About a month ago, I was able to go with a group from the Embassy to Jos, Nigeria. Jos is about 3 hours north of Abuja, in the more more Muslim region. The interesting part about Jos is that they also have a large pocket of Christians who live in the area - thus there is a magnifying glass on the relationship between Christians and Muslims. There have been notable violent conflicts between the two groups surging every so often. As an outreach to the community, the Embassy has assisted with the maintenance of a community center in the area which serves as a "safe haven" for Christian and Muslim youth. There are basketball courts and volleyball courts there that are used by all. During our trip, we helped refurbish these courts, passed out brand new basketballs and volleyballs, played a game of basketball with them and made new friends.
My new friends in Jos
Helping to re-do the lines on the court
Our Embassy welder helps re-do the hoop
I asked the girls to pose...
More decide they want their picture taken...
The boys were less inclined to be photographed, but I think they liked it :)
Linda, me, Carmen and our new friends in Jos, Nigeria
View of the new Volleyball court and Basketball court
Onlookers in the stands
Nigerians vs. Americans on the bb court
Backboard of BB hoop declares this a "Peace Zone"
One of the school children shows me what sugar cane is
A group photo after the Nigerians killed the Americans on the court
The ribbon cutting ceremony of the refurbished court
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