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Amina’s Story
February 20, 2008
Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.
-Martin Luther King Jr.
-Martin Luther King Jr.
“I’m a widow. My baby boy is eight months. When they attacked my village my husband was killed, like most husbands in the village. I ran away from my village looking for safety with other villagers. It took us two days walking into the bush to reach a safe area. Lots of my friends have been abducted, killed and raped. Others are still missing.
“My brothers helped me make a grass shelter and an organisation gave me a plastic sheet. But it got spoiled when the rains came. When it started to rain I left my shelter with my baby to look for somewhere dry. Eventually we settled in this IDP site. In the site most people are trying to cope with their own distress. Nobody has time to support us [girl widows].
“Every morning I leave the camp early [around 4 am] to collect wood in the bush. At about noon I come back to the camp. I try and sell the wood for about XAF 500 [just over US$1], which means I can buy millet or sorghum for our daily meal. After that, I go to fetch water. Getting water is very difficult because there are only five hand-pumps for the 12,000 people living in the site. We can spend two or three hours there. This is my daily timetable, like all the other widows here in the camp. We don’t have any way of making money other than selling wood.
“When we go to collect wood we’re scared because the outside the camp isn’t safe. Even inside the camp, women and girls are regularly abused. I know of 50 rape victims who died because they didn’t get medical assistance.
“I don’t just feel unsafe. My greatest fear is hunger. We only get one koro (three and a half kilos) of bulgur wheat every two months. Also, with the rainy season coming, a lot of people like me don’t know where to sleep.”
Félicien is one of the contributors to the World Forum publication, From Conflict to Peace Building: The Power of Early Childhood Initiatives. This book shares lessons of early childhood education as a means of bringing communities back together after armed conflict. More information.
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Comments (9)
Displaying 5 of 9 Comments [ View all ]Education Earlychildhood specialist
Kampala, Uganda, United States
I am a Gambian but studying in Uganda the field of Early child hood Education.
The whole story of Aminas is sad,in any war woman and children are the victims. Why? where are the fathers? Early child hood specialist should come together form a very strong association for children and their mothers in war areas.
Early child hood is the foundation for human life but children are seen but not hard. They suffer with their mothers no help and those who help rape them in the end.
Where are we moving to? What should we do ? What help can we give to this children?
I am in an opinion that we form an association those who study Early child hood form first Degree to Masters in ECD to come together write a proposal to help children and their mothers. Or we open schools to help this children, they have right to Education and conducive environment.
I can be got +256772474615 in Uganda, i am a Gambian now studying in Uganda. I am studying Master in Educational Management and Administration of children, i got first Degree in Early child hood Education, Diploma in child study, Primary Teachers certificates in general methods of teaching children and their management.
Thanks
United States
I thoroughly enjoy all the wonderful books you publish and use weekly as a reference. However, I am a bit troubled by the description of the book FROM CONFLICT TO PEACEMAKING, though I have not read it. Lots of times publishers, writers, editors use the country "Palestine" without realizing how politically charge it is. Why not use Israel?
Before I ask, please note that I did try to email the editor without success before this posting.
So let me ask a few questions to get some information I may be lacking in terms of history.
1. If Palestine is a country, when was it founded and by who?
2. what are its borders?
3. What is its capital?
4. What are its major cities?
5. What is the basis if its economy?
6. What form of government does it have?
7. Can you name a Palestinian leader before Arafat. By the way Arafat was an Egyptian.
8. What is its language?
9. What is its currency?
10. Have the Palestinians left any artifacts behind?
11. If there existed such a country. what caused it demise and when did it occur?
I do hope that you have given a balanced view and have included a section of the many Israeli children, especially those in Sderot, that are bombed everyday, those who may have lost family members due to suicide bombings of supermarkets, buses, and places of social gatherings. And to remember those Arab children who are held hostage by Hamas and the PA and brainwashed to hate the west to achieve the demise of Israel. I do look forward to your reply.
Eduland
Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
When is this story reported? Is the situation still prevailing? Is Chad still unsafe to live?
How can we help Amina and those girls and women?
We must be thankful for what we have: free education, shelter, food, jobs, and above all, the freedom, peace and security of our country.
Heartland Child Development
Council Bluffs, IA, United States
I was quite moved by this article.
It brings into focus what we take for granted each and every day.
It there are organization we can make contributions to that will directly benefit these people?
Dept of Ed. & Chn\'s Services
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Such a young girl to carry through such responsibility and foresight.
And of course her story, along with the other widows, is shattering.
I wonder how is there anything we can do to support this camp.
One should never take freedom for granted. For some people it comes at such a price.
Penny Kazimierczak
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