#Elections2015 15 Year Old Girl Prays For a Better Society

 

On the 10th of March 2015 at exactly 8:02pm, I saw something that rocked me to my core.

My mother and I drove past an Oando petrol station and seated beside APC & PDP presidential campaign poster was a woman with a small baby in her arms, waving and begging for money. After overcoming my initial shock, I grabbed my phone and tried to take a picture of what I was seeing. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get a clear shot but the blurry picture I managed to take with my phone, held me in disbelief as I strained my neck to see if the woman was actually holding a baby.

I’d heard many stories about poverty and homeless people, but seeing it with my own eyes affected me in more ways than words could ever explain. My first thought was; I have to share this, people need to hear about this. As I’m currently interning at tw magazine for a week, writing this article seemed the best option. My second thought immediately after that, was to give her some of my money. I reached into my bag and pulled out my wallet but before I could hand it over to her, my mother drove past her and rounded the corner.

I considered asking to go back and park so I could give the woman money but quickly realised it wouldn’t be possible without causing some havoc. When we drove past her my heart shattered and even as I write this, tears form in my eyes as I remember how I missed an opportunity to help that young woman and her baby. I regret taking her picture before bringing out my wallet, not reacting faster and not asking my mother to turn.  I really do but now it’s too late and there’s nothing I can do to change the past, so here I am focusing on the future.

Why is she there? Is she homeless? Where did she have the child ? What is the government going to do to help her ? Isn’t it the child’s right to have a home and food and water ? Why isn’t the government doing anything about it ? Why aren’t children’s rights respected ?

I have so many questions but who do I ask? I cannot understand why there is a woman and her child sitting on the side of the road at 8pm. I cannot understand why we bask in so much insensitivity and I cannot understand how the government can let this happen.

Why was I so shocked?  I’ve seen this sort of thing before, I’ve heard all about it . Maybe it was the helpless look in the young lady’s eyes or the baby wrapped in a little blanket. Or maybe it was the fact that she was in front of a gubernatorial campaign ad. Whatever it was it affected me deeply and I knew I had to share this.

I really wish there was something I could do to change it. I wonder what that child’s life will be like , if she’ll get to go to school, if she’ll even make it to the age of school. And I forbid that last thought in Jesus name. I pray for this child and her mother, I pray for this country and I pray for everybody suffering today.

Most importantly, dear God, I pray that Nigeria moves forward.

Written By Pearl Kone Nzewi a 15 year old high school student interning at tw Magazine.