My Personal Experience

"My name is Zuta Hajara, and I’m 15 years old. My life changed forever the day Boko Haram attacked my village. I was at school, laughing with friends and working on an assignment, unaware that tragedy was unfolding back home.

When the attack happened, the news reached us quickly. I ran as fast as I could, my heart pounding with fear. But nothing could have prepared me for what I found when I arrived. My home was gone, and so was my family—my parents, my siblings, everyone I loved. They were all taken from me in a single, devastating moment.

I was left completely alone. No family to comfort me, no one to guide me through the darkest time of my life. I had to leave school because there was no one to support me, and survival became my only focus. I worked odd jobs and relied on the kindness of strangers just to get by.

Even now, the memories haunt me. The laughter of my siblings, the warmth of my mother’s embrace, the reassuring voice of my father—all of it feels like a distant dream. But amidst the pain, I’ve found a purpose.

I dream of becoming a senator someday. I want to be a voice for people like me—survivors of unimaginable trauma who deserve a chance at a better life. I want to advocate for policies that support education, provide care for orphans, and help rebuild communities shattered by violence.

I know the road ahead won’t be easy, but I refuse to let my story end in tragedy. I will honor my family’s memory by working to create a world where no child has to endure what I have. This is my mission, and I won’t give up."