News
Chibok girls visit the United States White House
In November, the learning centers conducted mock exams for SS3 students coordinated by the Adamawa State Resource Center. However, we had to pay for it as last year, they had waived it for us. Each pupil is to pay ₦1,700: registration fee of ₦1,500 and administrative fee of ₦200. Similarly, a couple other exams will be coming up for our current senior students. Last time, it was ₦16,000 per student for WAEC and NECO examinations.
The Technology Enhanced Learning for All (TELA) program being conducted by the American University of Nigeria (AUN) was renewed for a second year. They want to extend the program to other parts of Adamawa state (initially only 3 local governments) and even into Gombe state, as a result of observed improvement from the selected and screened students. They will proceed with us with a Batch Two; even though they had reduced the program for some other schools. Currently, 6 schools succeeded out of 28 initially started; ours is among the surviving six!
Finally, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) have extended their skills training programs, because they want people to be able to go back to their homes and fend for themselves. Tailoring program – first batch is close to ending their training, and now we’re working on preparing the second batch. However, the majority of participants have stayed because their homes have not been rebuilt yet – they have nothing to go back to.
EMCI USA: RESUMPTION OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS
After an enriching summer, which included credit classes for both high school and college students, our students have successfully resumed Fall classes. Our US High School students were involved in an educational tour of President Thomas Jefferson’s home, Monticello and are finishing their college preparation in the coming months as they will be transitioning into college shortly.
Thomas Jefferson is known as the US father of the Declaration of Independence and also as the father of the University of Virginia, which he founded. Our US Chibok high school students had the opportunity to tour both his home and university. They also enjoyed a colonial-style lunch.
We are delighted that all of our US students continue to advance with their studies even more rapidly than we expected! Our two high school students will graduate this Spring, and are set to transfer into college next Fall and our three college students will begin transitioning from their two year to a four year college within a year. However, the entire EMCI team holds our college student in prayer who recently lost her Uncle. Please continue to hold our US students and their loving host families and educators in your prayers. May God continue to provide for their college funds as they continue to work diligently toward their goal of an excellent education.
College students participated in an outdoor learning through their university’s special experience at one of the finest US national parks. Additionally, some of our high school and college students will have the opportunity to observe open heart surgery by the surgical team of one of the best hospitals in the US. We are extremely pleased with the rapid progress of the US high school and college students in our program. We remain grateful to our nurturing host families who have been so lovingly imparting into the lives of the young ladies. One of our high school students recently successfully completed her drivers’ education training class as well.
EMCI US STUDENT INDUCTED AS HONOR SOCIETY OFFICER AND REPRESENTED HER COLLEGE
EMCI student, Zee was inducted as an Officer in a nationally recognized academic honor society.
As an honors society officer, she represented her college in a three day regional “Honors in Action” leadership honors conference with numerous Honors Seminar topics and the theme, How the World Works: Global Perspectives. The leadership conference included round-table discussions, speeches from prominent University professors, a Latin Rhythms Symphonic concert and a Botanical gardens tour. She was presented with an Honors Institute pin for her involvement and now serves as Vice President.
EMCI NIGERIA: MID TERM BREAK AND ACHIEVEMENTS FOR PLACEMENT ORPHAN CHILDREN
At the end of the month, it was time for mid-term breaks for the relocated/placement children. Our team coordinated with the various schools to bring them home at different times because three of the schools were closing and resuming on different dates. Teachers continue to praise one of our daughters, encouraging her to pursue a career in science or medicine; this girl is a twin, and her sister unfortunately had to return to the village to help their widowed mom out on the farm – their only source of income.
Another boy, now in SS3 (12th grade), was made the head-boy (student president). Vee (as we’ll call him) has shown promise in the classroom as well as in the field of sports. Recently, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Sports Community Development Service group commended him as the best all round athlete in the school.
SHIPMENT OF NUTRITIOUS FOOD EN ROUTE TO DESTINATIONS
In our previous updates, we mentioned a shipment of relief food sent from Victor Marx: All Things Possible Ministries in the United States a few months ago intended for the refugee children we are working with. The food is a high-protein, vitamin-enriched, rice soy formula, that in a one cup serving is enough nutrition for a starving child for the entire day. It is therapeutic food that helps vulnerable displaced persons especially children. The container includes 280,000 meals.
After several months, the container cleared and hit the road from the southern port to the northern distribution locations. This has been one of our more challenging endeavors this year! Thanks to the many hands that contributed in making this dream a reality and for the constant prayers for the shipment. We began distributing the relief food to refugee children in camps in Plateau, Benue, Adamawa, and Borno States.
The distance from the seaport to where we are distributing the food is close to 1,600km (roughly a thousand miles) and much of that route is plagued with bad roads. After spending over 3 weeks on the road, the truck carrying the consignment broke down and we had to trans-load the food to another truck.
Finally we went to the first distribution center in Plateau State, Tabitha Evangelical Ministries. There are 268 orphans in the camp. On Sunday, October 30th, we delivered 133 cartons (equivalent of 28,000 meals) to them. It was fantastic as all but one EMCI trustee participated. Professor Paul Amaza presented the gospel message with about 100 children indicating decisions to receive Christ. The testimonies from the kids were very touching making it impossible to hold back our tears.
There were two brothers and a sister who escaped from Fulani herdsmen but lost both parents plus their sister. The elder brother survived a machete cut on the head. The younger sister about 6 years old escaped with a cut across the face damaging one eye, while the last born survived with bullet wound on the stomach. We were encouraged to see how thrilled they were to receive the donation of the “Jesus Food”. A placement program mother, who came to visit her children on midterm break accompanied us and was really thrilled to be part of it. Again, we had to trans-load when the first van we loaded the cartons in broke down half way to the venue.
This is a verbatim response we received from the camp coordinator:
“The entire members of TEM orphanage will ever remain grateful to ‘All Things Are Possible Ministry’ USA and to ‘Education Must Continue’ Team for your supports to these children. Indeed your gifts of love is timely. You are God sent. The Lord has used you all at this hour of our need. You have indeed saved the life of this children by putting a smile on their faces and giving them hope. God is faithful! we received your precious gifts of food with a grateful heart. Thanks a lot!”
Immediately after this first delivery, we started preparing for the long haul to camps in Maiduguri for the next set of delivery scheduled for Friday, November 4th. This was ever becoming a tricky situation, as the town had seen a series of suicide bombings and explosion in the previous 5 days, mostly targeting IDP camps. Two days before our departure, we got a breaking news that there was another bomb explosion in Maiduguri with 9 dead…
Prayers were said. The van was mobilized and took off on November 2nd with 300 cartons of “Jesus Food” (about 64,800 meal). Paul and Beckie Gadzama, Mrs. Habiba Amaza, and Rev. Cannon Hassan John traveled the following day for the presentation on Friday. It is about an 8-hour journey due to bad roads and numerous security checks on the way. The food distribution targets about 18,000 children with over 20,000 KG of food in 4 states. We have achieved over 70% of the target by direct delivery.
REACTION TO RELEASE OF 21 CHIBOK ABDUCTEES
One of the highlights of the period was the reunion of some of the abducted GGSS Chibok schoolgirls with their families. Just before dawn on Thursday, October 13th, 21 of the abducted Chibok girls were safely released due to a deal brokered by the International Red Cross and the Swiss Governments.
EMC thanks all our friends who have felicitated with us on the first release of 21 of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls. We are particularly delighted that each of the Chibok girls in our US study abroad program has a released relative amongst the returned 21. We continue to cherish your prayers for the soon return of almost 200 more girls.
EMCI USA: EMCI STUDENT INDUCTED INTO NATIONAL SOCIETY OF COLLEGIATE SCHOLARS
We felicitate with one of our star US college students who has just been inducted into the honors society of her institution. Our star scholar just arrived in the US a year ago. In three months she successfully transitioned from high school to college where she has maintained a 3.8 GPA in science.
Her induction into this prestigious society for high academic achievers came on the one year anniversary of her arrival in the US. She is a survivor of a Boko Haram terrorist’s gunshot to her head. Boko Haram means education is evil and abducts girls who go to school. We are proud of the phenomenal progress this valiant young lady is making. Thanks to all who support them.
DINNER WITH VP IN HONOR OF VICTIMS (OCT. 29TH)
In late October, one college student in the US had the opportunity to attend a dinner with the Nigerian Vice President in honor of victims. In the town hall preceding it, “Blessing” got to ask the VP how the 21 Chibok girls were doing. He said very well. Many people were touched by her question but didn’t know who she was. At the dinner, to our surprise, the executive director of the organization asked her to say a few words. One or two pastors who knew her said it was the right thing to do since she was a survivor. Blessing came on stage and thanked all and the Vice President for their effort to bring back her classmates. After that Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee spoke glowingly of Blessing and our international Director Emmanuel Ogebe. We were deeply touched by the outpouring of love and appreciation by the Nigerian American community which hosted the dinner.
Our Christmas wish-list for Santa:
Lasting peace to return to the Northeast of Nigeria
Requesting more teachers, especially Math and English for learning centers
Value of education in the northeast to be weighted more than it has been in the recent past
That the distribution of relief foods will continue without any more hurdles as we try to reach vulnerable children as soon as possible
For resources to be made available for US schoolgirls’ transition to a 4-year university, from a 2-year community college
MEDIA MENTIONS AND IMPORTANT LINKS (SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER)
Boko Haram Kidnapping Survivors Meet With Miami Mothers: http://sflcn.com/boko-haram-kidnapping-survivors-meet-with-miami-mothers/
AUN Matriculates 4 Chibok Schoolgirls, Others (Sept 6, 2016): http://leadership.ng/news/549427/aun-matriculates-4-chibok-schoolgirls-others
We promised we would not forget the Chibok Girls – Stephen Twigg MP (Sept 8 2016): https://www.politicshome.com/news/world/interview/politicshome/78750/we-promised-we-would-not-forget-chibok-girls-stephen-twigg
Mother of Dorcas, missing Chibok girl laments (video) (September 2016): https://www.naij.com/958379-exposed-borno-governor-kashim-shettima-abandoned-chibok-video.html
© Copyright 2016 www.elombah.com; Send eyewitness accounts/reports/articles to publisher@elombah.com; follow us on twitter handle @Elombah; like our Facebook page: “Elombah.com”
For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook
Continue Reading
