Abi was eight years old when she arrived in Minawao Camp with her grandmother, Naomie, and her younger sister. Born in Banki, Nigeria, she remembers the moment her hometown began to empty as people fled from violence.
“My grandmother told me that we were chased out of our house and all our possessions were confiscated by Boko-Haram. We suffered for a long time before finding stability here in Minawao.”
Before reaching Minawao, Abi and her family stayed in multiple locations across the Nigeria–Cameroon border. “We slept on the floor and didn’t have enough to eat every day, but our host family was really kind,” she says. When a UNHCR truck passed through Koza, they travelled onward, hoping for a safer place to live.
Now 18, Abi considers Minawao the community she knows best.
Minawao is my only reality, my village, my home.
She helps her family by tidying the house, cooking when food is available, gathering wood, and collecting water in the evenings. But with reduced food distribution since 2023, daily life has become increasingly difficult. “We can’t afford to eat three meals a day, so we eat just once, in the afternoon… These days we even sleep on an empty stomach.”
Despite the challenges, she values the security of the camp.
“I love Minawao because of the security and tranquillity it gives me. This is my village and there is peace here.”
She also appreciates opportunities for young people to take part in community activities. “We’re invited to propose activities that allow us to feel like everyone else and forget our pain.”
When their emergency shelter was damaged, Abi and her family moved into a community shelter. To support her household, Abi learned to make mud bricks from local young men. She used these skills to build the walls of their new home and sold extra bricks to other families.
“A short while ago, I was busy building mud bricks for the shelters, but with the start of Ramadan and the current drought, I had to take a break.”
Materials provided by ShelterBox and our partner, Public Concern, allowed Abi to complete the family’s shelter.
“Thank God we received some sheets and tarpaulins from ShelterBox, and today our shelter is finally complete.”
She used the community toolkit, including a wheelbarrow, brick mould, picks, and other tools, alongside neighbours who supported the building process. She also took part in ShelterBox training on shelter care and tool use.
“It was a huge relief for us to benefit from ShelterBox’s assistance; they helped us overcome one of the biggest difficulties we were facing… I’m therefore proud to say that we no longer have any housing problems.”
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Abi remains focused on caring for her grandmother and sister.
“My family means everything to me; family is crucial in my life because there’s strength in numbers.”
Her hopes for the future centre around skills and independence.
“My biggest dream is to make my grandmother proud of me… One day I’d like to train as a dressmaker because I love pretty clothes; I’ll make clothes for my whole family and I’ll be able to sell the rest. I’d also like to open a shop selling basic necessities… my little sister will be able to continue her studies.”
Abi’s story demonstrates the importance of safe shelter, tools, and training for families facing displacement. It also highlights the determination of young people who strive to support their loved ones in tough situations.
Families like Abi’s urgently need safe shelter and essential household items.
Your support today can provide tarpaulins, rope, kitchen sets, solar lights, blankets, sleeping mats, and mosquito nets. These items are essential tools that families use daily as they cope with hardship away from home.
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