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FROM THE FIELD: L I F E A S A S E A M S T R E S S IN MINAWAO CAMP

23-year-old Esther is originally from Boko in Nigeria. She now lives in Minawao camp in Cameroon. In 2014, Esther and her family were violently attacked when Boko Haram fighters stormed into their village. She told the team at IEDA Relief – ShelterBox’s implementing partner in Cameroon – she witnessed the tragic death of her parents and her brothers then ran for her life from the attackers. She was forced to flee her home and has not returned since.

Esther said she ran with many other girls who were in the same situation as her. The journey led them to
Cameroon where they were met by police at the border and eventually taken to Minawao camp. Esther said it has taken a while to come out of the trauma she felt from that day. She has since married and has children of her own.

The support she received helped her to participate in some training organized on camp for young women. That training was on sewing. She sold food so she could make enough money to eventually buy herself a sewing machine.

Today, Esther is one of the most popular dressmakers in her bloc on camp. She said that many women around her go to her for their clothes, as well as those of their children. It has helped her and her family for household needs. “It’s very nice. I do like it and I do it with pleasure any time I have a customer. Generally, my neighbours come to me with their children for their clothes and anytime I see somebody wearing something that I sewed, it makes me happy. I can now take care of some family needs, like cooking and other things.”

Esther hopes that her business will be a huge success in the future. “I want to become a famous dressmaker not only here in Minawao. I want to see people wearing my clothes out of the camp and even in my country (Nigeria)”, she concluded.

ShelterBox has been working in Minawao camp to support families like Ester’s since 2015. ShelterKits and tents provide families with privacy and help families avoid some of the threats of the collective centre.

Additional aid items like water filters and mosquito nets help prevent the spread of disease, while kitchen
sets and solar lights help make the camp feel more like home. Officially, Minawao camp is home to 51,000
refugees, but families living here say the number is much higher. Globally, ShelterBox has helped 11,000
families who have fled their homes due to Boko Haram.

FROM THE FIELD: GRACE FROM MALAWI

45-year-old Grace used to live in a small village called Mwalija with her husband and four children. The
village is situated in a very low-lying area of Chikwawa next to the Shire, Malawi’s largest river. The family
were forced to flee when the fast-flowing water swamped their home in the middle of the night.

She said when the floods came, she tried to seek refuge at a nearby island. “It was around 3am, we were
asleep then we realized the water was coming inside the house. We all ran for our lives to the island, we
left everything in the house.” Continue reading

Welcome to HILARY’S in COWICHAN BAY

Hilary’s is famous for exquisite Local and World Cheese Cases
AND NOW … COMING IN OCTOBER

HILARY’S IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT ARE BUILDING
A SPECIAL PLACE FOR MOMS AND A TODDLERS SAFE PLAY AREA

We hope to have weekly well-informed Speakers and even more exciting things … help us plan cool talks!

But most of all:  A 20% Special Discount for ALL MOMs WITH TODDLERS from 10 a.m. until 12:30 noon Monday to Friday.

Stroll and relax on the waterfront over Peaks Coffee at Hilary’s in Cowichan Bay