From Hatred to Empathy

A testimonial of Dr. Babylon, a CHF researcher who participated in our Social Emotional Learning(SEL) among the Almajiris. The SEL was a CHF Research project conducted in conflict-affected areas of Northeast Nigeria to ensure affected children have access to quality and continuous education.

“In February 2009, I witnessed the Boko Haram insurgency for the first time during my final year at the University of Maiduguri. and due to the alleged involvement of the Almajiri Boys in the insurgency, I saw them as potential criminals.

However, the social emotional learning project gave me the opportunity to interact with the Almajiri Boys which developed my empathy rather than hatred towards them. I became so interested in them that I decided to focus my MSC research in Evironmental Epidemilogy on them.

I am grateful to CHF for the opportunity to participate in the social emotional learning project which influences my interest in the Almajiri boys and in qualitative research”

At CHF, our goal is to conduct research that informs policy and practices. We strongly believe that access to information eradicates ignorance, changes perspective and orientation which makes the world a better place to live.