By: Yuval David
More than 1,000 students have been kidnapped from schools in northern Nigeria since December. The kidnappers are Islamic militants, often referred to as ‘Bandits,” and they consistently grow stronger in Nigeria. Many of the kidnapped students have been released for large ransoms of all their families have, but many are killed in captivity. Negotiations of ransoms tend to end in killing of the hostages. The head teacher at one of the schools in Nigeria told reporters that many parents sold most of what they owned in an effort to raise funds totalling more that 30 million naira (about $72,900 USD). The hostages are as young as 4 years old, and are often held for at least three months without their parents.
The greatest number of victims, hostages never to be seen again, are young girls who are raped, sold off into slavery, and forced to marry their captors.
Learn more in the video HERE.
Save the Children International, a non-governmental organization (NGO), has observed these attacks. The group claims the increasing cases of attacks on students has put the education system of Nigeria at extreme risk. Save The Children International stated “from January to August 2021, over 1000 children were abducted in Nigeria, with so many of them still in the hands of their abductors.”
Mercy Gichuhi, Nigerian Director of Save the Children International said “When education is under attack, a generation is attacked. Children, girls, and women are more vulnerable at times of attack, putting them at a higher risk of traumas, fear, gender-based violence, physical and sexual abuse.”
The Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) stated that between 2015–2019, there were over 100 reported attacks on schools in Nigeria. The Islamist attacks increased between 2020 and 2021, which led to the closedown of many schools due to fear of being attacked.
About Yuval David
Yuval David is an innovative actor, host, and filmmaker with a creative mantra to entertain, uplift, and inspire. He is a captivating performer and compelling storyteller who uses his platform for sharing narratives that affect social change, specifically on behalf of highly respected US and international organizations that raise awareness for the marginalized and under-represented, inspired by his LGBTQ + and Jewish identity, and his Israeli-American roots.
As an actor, Yuval plays major roles in feature films, television, theatre, web, digital media, and voice overs. These include, “What Would You Do” (ABC), “Madam Secretary” (CBS), “The Michael J Fox Show” (NBC), “Beauty and the Beast” (Disney), in addition to productions with HBO, Comedy Central, Dreamworks, AFI, and theatres across the globe.
As a TV Host/Presenter, Yuval focuses on societal, humanitarian, and entertainment programming.
As a filmmaker, Yuval produces, directs, and writes films, documentaries, web-series, digital and TV content, including the award-winning episodic series, ‘One Actor Short,’ ‘Pranks of Kindness,’ ‘Better World with Yuval David,’ ‘What Makes You Beautiful,’ and numerous other web series.
Yuval’s exceptional work has been screened at more than 100 film festivals and taken home more than 75 awards from international film festivals, including The Big Apple Film Festival, New York International Film Festival, NewFilmmakers Film Festival, NYC Independent Film Festival, Hollywood Just4Shorts Film Festival, Top Shorts Film Festival, Vegas CineFest International Film Festival, IndieFest, Accolade Global, American Picture, Atlanta Film Festival, and Global Webisode Festival, just to name a few
Inspired by his Jewish and Israeli-American roots, Yuval advocates for all marginalized communities through his creative work and social action, including the Israeli Consulate, the Shoah Foundation, the Jewish National Fund (JNF), Keren Kayemet, Stand With Us, A Wider Bridge, The Aguda, American Israel Cultural Foundation, Chabad, The Jewish Learning Institute, #EndJewHate, and JewBelong among other organizations. Yuval is frequently invited to host, MC, and speak on behalf of cultural, humanitarian, philanthropic, social and political initiatives and institutions.
Yuval David is also a go-to host and narrator for video and documentary features for Jewish, Israeli, LGBTQ, Arts, Cultural and Humanitarian Organizations and Initiatives, including The National LGBTQ Task Force’s Creating Change national conference, the Shoah Foundation, the Jewish National Fund (JNF USA), and Stand With Us.
