It starts with one person.
Sometimes, the weight of the world’s problems seems unbearable. It can be overwhelming to read about children who can’t go to school, or families who don’t have enough to eat. You start to wonder if you’ll ever see things get better.
And then you read a story like the one I’m about to share with you. I hope it restores a little bit of hope for you, like it did for me.
The statistics describing life for women and girls in Nigeria are hard to read. One in every four girls will experience sexual violence as a child. About half of women who are now between the ages of 25 and 49 first got married and had sex when they were under the age of 18. And, only 22% of girls graduate from secondary school.
So many girls in Nigeria are at risk of child marriage, early pregnancy and dropping out of school. But then, someone like you comes along and things begin to change.
Patricia was in trouble. Two years ago, she lost her father, moved in with her aunt and started acting out.
“Life has never been the same since,” she said.
She began skipping class at school and snapping at the people close to her.
“I would throw tantrums and get angry with anyone that crossed my path,” she said.
In her rural community in Nigeria, another girl was having similar problems. The other girl, Bright, lost her parents when she was just 6 years old. She lives with her aunt and four cousins, and had to drop out of school because she couldn’t afford the fees.
Patricia and Bright were on a path that could have led to early marriage, early pregnancy and no education. But both girls’ lives began to change when they heard about a Plan International USA program supported by people like you. The Better Life Options and Opportunities Model (BLOOM+) helps teenagers build life skills like self-confidence, interpersonal communication and career planning.
“At the BLOOM+ classes, I learned how to control my emotions and improve my communication skills with my family,” Bright said. “Before attending the classes, I used to talk back to my aunt, but I have changed my ways now.”
Bright at her home in Nigeria.
Patricia experienced a change too.
“I have learned quite a lot of things at the BLOOM+ classes including positive values, friendship and how to relate to my peers without being negatively influenced,” she said. “It has been a life-changing experience.”
The program encourages young people to share their common challenges and work together to create a better future. Participants develop personal goals, like career plans, while also discussing what they can do to solve global issues like poverty and inequality. They choose a new path for themselves, one that leads away from the risks of early pregnancy and marriage, and toward the benefits of education and gender equality.
Now, Patricia is preparing future generations as a nursery school teacher. And, she’s saving her wages to pay the registration fee for university entry exams. She hopes to become a doctor.
“I used to hear neighbors ask my aunt, ‘what is it that has changed your daughter?’” Patricia said. “The credit goes to Plan International and my facilitator for her mentorship.”
Bright has plans for her future now too.
“Our facilitator taught us about setting goals in life by using objectives,” she said. “It reminded me of my longtime dream, since I was in junior school, of wanting to write books.”
Patricia and her BLOOM+ Facilitator Glory.
Now, Bright hopes to become a professional counselor. And with the encouragement of her friends and teachers in the BLOOM+ program, she is writing her first book.
“The book is for all the young girls who are yet to discover themselves, or who might think they are useless, so they can know there is a future waiting for them if they work hard without losing hope,” she says.
Outside of Nigeria, there are many more BLOOM programs happening around the world. By being a Plan supporter, you are the driving force behind transformational changes like this each and every day.
Thank you for all that you do!
