At Lafiya Sarari, all students have been affected by the insurgency and ~80% are survivors of conflict-related sexual violence – many having struggled to return to conventional schooling after years of instability.
The school is open to all children affected by the insurgency and addresses the unique obstacles they face. Students’ education attainments are measured over the course of six years rather than yearly goals that have to be met to progress. This model allows students to learn at their own pace, without the pressure of yearly academic benchmarks. The interactive curriculum includes classes centred on values including peace, integrity, respect, honesty and tolerance – values systematically targeted by Boko Haram.
“Formal education wasn’t a thing for these children,” explains Philemon Nyminiba, a biology teacher and educational psychologist at the school.
“Sometimes you feel a wall around them. Through art, movement and one-on-one support, we help them express what’s hard to say. When they cannot speak, they draw.”
The school is staffed by 17 teachers, two counselors and four psychologists, all trained in trauma-responsive approaches and psychological first aid. In play-based therapy sessions, staff see some students gravitate toward toys associated with violence, and anxiety and anger surfacing in class is not unusual. Students receive both medical and psychosocial support to address psychological wounds that are often overlooked in mainstream schools.
“When some of the children joined the school, I couldn’t have a session without them crying. They didn’t feel safe. We had to come up with activities that would make them feel free.” ~School psychologist at Lafiya Sarari
Support at Lafiya includes medical check-ups and help obtaining birth certificates, often a major barrier to mainstream education.
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