Before i start, let me introduce you to a Non Governmental Organization led by young people called PLATINUM INTERVENTION
www.facebook.com/platinumintervention

Platinum Intervention focuses on 4 key areas
1. Peace and Conflict
2. Almajiri
3. Internally Displaced Person's Affairs
4. Illegal Migration and Trafficking

ON OUR ALMAJIRI PROJECT

This is a short documentary on our Almajiri projects across North to put you up to speed


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UAOavU0POg&t=1s

Below is a text explanation on our works across 4 Northern states
Background/Introduction
The Almajiri (Islamic scholarship migrant culture) is an increasingly pressing concern in Northern Nigeria. There are an estimated 9-10 million Almajiris in the 19 northern states at any given time. The practice involves sending children to other States and nations for Islamic studies. Most of the children do not receive a formal education.

Many children are sent from an age of 6 years. Many children are sent out to beg for alms during the day when there are no classes.
Almajiri children live in some of the shabbiest conditions imaginable. There are next to no jobs or opportunities for Almajiri adults in the increasingly challenging and competitive north. The above makes Almajiris prime targets for radicalization. Addressing Almajirinchi is an essential element of insecurity crisis in Nigeria. It is also a human rights issue affecting the rights of children.

Borno, epicentre of Boko Haram has 1 million Almajiris; many of Borno’s Almajiris are from neighboring nations, thus presenting a regional crisis. Sourced from http://ends.ng/the-almajiri-documentary-on-nigerias-abandoned-children/

Our Method of Solution
With the background investigation we carried out, we observed that a lot of method have been carried out to curb this menace, yet it continue to rise by the day like a time bomb waiting to explode beyond control. We decided to work on a small and replicable plan, which is the act of parental data collation and tracing.
Over the pass 5 weeks, we have engaged in some Almajiri project across several northern states (Zaria in Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger and Kano). In these states we go to a particular Almajiri school, we provide succor (food, wears etc), note, this is just a short term succor plan we put in place in order to be allowed in, to collate data.
When we get in, we introduce ourselves, our work and aims (preferably with the local dialect). In that light, if we are permitted, we take just 10 young ones among them and collect their names, age, state of origin, parents address and contact.
So far, we have just did 4 out of 19 Northern states and we hope to expand further.

The next face is tracing the parents, educating them and providing incentives to motivate them to allow their children to return home. Put them in both Arabic and formal schools under the care of the parents but with oversight supervision of PLATINUM INTERVENTION. All these comes with a lot of challenges

Challenges

I. Apathy: We encountered a lot of challenges, one of which is apathy. They don’t seem to care that much. And some of the ones that care are discouraged by the actions of some of the Mallams (teacher).

II.Communication Link gap: Like in Zaria, we only got the names and state of origin of the children, their parents contact (which seems to be the most important of the data) where not given to us. The mallam (teacher) categorically told us that he does not have the contact of the parents. That each state has a representative, the children are brought by these state representatives which we were still not given access to. They run it like a syndicate. But as time goes on, we began to get favorable response like in Niger state.

III.Funding: Another very important challenge is Funding, We tax our pockets (from salary and stipends) to execute these projects and we still have a long map to cover in this 3rd quarter.
Below is a short clip describing how they are left to go beg in the street at their tender age on shabby condition. Taken by Abubakar Saleh Ahmad during our keffi Almajiri project

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrihyDwAftc
NEXT STATES TO VISIT
We hope to expand to other Northern states like Jos in Plateau, Kogi, Borno, Adamawa, Yobe etc

We are starting from 10 Children from several Northern states in order to get a replicable frame work that we will made available for all PARTNERS
Cc:Federal Government of Nigeria
International Committee of Red Cross
save the children
USAID
UNHCR
ECOWAS
NGOs
Philanthropists
ETC

THANK YOU
From the ALMAJIRI FAMILY

Below are a little detailed explanation on each state we visited and a documentary we did

KADUNA PROJECT

Date: 27th of May, 2017

Location: Samaru, Zaria in Kaduna State

Some platinum interveners (Abdulazeez Abubakar and Saminu Samaila) went to an Almajiri school to take some records of 10 Almajiri , including their contact address at home where they come from, for a case study. We are working to take them back home, Get an Arabic class that is closer to their parents, engage them with hand work which will be done after their daily Arabic and western education classes, but most importantly, they will be under the care of their parents with PLATINUM INTERVENTION as a supervisory body. Mean while as we collect the datas, we gave them food and foot wears (which fall under our short term succour package) in other to achieve a longer term which shall be derived from the datas they provide.
Challenge
They also faced some challenges as the Mallam (the teacher) could not give strong information and access to what the interveners wants, but that will not deter us.

Success and Succor Driven by Discipline
source for this story https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=300343467082829&substory_index=0&id=293461587771017

NIGER STATE PROJECT

Date: 2nd of July, 2017
Location:Angwan Daji, Minna, Niger State
Name of Islamic School: Makarantar Alaisaini

A Platinum Intervener (Ibrahim Gimba) providing succor for the almajiri children in Minna, Niger state, in order to collect their data which include Their full names,Age, and most importantly, the address of the parents so that we can pay them a visit to see if they can allow the children to continue their Arabic education close their parents/guardian or if possible create a proper link between the parents and the children always.

source https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=319847018465807&id=293461587771017

KEBBI STATE PROJECT

Date; 3rd of July, 2017

Location: Badariya, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State

An Intervener Abdulraheem Abdulafeez went to an almajiri school in kebbi State to give them succor and collect the children's data (names, age, state of origin, parental address) for tracing. He met a lot of challenges which we believe we shall overcome with time. But we were able to get some pictures and video interviews with the children in their local dialect (hausa) which we translated into English and posted in our former post in our page time line.
In the video interview, one of them wants to become a mallam, another wants to become a soldier

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di_Yo3yqGls&feature=youtu.be


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONFrJq5HKNY

KANO STATE PROJECT

Date:3rd of July, 2017

Location: Badawa Layout

Interview carried out by Musa Ayuba (Director of Almajiri affairs)



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHrIWolLwc4&feature=youtu.be

OUR SUCCESS STORY WHEN A LAPTOP WAS DONATED TO US FOR OUR ALMAJIRI PROJECT

On the 13th of July, 2017 a philanthropist and founder of Mother Kit, Mrs Adepeju Jaiyeoba decided to donate a laptop for any NGO that is working hard but needs a laptop to make their work easier.

Muhammad Idris (Director of Peace and Conflict) joined the competition among hundreds of other Organizations and 5 of were selected among as best and Muhammad made the list

And finally, we won the laptop and it was mailed to Abuja from Lagos

Picture number 4 was when Muhammad Idris received it at his Office on behalf of the organization

OUR APPRECIATION WHEN WE RECEIVED IT IN ABUJA

https://twitter.com/PlatinumNgo

Dear Adepeju Jaiyeoba,
We have received The laptop you donated to our cause. We received it in Abuja yesterday and by today we've already started using it to prepare for our next project in the third quarter.
We say congrats to your new award in medical innovation
Thank you for the generosity
#AlmajiriFamily

KEFFI NASARAWA ALMAJIRI PROJECT (Saturday 12th August, 2017)

Almajiri Schools Located at Agwan Waje
platinum interveners Muhammad idris (Peace and Conflict Director), Abubakar saleh said (Director, internally displaced persons) introducing themselves at the border of Keffi city of Nasarawa state before engaging in the project to curb the almajiri cultural flaws by taking them away from the street and collecting their data

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFn2lHpairg

Meet Mallam Bako (an Almajiri teacher) as we interview him at his Almajiri school at Waje area of keffi. He has 55 almajiri children under his care. but their number have outgrown his pocket as such some of them had to go the street to beg to cater for themselves. He also narrated a story of an almajiri child that is now cripple as he was hit by a car while he was begging on the street. According to him,there are about 100 almajiri schools in keffi alone. He also stated that the almajiri system has changed compare to when they were kids, that were more moral, obedient and do not beg in the street unlike the present age Almajiris.
Below is one the interview with the almajiri teacher we translated into English

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoLLfNcqIOs

when we went to the keffi market to get them food and foot wears to make them comfortable in giving us the data we needed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djy3bRP2f4Y


Interview with some of the kids. Some told us they want to become a soldier, some said a doctor while one of them said he want to become a VIGILANTEE (dan banga) and we all laughed out loud. it was fun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK0446K4K08&spfreload=10

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