Pupils raise awareness for Nigerian schoolgirls
MIDRAND - Schoolgirls are mustering up support and spreading the word for the kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls.
Mickayla (14) and Kristen (10) Peters have been closely following the story of Boko Haram militants who kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls from a school in northeastern Nigeria.
The girls’ father, Clayton said the girls were horrified about the incident. “They imagined themselves being in the position of the schoolgirls,” he said. “As a result they decided to write an email to the Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa requesting the Nigerian government to do all it can for the release of the schoolgirls.”
Mickayla said she was shocked by what she heard. “I felt compassion and anger at the same time,” she said. “The girls are all between 12 and 17 years of age. They are roughly the same age as me and my friends. I could not believe that Boko Haram believes that western education is a sin. I am also disappointed that the Nigerian government has not done more to free the girls.”
She said she couldn’t imagine going through a similar situation. “Those girls must be so scared, not knowing what is going to happen to them, why they are there and where they are going.”
The girls spent the past two Sundays at Carlswald Lifestyle shopping centre holding placards which read, ‘Free the Girls’ and ‘#Bringourgirlsback’, and handing out pamphlets to inform the Midrand community about the situation.
“The more people know about this the more we can do something about it. We are also asking people to sign an online petition,” she said.
Mickayla said 150 people had signed the petition already, and 15 of her school friends joined her and her sister in raising awareness at the centre. “People were stopping to take notice,” said Mickayla. “Many people asked questions. People also gave us advice on how to spread the word more. Community members were interested in what we had to say.”
She encouraged more community members to sign the petition and help spread the word.
Details: Online petition
Like us on Facebook, follow us on twitter – @MidrandReporter, or join the conversation on BBM: 2B9432E6
