Seven years ago, a group of girls walked through the gates of the Lafiya Sarari Learning Center in Borno State, carrying not just books and pencils, but heavy burdens of trauma, fear, and loss. They were survivors of the brutal conflict that had torn through their communities, leaving scars that stretched far beyond the physical. Many had witnessed unspeakable horrors—family members lost, homes destroyed, and futures dimmed by the shadow of violence. For some, the trauma was so deep that words failed them; their voices, silenced by fear and grief, would take years to return. Yet today, against all odds, these same girls are preparing to embark on an extraordinary new chapter of their lives: university.
Among them is Falmata, who recalls a harrowing experience that still echoes through her memory. “I pleaded with them to spare my father,” she says, her voice steady but her eyes betraying the pain of that day. “But my pleas fell on deaf ears.” Despite the trauma that might have paralyzed her dreams, Falmata is now on her way to study her dream course at university, thanks to the life-changing interventions of the Lafiya Sarari Initiative, a program spearheaded by Neem Foundation.
A cross section of the beneficiaries with members of staff after an orientation session at Neem Foundation’s headquarters
Falmata’s story is just one among 31. Each of these young women, who once faced a future filled with uncertainty, has been transformed through education, mentorship, and the unwavering support of a program designed to accelerate their learning and help them heal. The Lafiya Sarari Learning Center, built in the aftermath of Borno’s conflict, operates on a value-based education system that emphasizes core principles such as integrity, unity, peace, faith, justice, honesty, tolerance, and respect. These values serve not only as guiding tenets for the students’ academic lives but as essential tools for rebuilding conflict-affected communities.
Many of these girls had never set foot inside a formal school before coming to Lafiya Sarari. Yet, the accelerated learning approach at the center ensured that they not only caught up with their peers but exceeded all expectations. In just half the time it would normally take, they completed their secondary education, achieving a 100% success rate in their final exams. Their transition to university is a testament not just to their resilience, but to the power of targeted, transformative education programs that prioritize mental well-being alongside academic achievement.
Lafiya Sarari’s success lies in its holistic approach to education. It recognizes that survivors of conflict need more than just classrooms and textbooks; they need environments that nurture their mental, emotional, and social growth. The program incorporates psychosocial support to help the girls process their trauma and regain their confidence. Over the years, they have blossomed into articulate, determined young women ready to pursue higher education and take control of their futures.
The impact of this initiative cannot be overstated. In a region where education for girls has long been under threat, Lafiya Sarari represents a beacon of hope. By instilling values like tolerance and respect, the program has not only helped these young women heal but has also laid the groundwork for them to become leaders in their communities. As they move on to university, they carry with them the hope of a brighter future—not just for themselves but for their entire society.
For Neem Foundation, the success of these girls is not just a milestone; it is a promise of what can be achieved when education is prioritized as a tool for peacebuilding and recovery. The program’s value-based education model is designed to empower its students to become agents of change in a world that often feels too broken to fix. Through education, these girls have been given the tools to build not only their own futures but to contribute meaningfully to the restoration of their communities.
As these 31 young women embark on their next chapter, their story serves as an inspiration to all of us. It reminds us that even in the darkest of circumstances, education can light the way to a better future. And as Falmata and her peers step into their university classrooms for the first time, they are not just students—they are survivors, leaders, and symbols of what is possible when we invest in the potential of every child, no matter their circumstances.