Recent herdsmen and farmer conflicts in various Nigerian communities have brought violence, loss, and fear, complex realities that many students carry with them into the classroom. These issues are difficult to discuss, especially when students come with different personal and community narratives. How can educators create a safe space for reflection, healing, and hope?
At Literacy Amidst Violent Conflict (LAVC), we work with teachers and students in conflict-affected areas to navigate these challenges through literacy. One of our key tools is the novel Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree, which helps students process hurt and confusion while enabling critical thinking and agency.
A Classroom Example: Finding Hope Amidst Fear
Recently, our LAVC students in Kaduna, northwest Nigeria, read about the emergence of Boko Haram’s insurgency in the anchor novel. In one chapter, a teacher, Malam Zwindila, discusses Boko Haram with his students, connecting the conflict to their social studies lesson. Using a map of Nigeria, he reassures them that while the insurgents operate in certain regions, they cannot take over the entire country. This moment gives the protagonist, Ya Ta, and her classmates a glimmer of hope—a reminder that violence does not have to define their future.
Mapping Emotions: A Literacy Activity for Healing
We asked our students to work in groups and reflect on their own experiences with conflict by:
- Drawing an emotional map – Sketching moments when they felt unsafe due to violence in their communities.
- Identifying sources of support – Highlighting the people, places, or opportunities that helped them cope.The responses were quite similar. Many students referenced Fulani herdsmen attacks as one conflict that has severely affected them. The students talked about homes being burnt, farm destruction, and their feelings of hopelessness. Yet, they also spoke of resilience: finding strength in community, peer encouragement, and scholarships that keep them in school. Above all, they expressed a shared longing for peace so they could focus on their education and dreams.
What Can Educators Do?
In a world where marginalized students face compounding hardships, schools must be more than just academic spaces—they must also be spaces of healing, critical thinking, sharing, and hope. Literacy education can play a vital role by providing safe discussions through literature to explore conflict without retraumatizing students. It can also encourage emotional expression. Activities like mapping fears and support systems help students process feelings of loss while charting pathways forward, even in difficult circumstances.
Want to try this in your classroom? Check out our free “Map Your Emotions” lesson plan below to guide discussions on conflict, fear, and hope in English classes.
How do you support students dealing with violence, loss, and trauma in your classroom? Share your strategies in the comments!
