A hearing-impaired girl holds up a message for Operation Blessing staff at the Jevorram School for the Handicapped in Keffi, Nigeria.

NIGERIA – For eight years, Dara suffered in silence.

Deaf and mute since birth, the young girl’s situation seemed hopeless.

"Dara was forced into manual labor when it was discovered that she could neither hear nor speak," explained Operation Blessing's Okey Onwudiwe, who recently met with Dara at the Jevorram School for the Handicapped in Keffi, Nasarawa state, central Nigeria. "She was made to fill multiple drums of water before sunrise, and trek long distances carrying heavy loads. She soon became lean and unhealthy."

When OBI staff recently delivered a donation of blankets to Jevorram School, they learned how common situations like Dara's are throughout the country. Their society places little value on such challenged children.

"Jevorram School runs a small orphanage for some street children who have been left to fend for themselves by parents or guardians," said Onwudiwe. "They rescue children who were forced into labor because it was the only thing their parents thought they were fit for."

For Dara, a life of hard work had become too much to bear.

"As Dara struggled with heavy stacks of firewood, she heard what sounded like a snap in her chest and fell to the ground, writhing in pain," said Onwudiwe. "Because she couldn't communicate what had happened, her guardian forced her to get back on her feet and resume the long trek."

Operation Blessing staff distribute blankets to disabled children at Jevorram School.

Fortunately, through the intervention of the proprietress of Jevorram School, Dara was soon released from her family and enrolled in the school.

Today, Dara is finally learning to communicate via sign language.

"Dara is happy as she has met other children who share her challenges," said Onwudiwe. "She can communicate with them while learning new skills that will help her earn a living in the future."

OBI recently donated new mattresses and school uniforms to Jevorram, and according to Felix Oisamoje, OBI's Regional Director for West Africa, the partnership will continue well into the future.

"OBI will do what it can to make sure the children are given the opportunity to live good lives," he said.

HOW YOU CAN HELP: Operation Blessing is helping to transform the futures of children like these by providing clean water, education assistance, nutritional feeding programs, medical care and more. Please make an online contribution toward OBI's Orphan's Promise today and help us continue to reach those in need.