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Mothers hope to bring world attention to Nigerian kidnappings

By WTOP Staff

Michelle Murillo, WTOP.coom

WASHINGTON — A vigil in Farragut Square hopes to keep the spotlight on the more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped in Nigeria.

The goal of the vigil was to bring attention to the international community as well as the Nigerian Government.

“It’s not just Boko Haram. There are other elements within the society that allows Boko Haram to act with such impunity,” said Aniedi Okure, executive director of the African Faith and Justice Network. “Boko Haram has been terrorizing Nigeria since 2009 and killing people, over 5,000 people killed. The government seems unwilling or not capable to do anything. I think it’s more no political will to do it because it has a formidable military.”

Okure believes political corruption is keeping the Nigerian government from doing what is right, and hopes vigils like this one will spur them into action.

“We think a gathering like this will put the spotlight on the government to do something about it to protect the rights of Nigerian citizens,” he said.

In the audience were mothers who said the thought of having their children stolen is unthinkable.

“When I think about it, my heart drops to my toes. I can’t imaging sleeping at night when your child is missing. I can’t imagine not having any idea where your child is. I cannot imagine somebody taking your child for no reason,” said Lydia Levy, with a voice that trembled as she thought about it. “It’s breaking my heart.”

Another mother, who has twin teenage daughters, was Emira Woods, the co-director of Foreign Policy and Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies.

“I am a mother, this is Mother’s Day weekend. I can’t even begin to tell you how heart wrenching it is to think about other mothers facing this horrific incident,” she said.

But, she hopes the vigil will help put pressure on those who need to be held accountable for what has happened.

“I believe vigils like this show that the world is paying attention. It shows that people of conscience around the world are standing up, using their voices, are standing in solidarity. That without a doubt is being heard.”

And she believes vigils can work to bring about change, “That’s what has changed the world from the days of the slave trade to the anti-apartheid struggle. It was people taking to the streets saying enough is enough. So vigils like this, without a doubt, carry weight. They show that people around the world are standing up to demand a better world.”

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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