Aisha: The only girl whose name stuck

Education for social change

When I initially went to the Almanjiri's hangout spot, I was relieved that one of the girls could understand and speak Yoruba well enough to hear me clearly explain my goal.?

I liked her right away. She was intelligent and lovely. My hope was dashed when I asked her if she wanted to go to school and she said she wasn't interested since her mother won't let her go to school.?

I'd like to pause for a moment. We were certainly prepared for difficulties like these, but we also hold the idea that as children we would have preferred to stay in, eat, and play games. Still, none of us ultimately did that thanks to the advantages of focused, strong-willed parents, who foresaw the future and understood what a person without education would lack.?

Yet, this time, it's the other way around! The parents are reluctant to send their children to school because they fear that their business may fail. Nobody would assist them as they ran around holding the hands of onlookers and legs as they cried out for "10 nairas."

Who is to be blamed?

From a Northerner's perspective, beggars are an integral part of the community and culture. Everyone has a responsibility to ensure their well-being. The Almajiris is the term used to refer to beggars. Being an Almajiri, however, is not just a privilege for the handicapped. These include physically fit men and women, active youths, and gorgeous females who view their condition as a way of life.

As we made a second attempt to meet with the girls and prepared a real learning session for them, we could see their excitement and desire for learning. They didn't appear anxious or concerned that they were spending what seemed like an hour with us.?

Why then is there no way to free their parents from this cruel world of "begging"? It has become a way of life for them, and they actually belong to an association that is led by a chairman/woman in various locations.

If there are sufficient funds to do so, I believe the Almajiri people should be included on the government's list of those for whom rehabilitation programs are being developed for the Boko Haram organization. They are instantly forced to live in the streets after holding a newborn in their arms because of their mentality.

It has been established that a good education and cutting-edge technology are the best ways for a nation to advance. I won't be shocked by the number of brilliant brains who are withering away on the streets morning, noon, and night because they have no hope for a better life or the future.

Aftermath

Almajiri people appear to have a wandering mindset, moving from one state to another while forcing their plight on those whose circumstances could not have been so dissimilar from their own if not for a sense of decency and dignity and the belief that nothing is everlasting.?

Nevertheless, have you ever stopped to consider what happened to the lives of the young girls and boys you used to see on the streets??

Do you know where they went or what caused them to disappear? They recycle. Recycling is a process they are committed to. When the young girls reach a certain age, they start living on the streets where their moms raised them after getting married off to older men. The younger males hang around until they form groups in their hometowns and become identifiable as the ones threatening national security.?

Do you understand the reason? Because that is what happens when a nation doesn't implement a suitable evacuation strategy for street hawkers and beggars.?

We have virtually little chance of assisting them in enrolling in schools in my state, in the southwest of Nigeria. For them to learn properly, a government school that does not speak Hausa may find it challenging to translate their language into ours.

Breaking the cycle of begging in our nation requires putting the children in school and assisting the parents in getting their lives back on track. Education is crucial and cannot wait.

Special Call for help

My organization is still doing its bits to groom and reorient them. If you wish to contribute to this movement by volunteering to train them or donating learning supplies, it will be a great way to get them back on track. Send us a message to [email protected]