A non-governmental organization, Dorcas Peter Umaru Foundation, has distributed educational materials to vulnerable children at the Maraban Rido Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Chikun local government area of Kaduna State.
Speaking during the exercise on Tuesday in Kaduna, the founder of the Foundation, Dorcas Peter Umaru, said the initiative was borne out of compassion for children who had been displaced by banditry and other violent conflicts in southern Kaduna.
“I was moved by the situation of these innocent children. Some have lost their parents and their homes, and many have been out of school for years. I wanted to show them love, care, and encouragement to let them know they still have a future like every other child in society”.
“Most parents here can barely feed their children, let alone afford school materials. If we do not support their education now, what will their future be like? Education is the key to a brighter tomorrow,” she added.
She appealed to government agencies, individuals, and corporate organizations to extend humanitarian and educational support to displaced persons across the state.
“These children and their parents are in desperate need of shelter, food, and quality education. I’m calling on well-meaning Nigerians and organizations to reach out and give them hope,” Dorcas urged.
The Coordinator of the IDPs Camp, Adams Suleiman, expressed appreciation to the Foundation, saying the gesture came at a time of great need.
“We have been struggling with a lack of writing materials. Dorcas Peter Umaru Foundation’s intervention came as a huge relief. Now our children have books and pencils to write and learn,” he said.
He noted that most of the displaced persons in the camp fled from Chikun, Kajuru, and Kachia Local Government Areas after their communities were attacked by bandits.
“These people have been here since 2020. Many were peasant farmers whose livelihoods were destroyed. During the rainy season, some go to nearby farms to work for food. Women go into the bush to fetch firewood to sell so they can feed their children. Life has been very tough,” Suleiman lamented.
He further appealed to government and non-governmental organizations to step up efforts to support IDPs education, warning that failure to act could endanger the future of the displaced children.
One of the beneficiaries, 12-year-old Simon Micah, narrated how bandits attacked their community in Kaso, Chikun LGA, killing several people and forcing survivors to flee.
“They killed many people in our village, including our fathers. Here in Maraban Rido, life is very hard. Our parents struggle to feed us and pay house rent. Sometimes we sleep hungry,” Simon said.
“We thank those who gave us these books because our teachers used to tell us to buy books, but our parents couldn’t afford them. Now we can write and learn again,” he added.
The items distributed include school bags, books, pencils, pens, and erasers, aimed at encouraging displaced children to return to school and rekindle their hope for a brighter future.
