This month’s meeting certainly stirred up some debate in the pub afterwards.

Lynda Batterbee from Stepping Stones Nigeria gripped us with stories of child abuse in the Niger Delta based on a superstitious belief that children are witches. Once they dehumanise the children in this way then this seems to justify all kinds of cruel treatment encouraged by the local pastor. Abuse ranging from battery acid being thrown in a child’s face to driving a nail into a child’s head all to drive out the demons.

I said it was disturbing – and it was. But we need to hear this and more importantly do something to fight the root causes – in this case, a very twisted version of Christianity which Lynda described as a “toxic mix” of Christianity and ancient African superstition. I’m pleased to say that our members gave generously to this cause. And if anyone out there likes to knit Lynda will be glad to send knitting patterns to make glove puppets. These are used as a fun way to help educate children out there and to assure them that there can be a better world for them to enjoy free of cruelty.

If you want to help in any way email Lynda l.battarbee@steppingstonesnigeria.org