My friend Chalya N. Bongfa

My name is Teresa. I met Chalya’s family about 15 years ago through a Facebook group discussing authors and education. The Bongfa family lives in the Kuja community of the capital city Abuja, in Nigeria. Both of her parents have studied agricultural sciences in Nigeria and they value the importance of education for their children. They have been running a small business in catfish farming for several years now and have been able to provide the best education possible for their children in their community.

Chalya is an outstanding student, achieving top grades in her class. She will be ready for high school in September of 2025, however the nearest high school is 10km from her home. In Abuja, there are no public school buses, and many children end their education when they can no longer walk to school or afford school fees. Her family realizes that without finishing school, she would face an uncertain and difficult future.

Life and prosperity can be precarious in Abuja. The business has had ups and downs throughout the pandemic and now with the current situation of economic upheaval due to cutbacks in aid from countries like the USA. The Bongfa family has some financial responsibility for extended family members, such as Chalya’s aunt and cousin who are not well, so money is tight.

I would like this fundraiser to help the Bongfa family pay for a motorcycle, the most reasonable form of transportation on Nigerian roads, so that Mr. Bongfa can take his daughter to school every day, safely and reliably.