IDS LIVELIHOODS BENEFICIARY SUCCESS STORY – NAYIBA SHETTIMA

Nayiba Shettima is a 40 year old widow who lost her husband as a result of the insurgency. She is from Kamuya village of Buratai Biu Local Government Area of Borno State. She has 5 children 4 male and 1 female and they live in IDPs Camp for three and half years.  She was into Akara and Chin-chin business before the insurgents destroyed their community, killed many people and houses burnt. Madam Nayiba owns cows, goats and sheep before the crisis and was known as a business woman. Mrs Nayiba and children witness the killing of the father by the insurgents when he was slaughtered. The soldiers rescued them as they left the village with virtually nothing.

Her children could not feed well similarly, as a result of the killing of the father they witnessed one of her child often shout and faint when he flashed back to what happen in the village. The other children similarly had night mares and always look sad and worried. Coming to camp, Mrs Nayiba Shettima and children could not eat at least once a day as they go out to beg from people in town for money. During raining season, they go to people’s farm to labor so as to eat, sometimes go to the market and pick falling grains. The children have no idea of school or academic until they find themselves at IDPs Camp Biu, Borno State Northeast Nigeria.

CHALLENGE-(WHAT IS THE ISSUE): Life was challenging to Mrs. Nayiba and her children and no stable means of livelihood until IDS with support from Street-Child UK visited the camp and selected her as a vulnerable caregivers.

WHAT WE DID (INTERVENTION): She was supported with the  sum of N20, 000 and trained, mentored and coached on entrepreneurial skills and ideas where she started selling grains in the camp and the town market.  Mrs. Nayuba’s four children enrolled to temporary learning centres (TLC) constructed and maintained by IDS-Street Child UK/UNICEF where IDPs, Returnees and Host Community Children are being provided with quality and free education. The children were also given mental health and psychosocial support.

OUTCOME- IMMEDIATE RESPONSE:  Her business grows big and wide within the time frame and could support the children by feed them before going to school in the morning and after school. The children now eat three times a day which was very unusual of them before. Mrs Nayiba Shettima was able to save N11, 500 in 18 weeks from the start of business. The children are doing well in school as they can write their names, read numbers and say alphabets from A to Z. After series of counselling session and utilization of the CFS the children were mentally stable in Mrs. Nayiba’s word, the children no longer dream about their horrible experiences but several times dream of the games they do with other children in the camp. Ahmed one of the Child said we don’t know what football is until we come into the camp. This has help take their minds off their experiences.

TESTIMONIAL -QUOTES FROM THE BENEFICIARY : “Alhamdullilahi”  because my children are feeding well and are no longer suffering, they look healthy and are in school. My business is moving well thanks to IDS-Street Child/UNICEF for putting smile on our faces.