ChildVoice provides psychosocial counseling and skills training to war-affected adolescent girls--often former abductees of Boko Haram and other groups--living in IDP (internally displaced persons) camps in Nigeria. We had planned on raising funds to purchase a vehicle capable of traversing washed-out roads during the rainy season. The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting hunger issues have forced us to shift our goals and purchase the best vehicle we can find for the money we have already raised.
COVID-19 update: The ongoing pandemic has had some unfortunate side effects for many people living in Nigeria's internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, chief among them hunger. Because of this, as well as continuing transportation issues, we made the decision to adjust our plans for the purchase of a motor vehicle, and look for something that can adequately serve the immediate needs of our staff and the girls we serve. Consequently, we've also lowered our funding goal.
Being able to reach these girls on a regular basis in order to provide ongoing services is of paramount importance. Transportation obstacles and dangers can be alleviated with the purchase of an appropriate off-road-capable vehicle. A snorkel-outfitted Toyota Land Cruiser 76, being capable of traversing flood waters several feet deep, will allow us to deliver staff and supplies safely and reliably through flooded regions to the hard-to-reach camps where the girls we serve live.
Ultimately, the goal of our programs is to help war-affected girls heal and build new, productive lives for themselves and their children. The all-terrain capabilities and safety afforded by a Land Cruiser will ensure that ChildVoice staff can continue to provide our life-changing services. We have seen first hand how Land Cruisers have proved to be life-saving in similar conditions to rural Nigeria's. Through our sustained efforts, we can have a transforming impact on these girls' lives.
