Everybody with Angela Williamson is made possible by Fire Heart Entertainment and viewers like you.

Thank you.

The Chibok kidnaping started a world outcry.

Hundreds of thousands of people posted images of themselves holding pieces of paper with the hashtag bring back our girls, written all over social media.

Now it's ten years later.

The social media campaign is gone.

But what happened to these girls?

Well, the American University of Nigeria has been a refuge for these girls.

Now, women, by offering every kidnaped victim a scholarship to the university.

Tonight we revisit this event and talk to the survivors.

I'm so happy you're joining us.

I'm.

From Los Angeles.

This is clicks PBS.

Welcome to everybody with Angela Williamson and innovation, Arts, education and public affairs program.

Everybody with Angela Williamson is made possible by viewers like you.

Thank you.

Know.

Well, April 14th, 2014.

We are a student of social work, and we are right now exams.

Then after our prayers, we were all sitting outside having fun because it was April, this heat.

So we were all laying down outside on our mats.

Then we heard of gunshots.

Boko Haram just cannot know we are soldiers.

We should not afraid.

We are here to protect you, this and that.

We know that there was Boko Haram there, so they were wrong.

We should stay.

Then everybody was like, what is happening?

And the town?

Is our parents safe?

Then we just overlooked it.

Then we keep on hearing the girls on the show.

They were shouting Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.

The girls together and they say they are Boko Haram.

So we were scared of them because we have never seen them.

So on that day they say we should come in some post and they will kill us.

You would know that it was.

You will kill people if you dare to go.

You know where we are going to in the night.

We start going and some of us drop down and a.

Then one of them came again and the camera is not pictures because they give us this the flag.

We hold the flag and snap pictures with them.

They say we should turn to Muslim.

If not, they will not return us to our places.

They beat us.

We suffer a lot.

I cannot explain it.

We suffer or three years on six months.

It was very terrible.

It was not an experience.

I told my sisters.

So look them up already.

They gave away a lot of congas.

They were beating us.

They said we should get married to them.

Then some of my sisters.

They were afraid and the hunger was too much.

They agreed to marry them.

Those that asked you.

Did you.

And say that these days we should prepare our safe.

Because they won't return us to Nigeria?

And we said we didn't.

We even believe these.

We spent like three days walking, shaking with our legs before reach where governments were go because.

So after then we just see Red cross.

In schools like on the Red cross.

So we entered Dhaka and I. I don't even believe I was crying.

I think I'll go to my parents.

52 of the girls asked today and they get married to the Boko Haram.

That's why they ask to day.

If there's something the federal government or the other donors to do about it.

Please let them help our sister.

They are still there.

And some of them get married to the Boko Haram is not as if they want to get married to them.

But there's so far this whole part a lot that they had little to to do it out.

And my.

God has rescued us.

And today here my I mean American University of Nigeria.

All glory to God.

We're back at the American University of Nigeria.

I'm here to talk with a representative from the New Foundation School.

Thank you so much for being here.

What is your position with the school?

Thank you for having me.

The psychologists.

Yes.

My name is Sandy.

And what I specialize in trauma informed care, grief management, lifestyle changes, and gender based violence.

And why do you think that your position is so important to this world?

What you're doing now?

It is important because of what they've been through.

So they've been traumatized.

So that's where the trauma informed care comes into play.

So their mental health is very, very important for them to go out into the society for them to have a bright future, for them to do well in school.

You have to make sure that their mental health is in check.

That's a tough job.

What is it about you that makes you want to do this job?

It is important to me because this can happen to anybody.

Nobody saw this happening.

Nobody saw it coming and need help.

And so it is important to me.

I have an opportunity to play a very important role in their life, to make sure that they're they're doing well mentally and emotionally, physically.

So we have activities we do with them.

Yes.

Aside, mental health is not all about the talk therapy.

We do exercises.

We do yoga.

We do breathing exercises.

We do meditate session with them.

I want to talk about some of those exercises, because I think that's really important for people to see that.

So when you have a trauma like this, it's post-traumatic stress disorder is part of it as well.

What do you think is like the perfect exercise that you started to use with the Chibok girls that you see them taking into the future?

Okay.

First it should be building exercises because it comes with anxiety.

Yes.

So as simple as taking a deep breath, it helps that we do yoga mostly in the evenings to help them with their sleep, because it was difficult for some of them to fall asleep.

So Yuga is an exercise that helped.

And what do you think would be the next step for these girls?

Because a lot of girls are getting ready to graduate.

They have graduated, but the trauma never leaves you.

Am I right?

Yes.

Do you have the relapse?

You have delete from us because you won't really see that all of them are experiencing the same kind of trauma.

They might have experienced the same experience, but they react to it differently.

Yes.

And for some, might be delayed trauma, for some might be relapse.

So we are hoping and equipping them to know what to do when they're out here.

So when you talked about relapse and I want to go a little more in that with that, when that relapse comes, would it come right away or could it be five, ten years, 20 years down the line?

Well, it differs for individuals.

You will see what is happening to Patsy is definitely going to happen to Patsy.

Be okay for some there might be trigger something might trigger your past experience.

So let's talk about triggers.

And some people know about triggers.

But let's explain that to our audience.

It also triggers might be something that reminds you of what has happened in the past.

So for them it may be loud sound.

It might be the side of an army, somebody with a gun.

It may be a trigger.

And but it's different for every person.

Yes, it's different for every person.

Yes it differs.

You might experience the same kind of trauma, like I said, but then how you react to it differs.

Well, here's what I think is so amazing.

When the outside world thinks of Nigeria, we don't think of Nigeria being on the forefront of mental health.

Why do you think that's so important for people to know that.

It is important for people to know, because as important as your physical health is, so is your mental health.

If you don't take care of your mental health, it affects your physical health.

So that is why I personally advocate that by having activities or speaking on social media, on mental health.

Yes, I have a speech.

I do that, yes.

So I have Sandy.

There is life.

Leave it and we'll put it on the lower third so people can find.

Yes.

So Sandy is my name and Sandy means these life.

Yeah.

So these lives or whatever situation you're facing, you know, these life out there.

So you live it.

I think that's so great.

But we're not done.

That would have been perfect for the end of our conversation.

But there's more.

So think of more tips like that in your mind.

What would be your ideal legacy for what's happening at the new Foundation in school?

And my legacy is to see them far beyond where they are now, because what has happened to you doesn't define your present or your future.

Whatever situation in the face is all in the past.

Yes.

So I want them to know and understand that it doesn't define who they are.

It was just an experience and you can move from it.

And I don't see them as victims.

They are survivors because they are strong women.

Yes, they came out of this strong land, India still, they are very resilient.

A lot of times our viewers like to hear some stories and I know we going to hear from one Chibok survivor.

But in your opinion, what activity do you think that that has helped a student that you can see them using that today?

Okay.

So this is something we call mandala coloring.

It's a form of relaxation exercise actually.

Yes.

So we have colors.

We give them colors.

And then the pinks is the templates you prints.

So canvases.

Yes.

So do you use colored pencils.

So from there is a form of therapy and any form of relaxation technique because it relaxes your mind.

Your color means something beautiful.

And any gain for it helps.

It makes you understand what the person is trying to paint because of the colors they are choosing.

Okay, so if I'm choosing black, brown, yellow.

Yes, you understand and the person's mind is a bit confused.

So from the colors you get to understand these things and then you say okay, yes.

And for them because of their okay.

So working with them you have to bring into the cultural sensitivity because of where they are coming from.

You can explain that to our eyes.

Yes.

So you need to go to the cultural background please.

A very vital rule in this.

So if you don't believe in the I remember when I first came, they keep saying they don't need a psychologist because they are not mad.

So they believe for you to be psychologists because you're mad, but they are not sorry.

So that it is different from what they had.

Yes.

So at first it was difficult to have them come into therapy.

So what we do is we have a group sessions which we call the life skills.

Life skills.

Yeah.

So we talk about we have them in groups.

We talk about different topics.

Let's say today you want to talk about depression.

So after talking about depression you see the need as a person to come and meet me okay.

This is happening to me.

So you see the need to come and meet me personally.

Talk about it.

So the group sessions really helped with that.

Well, and I love how you explained what the colors mean and the group sessions and the activities.

So my question to you is based on what you have done with the Chibok girls, how can our viewers at home help them so that they can move to their next stage of life so they feel that support?

Yes, they need to be hills because another thing we experienced here is once they are in school, they are psychologists.

Once they return back, is it tendency of experiencing another form of trauma?

So when they're coming back, they might be coming back with a different experience.

But the trauma is super.

So the support they will need is when they finish school, get a good job, get support if they can as individuals then because if you are deemed better after school, you help your family.

Maybe you probably move them out of the house location to a safe location and they need to finish their school to be able to do that.

And how long does it take for an average Chibok girl to finish their education?

So depending on the course they are studying, it might be five years.

It may be for what's been the minimum year is four years, four years.

And now that we are looking at it at ten years later, what do you think our viewers should know from what we saw and we only saw it in media what we saw in media.

But once it passes through media, we forget about it.

Until today.

So they should know that they are strong.

They are very resilient.

And of course they don't have.

It's not like they do have these that they want to give up, but you have the will to keep pushing because where you're coming from doesn't define where you are or where you're going to.

So they are strong women, they are resilient.

And you know, they're beautiful.

They are smart.

They are enough.

They are enough.

That's beautiful.

My last question to you is, based on everything that you've done at the American University of Nigeria, why is this so important to this school?

To make sure the Chibok girls have everything they need to move forward.

It is important to them because you get to be part of this success story because, well, we have been from the forest.

Are you going to send them back to the villages?

It means your navy helping them into the society and helping them to finish their education, because you were taking from school.

So this is the best place for them to be, to finish their education and then to be people in the society.

Well, because you're giving them the education, but you're giving them all the skills to protect and strengthen their mental health so that they can work on move on.

Yes, Cindy, you are so wonderful in everything that you're doing.

Thank you so much, and I look forward to my next conversation with the Chibok girls survivor.

So that'll be coming up next.

Thank you Cindy, you come right back with more about the Chibok girls.

What's that?

I don't remember how it started.

Oh.

You have our back and forth.

Victory!

Fumble!

Repeat.

It always came back.

It.

Came.

Damn.

Okay.

There we go.

Throw it!

Yeah.

And you probably don't remember what you told me.

That was perfect.

But I heard every word.

Nice.

When I look at all these success stories, I cannot help but think it all started by getting my high school diploma.

When you graduate, they graduate, visit, finish your diploma, talk to, find free and supportive adult education centers near you.

Welcome back.

In the first episode, we learned a little bit about the experience of the Chibok girls, and we learned how important it is to protect the mental health of anybody that goes through trauma.

Well, in this segment, it is my honor to actually speak to one of the Chibok girls.

Thank you so much for being here.

Oh, come.

You are also a communications major.

Yes, ma'am.

And you want to.

Oh, and to what?

Concentration is actually on public relations.

This is a perfect opportunity for you.

Before we start to talk about other things, I want to hear a little bit about your background and tell me about your experience.

Okay.

Who's a for?

From Chibok.

When does Borno State local government.

So I was raised there with my parents.

Everyone of my family.

So I, among the victims of Chibok girls.

That's why I kind up, Chibok and Chibok 2014.

Yeah.

So my experience then was it was terrible, actually.

It's since sometime it seems to me that I should not even talk about it.

But now I'm strong, I'm confident, and I'm willing to talk about it, to share it with anyone.

That's.

I want.

Yeah.

So my experience back then was wasn't funny.

I lost hope, I thought my life and it's the I don't know that I will get this opportunity to come into the American University of Nigeria, but I'm here.

So it was like a dream to me, actually.

I don't know that this will happen.

Things are just happening.

I do expect them.

Well, it's I'm fine.

I'm.

I'm confident.

Yeah.

The top.

First.

You said that you were a victim.

I think you were a survivor.

Yes, I'm a survivor, actually.

But you you talk about how you changed from what happened, and you brought hope to it because you're here at the American University of Nigeria.

What was your first impression when you came to the American University of Nigeria?

Wow.

Well, my first impression in the first place, I was afraid.

I thought, I'm not going to make it.

I don't have all that it takes for me to be here because of my background.

The school I attended back then, it wasn't good enough for me.

So I thought, I'm not going to do it.

But gradually, with the help of a student, they're amazing.

Whenever we asked, they're willing to help.

So I got some confidence, and I'm doing well now.

You are.

And you're definitely on your way to being in public relations.

Thank you so much.

You talked about some of the things that you learned to help you get, and you never get over the trauma, but to help you move forward.

What's one skill do you think that you picked up while you were here at the American University of Nigeria?

Communication skills actually.

That's a great skill.

Yeah, I got communication skills back then where we are in an office, you know, foundation school there.

They taught us to be confident that we should speak freely.

So from back then, I started developing the feelings that I want to be confidence.

And I want my voice to be heard.

So that's the confidence.

So why do you think it's important for people to understand that their voice can be heard?

Or it's important because it's you have an audio on like some people they are going through a lot, but don't speak about it and is killing them gradually.

So I think it's good for everyone to express themselves in due process.

I think Jimmy get help anyway, and it's also good for the mental health, I guess.

Yeah.

We talked a lot about the mental health and in the first segment, and we talked about the importance of, just some of the activities that you do to help strengthen your mental health so that you can move forward.

What activities do you like?

I actually like to listen to music.

You're actually listening to music.

My passion is I love making.

So whenever I'm doing that, I got some strength from the, I feel so okay with that.

You feel stronger when you're doing that?

Yeah.

And music.

We we've learned music therapy.

How that can help us through any life situation.

So I'm going to ask you this.

What kind of music do you listen to?

I listen to Christian music.

Yeah.

That I find is so encouraging to me.

So does the music.

I actually any us Christian music that you listen to from the United States?

No.

No.

Okay.

We'll fix that after the interview.

But so tell us some of the artists that you're listening to today.

Okay.

Moses plays these songs.

These songs does sound like like I come by prayer and I stay in prayer.

And when I leave this world, I will go by prayer.

So I love listening to that.

It's encouraging me to do anything I want to do, because I believe that with that prayer, I can't go anywhere.

And that's the importance of those lyrics because they speak to you personally, right?

Yeah.

So you mentioned you want to, when you graduate, you want to work in the field of public relations, which I think is so important.

Have you decided, like, where you want to use your public relations skills?

Do you want to use it for it to help women of trauma, or do you want to help children, maybe help people in your community of Chibok?

Or would you like to use your degree?

Well, I want to use it in our community.

Yeah.

Welcome to actually because of our background.

So I want I want my community to be recognized because we actually need help.

The, we are going through a lot.

So I think with this, my own passion of being in public relation will help me and my community.

And that is such a wonderful goal, and it inspires a lot of us as we finish our time together.

I know that the American University of Nigeria has made a huge impact in your life and the services that they provided, not only for you, but for the other Chibok girls.

If you could say one thing to the American University of Nigeria, what they've done for you and your life, what would that be?

I guess thank you is not enough.

Like thank you is an understatement for me because I am my sister.

Actually learn a lot here.

We are doing well and I'm glad we are improving.

So all I have to say that I appreciate and we didn't take this opportunity for granted you guys.

So thank you American University of Nigeria for the great opportunity allowing us to study here.

It means a lot to us.

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us.

We just how you have triumphed through this situation, but also to thank you for telling the story on behalf of the American University of Nigeria.

I look forward to seeing what you do next.

You will do great things.

All right.

Thank you.

I appreciate it's my pleasure being here to thank you.

And thank you for joining me on everybody with Angela Williamson at the American University of Nigeria.

Viewers like you make this show possible.

Join us on social media to continue this conversation.

Good night and stay well.

Hi, I'm Angela Williamson, host of everybody with Angela Williamson.

Thank you for watching KLCS.

If you enjoy my show, as well as all the other shows here on KLCS, please consider supporting the station.

Your support helps keep all your favorite programs available.

You can support KLCS by calling 888998-KLCS or by visiting KLCS.org.

Again, thank you for watching KLCS PBS.