In her message, Graca Machel said “I decided to break the restrictions of my mourning because silence is not an option. I know however, that Madiba will understand and approve.”In the letter dated May 6, 2014, she said “To our Girls in Nigeria. If someone somehow can get this message to our girls, even if is just the wind whispering to them, we want them to know that we love them and we care for them. their plight has touched millions of hearts in Africa and beyond. we send them waves of Loveland comfort, to warm their hearts and dry their tears. We pray for them and look forward to the day when they will embrace their parents and families at home.
“We send them waves of energy to keep their inner selves strong and resilient. When the dark night in the forest is overwhelming, they must lift their eyes to the sky. The stars are watching over them. They must not lose hope and they must not succumb to fear and despair, even in the most adverse of all circumstances they find themselves in.
We love them always.
“To the parents of our Girls in Nigeria.
“I am a parent and so I stand amongst you holding your hands, in pain and anguish, in solidarity.
“There are millions of parents in Africa and beyond, who genuinely fell that your girls are our girls. We want them safe and back in the loving and caring space of their families.
“We demand alongside you the parents, that the Nigerian government will do everything in its power to locate all the girls, make sure they are safe and bring them back home.
All of them.
“It is government first and foremost responsibility to protect its citizens, and keep them safe. If the world can mobilises all the means possible to search for a plane carrying 239 passengers, certainly it can also mobilises the means to find our girls. They deserve nothing less.
“We want to see the same resolve, commitment and focus from the Nigerian government, African governments and if course those governments who have the capacity and resources to find our girls.
“We stand amongst you. We hold your hands.”
In her own message entitled ‘Message to the Chibok Community’, Feese said
“My message to the Chibok community is to hold strong, don’t give up, your girls will come home by the grace of God, alive and well and very soon.
“To the girls, stay strong, all of Nigeria and indeed the world is looking for you. We will find you and bring you home.
“I am Chibok Girl. I am you.
“On the 26 of August 2011 I went to the United Nations Building to collect data for my schoolwork. The terrorists came and bombed the building. Their intention was to kill us and take away our dreams. They destroyed the building, killed many and wounded others including me but they could not destroy our dreams.
“On the 14 of April, 2014 you went to school to get an education. The terrorists came and carried you away. They burnt down your school. Their intention is to cut short your ambition of getting an education and to destroy your dreams of living lives of dignity. They will not succeed. They may traumatise you but you will not bow.
“I am you.
“You are in the forest. I was lost in the rubbles of the explosion. Like you, family and friends looked for me. My father had to look among the dead similar to the manner that your parents and community pursued after the terrorists. Eventually I was found broken but alive. They will find you for I am you.
“Chibok Community, stay strong your girls will come home. Nigeria and the world is looking for your girls.
“Chibok Girls, stay strong you will be found and brought home. Nigeria and the world is standing up for you.
“I am you wounded but not bowed. You too will not bow. You will come home.”
