Hajiya's Story

One month from today we will fly home! So far, our adventure in Nigeria has been a kaleidoscope of highs and lows. We have made many amazing friends and seen God work through us at BRiCC in ways we never expected. In wake of the recent bombings in Jos, we have faced deep heartbreak for the people around us and intense longing for the peace and justice that so many innocent people here deserve, but may never know. The disappointment of being advised to minimize our time at BRiCC due to security concerns has been sharp. Still, we see God working and are encouraged that people are beginning to come out of their houses again and greet each other with cautious optimism. 

We are praying for a return to peace in Jos so that we can continue to build relationships and work as before. One of Katie’s greatest joys before the attacks was meeting with the graduates of the women’s skills acquisition program, hearing their hearts and writing their stories. Since fears are still high and security is tight, it has been impossible to continue these visits for the past few weeks. Please pray that God will surround Jos with peace so we can continue to do His work freely and enjoy this story from one of BRiCC’s lovely graduates. 

Hajiya is all smiles as she proudly describes her catering business. She sells homemade doughnuts out of her own shop, by special order for private parties and at her children’s school. At first, Hajiya didn’t think she would be able to get the training needed to start her business when she heard that other skills programs cost N5,000 ($33). When she learned that BRiCC would give her 3 months of catering training for N500 ($3.30) she was overjoyed. 

One of Hajiya’s biggest success stories is how popular her doughnuts are at her children’s school. While her doughnut’s distinctive flavor pleased many, including the head mistress of the school, Hajiya worried that the fact that she was Yoruba would impair her new opportunity. Still, even though the head mistress of the school is Hausa and so is Hajiya’s competition, this has not hurt her success. In fact, the head mistress is so pleased with Hajiya’s products that she told her competition, a woman of her own tribe, that she need not supply her products at the school any longer. 

Hajiya’s business has not only helped her to overcome tribal prejudices in her community, but also provides her with a small weekly profit that could add up spending money she would otherwise never have or school fees for one of her children over a year’s time. She is also saving money by making things like bread and sweets for her family instead of buying them elsewhere. 

Hajiya has made much more then financial gain from her training at BRiCC. During her time in catering classes, she also met her best friend. Even though Hajiya is a Muslim and her friend is a Christian, they never miss an opportunity to support one another during life’s ups and downs. Hajiya credits this important relationship to BRiCC, because without the catering program she feels she might never have met and come to love her friend.

The kind of close relationship that Hajiya developed with her friend is exactly what BRiCC is working so hard for. These are the relationships that shirk fear and suspicion so thick in Jos you can cut through it. The unfortunate reality is that, for some, having a friendship with someone from another faith could mean the difference between great harm at the hands of angry mob and the security of being hidden in the protective embrace of someone you can trust.