f #BringBackOurChildhood

What would you miss most if you were to flee your home? Snap us on Snapchat at username: unicef, or show us on Twitter and Instagram with #BringBackOurChildhood. We’ll highlight our favourites right here.

Snapchat user DStens recreated this story by Mamoudou, a child refugee from Nigeria now living in Cameroon. “Boko Haram killed my father with the gun,” Mamoudou says. “They burned our house. I lost the faucet (water), my bike, and my schoolmates I do not know where they are.” 

Snapchat artist kerriannstj recreated this drawing by Sara, who fled violence in Nigeria and now lives in a refugee camp in Cameroon. “Boko Haram people bombed the church with the pastor there,” Sara says. “I miss a lot things, no water, no dress, no house, no books…”

Snapchat user Brahhbaconhawk recreated this drawing by Badamassi, a child refugee from Nigeria now living in Chad. Badamassi misses the environment and animals of his home country. 

“They call me Neymar,” says 15-year-old Peter, a Nigerian boy who fled to a Chadian refugee camp after attacks in northern Nigeria.

Separated from his parents and siblings, the young football enthusiast is now attending the newly opened Temporary Learning Space at the Dar es Salaam camp. His family has been found and traced to Maiduguri in northeast Nigeria.

“I ran away by myself because they were cutting people’s throats.” Ahmid, 15, fled his home in Nigeria during a Boko Haram attack, travelling for several days alone across Lake Chad. He currently attends a UNICEF school in a Chad refugee camp, hoping to see his parents again.

“When we got out of the water, a man pointed a gun at us and said he was Boko Haram. Then he took us.” Sani, 10, was captured by the armed group after trying to flee attacks on his hometown in northern Nigeria.

Bulus, a child refugee from Nigeria currently living in Cameroon, drew the drawing at left to represent what he missed most since he was forced to leave his home.  “All our houses were burnt by the people of Boko Haram,” Bulus says. “We lost everything, even our mango tree which was on the court.” 

Snapchat user Pouyas recreated the drawing of Abba, a child refugee from Nigeria currently living in a refugee camp in Chad. Seen in the drawing are children going to school, a school building, a snake, a fish, and bananas. 

This Snapchat user recreated this drawing by Mohamadou, a child who fled violence in Nigeria and currently lives in a refugee camp in Cameroon. “I lost my brother and our baby. I also lost my bike, and our car.” Mohamadou says. 

Hanatou, 13, whose drawing is shown at top, is a 13-year-old from Nigeria currently living in Dar es Salaam Refugee camp in Chad. After his village was attacked by Boko Haram, Hanatou fled from his home in Baga, Nigeria across Lake Chad to safety. He misses his family, who still lives in Baga. Numerous Snapchat users sent in drawings saying if they had to leave their home they would also miss their family. One user commented, “It’s heartbreaking to think that these children might never get to see their family again, if that were me, I don’t know what I would do.”

Snapchat user EmGarber recreated a drawing by Atta Hinna, a child refugee from Nigeria currently living in Cameroon, Atta Hinna drew her parents, who she misses dearly - she does not know if they are alive or dead.

In April 2015 Snapchat artist WYSAMX recreated a drawing by Falmata, a child refugee from northeast Nigeria now living in a refugee camp in Chad. “I miss playing with my brothers,” Falmata says.   

Snapchat user @JeffreyLewis26 recreated a drawing by Habu, 10, a child refugee in Chad who escaped violence in northeast Nigeria. Habu drew this drawing (left) in a UNICEF-supported Child Friendly Space in Dar es Salam Refugee camp, in Chad. Habu misses the access to Baga’s hospital when he gets sick.
Snapchat user @JeffreyLewis26 recreated a drawing by Habu, 10, a child refugee in Chad who escaped violence in northeast Nigeria. Habu drew this drawing (left) in a UNICEF-supported Child Friendly Space in Dar es Salam Refugee camp, in Chad. Habu misses the access to Baga’s hospital when he gets sick.
Snapchat user @JeffreyLewis26 recreated a drawing by Habu, 10, a child refugee in Chad who escaped violence in northeast Nigeria. Habu drew this drawing (left) in a UNICEF-supported Child Friendly Space in Dar es Salam Refugee camp, in Chad. Habu misses the access to Baga’s hospital when he gets sick.

Snapchat user @JeffreyLewis26 recreated a drawing by Habu, 10, a child refugee in Chad who escaped violence in northeast Nigeria. Habu drew this drawing (left) in a UNICEF-supported Child Friendly Space in Dar es Salam Refugee camp, in Chad. Habu misses the access to Baga’s hospital when he gets sick.

Snapchat artists including @hibikino and @Lyssa23456 recreated a drawing by Hanutou, 13, a refugee in Chad who escaped violence in northeast Nigeria. Hanutou drew his drawing (top) in a UNICEF-supported Child Friendly Space in Dar es Salam Refugee camp, in Chad. “I miss my family in Baga,” he says.
Snapchat artists including @hibikino and @Lyssa23456 recreated a drawing by Hanutou, 13, a refugee in Chad who escaped violence in northeast Nigeria. Hanutou drew his drawing (top) in a UNICEF-supported Child Friendly Space in Dar es Salam Refugee camp, in Chad. “I miss my family in Baga,” he says.
Snapchat artists including @hibikino and @Lyssa23456 recreated a drawing by Hanutou, 13, a refugee in Chad who escaped violence in northeast Nigeria. Hanutou drew his drawing (top) in a UNICEF-supported Child Friendly Space in Dar es Salam Refugee camp, in Chad. “I miss my family in Baga,” he says.

Snapchat artists including @hibikino and @Lyssa23456 recreated a drawing by Hanutou, 13, a refugee in Chad who escaped violence in northeast Nigeria. Hanutou drew his drawing (top) in a UNICEF-supported Child Friendly Space in Dar es Salam Refugee camp, in Chad. “I miss my family in Baga,” he says.

Snapchat user @operamerica recreated a drawing by Falmata, a child refugee in Chad who fled violence in northeast Nigeria. 
Snapchat user @operamerica recreated a drawing by Falmata, a child refugee in Chad who fled violence in northeast Nigeria. 
Snapchat user @operamerica recreated a drawing by Falmata, a child refugee in Chad who fled violence in northeast Nigeria. 

Snapchat user @operamerica recreated a drawing by Falmata, a child refugee in Chad who fled violence in northeast Nigeria.