In the Middle of nowhere

How did I get to notice her amongst more than One hundred and twenty five girls?

She is always the first girl to arrive. Our Saturday with Olu Tosin  SWOT program starts at 10am, she arrives at 7am.

She will wait for me to dress up, we will eat breakfast together and hand in hand, we will walk together to Nancy hall.

After the program, she will always wait behind until I tell her to go home to her parent. She is very intelligent and never shy away from helping us at the centre. 

So when the opportunity to visit her in her house came up, I quickly seized it.

We walked more than one hour to get to her place, it is closer to Imore than Ibasa. Wowwwwwww. And she is always punctual. How come?

The journey was tiring, yet this bubbly girl was the first to arrive and the last to leave the centre. 

Ahhhhhh we arrived at her house. That journey needs no second or repeat visit, especially during the rainy season. 

The house is in the middle of nowhere.  They have no neighbours, whether to the left or right or front or back. The only living thing was a massive creek in front of the house that needs a canoe to navigate. 

I was taken aback when she told me that it is not as deep as I thought since she usually walk through it without rain boots.

Some people are going through hell on earth.

I could not stop wondering who the hell of a parent would keep their children in this jungle. I had to investigate and discovered that she is the daughter of the only female palm wine tapper in Ibasa. 

I took an insightful look at a palm wine tree and imagined myself clawed to the tree.  If it were to save my life, I will never opt for that job.

I asked about their Kitchen, she pointed to fiour canes buried deeply into the creek barely covered by half of a roofing sheet. I couldn't stop myself from asking her about cooking during the rain, at which she sheepishly responded smilingly, we cook inside our room when it rains and in the night because of the numerous snakes around here..

The only living animals aside the crocodiles in the creek and the ever screaming toads and frogs is a beautiful golden pussy cat hanging on the two steps-fence in front of the house.  The cat is so lovely to behold in the face of such poverty. 

After completing the assignment that brought us to that area , I had to call for a meeting with her mother.  As expected, it was a long tale of violence.  We always identify one another in this race of gender based violence. 

That very day, I decided to intervene. 

It will be worthy of note at this juncture that I am the only person who promises an abused woman without thinking of how I will possibly find help or resources to intervene. 

I have been there. I know how to live without help.

I know how to weep the silent agonising types.

I know how to place my hands on my head just to say 'Pele Tosin. It will be well with you'.

I know the path, it is not strange to me, at all at all.

Not all married women are okay. Some women are better alone than married,  but because of the bad Mouthed-Africans who hawk husbands on their tray placed on their heavy heads and hearts, many women are dying internally while others are walking corpses because of the eternal judgaina, whose main works are judging women and their choices.

I left Adaeze's house with a heavy heart and resolution to support the mother and daughter. 

Don't forget, I can’t. I have no resources.

So, I  screamed out on Facebook. 

Alina Badia de Lacour heard.

The rest is history. 

Because, last week, Adaeze wrote entrance  examination to the best  school in Ibasa. 
On Monday, Adaeze starts schooling. 

Don't worry, there is a school bus.

Do you remember that I gave her mother four goats on Sunday? 
Now there are other animals aside the golden puppy in that beautiful jungle of a home.

We can  support more women and girls to Transform their  lives if you support. 

I Love You Alina.

I Love You. 

My life is blessed because of the support of my sisters and brothers who continue to lift me up.

THANK YOU!!