Earlier than becoming a member of the Almajiri Scholar Scheme, Hassan (this identify is a pseudonym) dreamed of turning into a kidnapper. Hassan grew up as an Almajiri boy – little youngsters entrusted within the care of an Islamic chief, splattered across the streets of some Northern states, bowl in palms and begging for alms. With out entry to formal schooling, Hassan believed kidnapping, which is quick turning into a booming business in Nigeria, could be his supply of wealth. This was till Victor Bello, the founding father of an Almajiri Scholar Scheme, discovered him on the streets of Jos, Plateau State.
The Almajiri system prioritises Arabic schooling over Western schooling. From a younger age, youngsters are despatched to their lecturers’ properties to study. It’s a system of Islamic schooling practised in Northern Nigeria that includes younger boys, known as “Almajiri,” and younger ladies, referred to as “Almajira,” with the plural being “Almajirai.” This technique historically sees mother and father entrusting their youngsters’s upbringing and schooling to Islamic colleges, usually relinquishing their parental duties to the underfunded faculty authorities. When the colleges are unable to feed them, the kids disperse into the streets to beg.
Hassan’s story, together with many others he witnessed rising up in Kaduna, influenced Victor Bello’s determination to start out the Almajiri Scholar Scheme in March 2022 with the aim of exposing these youngsters to literacy and Western schooling.
Victor Bello had his first encounter with the Almajiri college students in Kaduna and have become inquisitive about why youngsters his age have been restricted from buying a Western schooling. When he turned an undergraduate on the College of Jos, he tried introducing Almajiri youngsters to Western schooling however confronted pushback from the group. In 2020, throughout Ramadan, he supplied Iftar meals for about 15 youngsters and used the chance to introduce his concept to the group. They declined, not solely as a result of Victor was a Christian however as a result of the group had a inflexible resistance in the direction of Western schooling.
In 2021, throughout Ramadan, he repeated what he had completed the earlier yr however on a bigger scale. He took the iftar meals to the Jos central mosque the place he met the chief of Almajiri schooling within the state, who favored his concept. This chief launched him to Mallam Habali, who was answerable for a bunch of Almajiri youngsters within the Angwan Rogo group.
When Victor began, he was centered on increasing to as many communities as he might in Jos. Nonetheless, after the primary month, he realised how demanding the mission was going to be. He funds the mission from his pocket, with some volunteers who’re prepared to show the scholars without spending a dime.
“I actually didn’t know that I used to be going to spend my money and time like that,” Victor displays. “Until I ventured into the mission totally, I believe after six months, I stated, nah, I would like to simply focus extra on these youngsters first, as a result of even when I wish to educate all of the Almajiris in Jos, it’s nonetheless not sufficient. It’s nonetheless not up 10% of all of the Almajiris in Nigeria.” In line with UNICEF, there are 18.3 million out-of-school youngsters in Nigeria, and 81% are estimated to belong to the Almajiri system.
As a consequence of a scarcity of monetary functionality and assets to increase, Victor stated he’s dedicated to coaching the scholars he presently has on the Almajiri Scholar Scheme. “I’ve 80 college students now, which is an excellent quantity. I ought to make investments extra in these youngsters I’ve as a substitute of increasing. When I’ve constructed my capability very properly, financially and in any other case, I’ll consider increasing. However for now, I’ll focus extra on those I’ve with me.”
Proud Moments
Regardless of Victor’s Almajiri Scholar Scheme, the kids nonetheless proceed their Arabic studying with their Mallam. Someday, the Mallam instructed Victor that the kids sing the letters of the alphabet and the figures more often than not now. This data made Victor proud, but it surely doesn’t examine to when he travelled out of Jos and his college students referred to as him utilizing their Mallam’s cellphone, saying, “Uncle Victor, please, don’t go away us. What you’re doing for us, nobody has completed earlier than.”
“It made me realise that I’m really on the suitable path, as a result of, typically, I ask myself, ‘Am I actually making an impression? Or am I simply too emotional about the entire Almajiri factor?’ Generally I doubt the entire thing I’m doing, in order that was actually encouraging for me. It’s one in all my proudest moments on this mission.”
However it wasn’t simply that. After a category, Victor gathered the scholars round to say some Northern profitable folks they may look as much as, to dissuade them from societal vices like kidnapping. After the encouragement, he requested the scholars to inform him about themselves and the way they’re residing their lives exterior the scheme coaching. Certainly one of them narrated that he was passing by way of a flowery restaurant when somebody supplied to provide him meals. When he opened the meals, all he discovered there was bone. The kid felt insulted and stated he was going to eat a full rooster in that restaurant sometime.
It was one of the crucial touching moments for Victor, one which swiftly was a contented one. “When he stated that, I virtually cried that day. I stated, ‘You recognize what? All of you must prepare. Subsequent week we’re going to that restaurant.’ It is without doubt one of the greatest eating places in Jos. They name it Bacardi. We went there they usually had good meals. They by no means stopped speaking about that day. Even when I don’t really feel fulfilled for something, I really feel so pleased each time I consider that day. I really feel so excited as a result of these are youngsters that I’ve seen on the road since my childhood.”
