Autumn Appeal 2024

Daniel's story

Daniel is 21 and comes from a family of 12 children. He was not able to go to school as he had to work as a child to support the family to pay for food, or for clothes such as his sandals or a T shirt to wear.

Since Daniel became involved in the carpentry project he has learned new skills such as making cabinets, tables and chairs, which he can sell to help his family financially. He has set-up his own workshop with the assistance of CAJED and makes items ordered from CAJED by customers.

Daniel told us "We are six boys and six girls in the family. None of us went to school. Before the project we would regularly miss meals and get ill and our parents had to take loans they could not afford to pay back, to take us to hospital. I used to do odd jobs to give my parents money so we could eat that evening.

Now I feel this is my domain, my life is this carpentry. I feel good in my heart that this is what I am supposed to do. Many of my friends joined armed groups, but I refused because I had started my carpentry business. I focused on my work because I know that is what will help me tomorrow and in the future.

It pains me to see them joining the groups because they are friends who I grew up with. There are those who come back sometimes, there are those who have died. If God helps this work and expands, maybe I can train other young people who were like me"