National Geographic UK - 03.2020

were desperate to see their families.

AUN worries about more than security:

Most of these women are in their 20s, and in

this region it’s unusual for them to still be in

school. If they hadn’t spent years in captivity,

many would be starting families. The previous

fall, eight students didn’t return to school, and

half of those were said to have gotten married.

On the Sunday before they left for home, a

pastor joined them for a sermon. “Some of you

have passed through terrible things, through the

shadow of death,” he preached.

“AMEN!” they replied.

“Some of you are about to travel. Some of you

are afraid.” His pitch climbed. “Do not be afraid!

If you live in fear, you are attracting danger.”

Grace Dodo, a statuesque student who walks

with a cane, tilted her head and joined in: “Yes!”

“I want you to go and come back and finish

your education,” the pastor said.

While Esther Joshua packed for a trip to see

her family, Patience Bulus spent the summer far

from home, on the idyllic campus of Dickinson

College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. In 2018 former

AUN president Margee Ensign opened a college-

prep program at Dickinson, where she’s now

president. She enrolled four Chibok survivors.

Patience studied quietly, blending in among

the international students. Then in April 2019

she spoke on a panel at the U.S. Capitol about

the crisis in Nigeria. Soon, Dickinson students

began to recognize her broad smile and colorful

hair wraps on campus. They’d approach and ask

to hear her story. She’ll tell it now. Why not? She

plans to study psychology and become a thera-

pist or work with refugees. She’s stopped going

to therapy sessions herself and has started see-

ing a career counselor.

“I’ll never forget,” Patience said, “but I’ve

started to pretend like I forget. I have to move

on with my life.” j

Nina Strochlic is a National Geographic staff
writer. Bénédicte Kurzen is a French photo g-
rapher who focuses on West Africa and the
Middle East.

Last May, students and
faculty gathered to cel-
ebrate the anniversary
of the students’ release
from Boko Haram. The
event included poems,
speeches, and a play

about a fictitious

kidnapping. At the

end, the girls let go of

balloons, including 112

black balloons—one for

each of their missing

classmates.

CHIBOK SCHOOLGIRLS 97