Amina Bukar spreads soybeans to dry in preparation for making Tom Brown, a food supplement that is fed to malnourished children in Muna Moforo, Nigeria. (Randy Radeno Haniel / Catholic Relief Services)
By Catholic Relief Services
Amina Bukar, a mother of five, is a well-respected leader and small-business owner in Muna Moforo, Nigeria. In her village nutrition group, she teaches mothers how to prepare nutrient-rich porridge for their children to help them grow strong and healthy.
This is important because in Nigeria, more than 25 million people face extreme hunger and lack access to nutritious food. Amina makes regular house visits to families in her community to provide support and knowledge for leading healthy lives.
Amina and her family used to live in their hometown of Marte. She owned a chicken farm and a store. Her husband, Garba, worked for a water and land conservation agency. But in 2014, violence in their community forced them to flee their village.
“My husband placed me and the children in a pickup truck and asked us to go my auntie’s house,” Amina says. “I left with just my purse, a small amount of money and the clothes on my back. I used to live well but suddenly, I lost everything. It affected me mentally.”
After arriving in Muna Moforo, Amina and her family had to start life all over again. Amina joined a Catholic Relief Services program that provided food and cooking supplies. This enabled her family to eat healthy meals as they worked to rebuild their lives and find employment.
“Before we didn’t have the money to buy sardines or even eggs to eat well,” Amina says. Now, she and her family can prepare balanced meals.
Amina started a food-grinding business to earn income. She also began preparing specialty foods to sell in the market, like hibiscus drinks and gingerbread palm fruit. She earned enough money to support her family’s needs and now provides materials to other women to help them start their own businesses.
“(Amina) is always here, listening to the women and their concerns,” Garba says.
Because of her supportive and caring nature, Amina was nominated to be a lead mother in her village. By empowering mothers and caregivers, she is helping her community overcome the challenges of hunger so they can thrive.
CRS Rice Bowl Lenten recipes
Abstaining from meat each Friday during Lent allows people to experience a little of the hunger that many endure daily. CRS Rice Bowl offers meatless recipes from around the world; all are invited to try them and give the money saved by not eating meat to CRS Rice Bowl to feed those in need. Make a Lenten donation to help ensure all the members of our global family have access to nutritious food at www.crsricebowl.org.
Egg sauce with boiled yams (Nigeria)
Egg sauce — or fried eggs — is a common dish in Nigeria. This easy-to-make recipe includes scrambled eggs cooked with vegetables and spices and served with nutritious boiled yams.
Start to finish: approximately 30 minutes
Servings: 4-6
Ingredients:
4 large yams or sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1-inch rounds
1 teaspoon salt, plus 1/2 teaspoon salt for the eggs
4-6 eggs
1-2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1-2 small scotch bonnet or habanero peppers, finely chopped
1 red bell pepper, diced
2 medium tomatoes, diced
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/2 tablespoon vegetable bouillon
1/2 teaspoon curry
1/2 teaspoon thyme
Rinse the yam or sweet potato slices and place them in a large pot. Fill with enough water to cover them and add 1 teaspoon salt. Boil on medium-high until tender, about 20-25 minutes. Remove from heat and drain.
Crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk until well combined. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt and set aside. Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan on medium-low heat, about 2-3 minutes. Add the chopped peppers, tomatoes and onion and saute for about 4-5 minutes. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt, vegetable bouillon, curry and thyme. Stir to mix spices into the vegetables. Add whisked eggs to the pan and let cook for about one minute. Stir to scramble the eggs. Serve immediately with boiled yams.
