergency Management (NEMA) officials carefully coordinated the distribution to avoid any incidents as the supplies couldn’t reach everyone in line.

Team EMC/FWC also visited an unregistered camp. Unlike government camps, they have makeshift sticks and thatch structures – not buildings. Pictured is the staff room for the teachers at the refugee schools. They are IDPs themselves. We gave them money for soap. They are all volunteers…

We got to meet the kids – hundreds of them. Our representative asked quiz questions in class. One girl answered correctly who the president of the US was. So we had to give prizes to the winners 🙂

During the month, we were also mentioned in an Al Jazeera article, written by a dear friend to EMCI. Check it out here.

Already mentioned in our original blogpost was the donation of various office equipment, supplies and other material by the EU Mission to Nigerian to EMCI. Pictures of some of these are subsequently shown. We cannot begin to thank all those who had a hand in making that a reality. All we can do is ensure that they reach those who need them the most. God bless you.

Some of these items were distributed to IDP’s at the Stephanos camp at Bukuru, Jos. This camp is located at a former secondary school, and even though they have cement-walled buildings (unlike the ones in Yola), it is far from optimal. The family members coordinating the affairs of the camp are pictured with some of our staff as they received relief items.

Our founders made two more trips to Yola, to check the affairs of things at the camps, in addition to donating of relief materials. “Over the mountains, and through thick and thin straw-thatched buildings” EDUCATION MUST and WILL CONTINUE!!!

Coming back to where it all started, there was a pleasant reunion of the 10 escaped Chibok schoolgirls who have been relocated to the United States. Summer just started and these girls are excited for their first “barbecue-season” in the land of the free. They recently took ESL exams and it will please you to know that they are all making significant academic progress… more to come later.

Thank you for accompanying us on this ride… hang tight for the next one.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Welcome to the first official blog post of Education Must Continue Initiative. We have a come a long way in less than a year since our inception. Many individuals and organizations have contributed in one way or another to our mission, without whom, we would be nowhere  near where we are now. We’d like to say thank you to each and everyone of you.

The week of May 3rd – May 9th was a remarkable one. There were events and activities running across our global network, from Oregon to Yola. Here’s a brief insight into the week that was:

Thursday, May 7th

Abuja

We received a donation of various office, educational, and First Aid material from the EU Election Observation Mission.

Jos

Visited and distributed personal care items to the escaped Chibok girls who are currently attending school here.

Friday, May 8th 

Yola

Transported many of the items donated by the EU Election Observation Mission to the IDP camp and EMCI school in Yola

Oregon

Visited with the Chibok girls who are currently attending school there.

Washington D.C.

Paid a courtesy call on Nigerian embassy.

Saturday, May 9th

Yola

Relief distribution to the camp here. This is our ground-zero.

Washington D.C.

Spoke at a conference in DC

Thank you for taking the time to learn about this unique experience.

EMCI