Niger and Climatic Migration

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By Manvitha Prasad Kathula

Source: NigerTZai

Climate change is more than just hotter summers and colder winters. It often leads to mass migration – where people are forced to leave their homes behind as their environment becomes increasingly inhospitable.

In Niger and most of Sub-Saharan Africa, rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and a significant increase in the population have caused a scarcity of water and other vital resources (like wood) that are necessary for survival. This insufficiency leads to overwhelming competition between groups of people in rural areas, affecting farming and cultivation. The effects of climate change also decrease the likelihood of personal growth in these areas, as people primarily practice agriculture in these regions.

All these factors have contributed to a significant increase in rural-urban migration. According to the United Nations International Organization for Migration, Niger will generate more than 5 million internal migrants by 2050.

Ganso Seniali, a chief of a group of herders from the Tillabéri Region in Niger, recalls how he and most of his village were forced to move to the outskirts of the capital, Niamey. As he states, “The drought where we are originally from has increased conflict between us and sedentary farmers who are sort of fighting over similar resources of land and water, where we want to graze, but the farmers want to grow crops. This sometimes has led to deadly battles, you know, fought with guns, arrows, and machetes.” Although the move was hard on the people and their livestock, after settling in, they continued their normal activities but in an urban setting.

He also reports that life is a little easier in the city. Firstly, there appears to be no severe conflict for resources between people. It is easier for internal migrants to sell their dairy products and receive veterinary care for their herds. He further adds, “We take our cows out in the mornings to graze on the edge of the city where there is a bit of grazing space on the outskirts, and we find extra food for our goats by knocking on doors in town and taking the vegetable scraps that people might otherwise throw out.” Furthermore, the city also provides different job opportunities, enabling Tillabéri migrants to earn more money to take care of their families.

Climate change’s impact on Niger’s environment leads to internal migration. Although migration is disruptive and unwelcome, Nigeriens are modifying and transforming their lives to ensure a better present and future for themselves and the ecosystem. By drilling deep wells, Wells Bring Hope helps alleviate water scarcity, one element of climate change that leads to migration.

Sources:

https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=QWiQDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA3&dq=niger+and+climate+migration&ots=c-D ozwEeAr&sig=LgIV0dkkSTTnQEavkXSQkDGwiek#v=onepage&q=niger%20and%20climate%20migration&f=false

https://rodakar.iom.int/sites/g/files/tmzbdl696/files/documents/iom-niger-mecc-study-en.pdf

https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2023/06/30/niger-is-a-case-study-in-climate-migration-and-it-is-not-all-bad-news

Water Scarcity and Malnutrition: An Interconnected Challenge

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By Tawanda Mukwekwezeke

The global issues of water scarcity and malnutrition are closely intertwined. An exploration of this complex relationship reveals how lack of access to clean water perpetuates the cycle of hunger and poor health. In regions without reliable access to safe drinking water, people often suffer and die from preventable illnesses that can be eliminated by access to clean water.

Did you know that almost two-thirds of the world’s population, a staggering four billion people, experience severe water scarcity for at least one month every year? It’s like being stuck in a never-ending line just to get a sip of water. It’s difficult to imagine how challenging life can be when something as basic as water is in such short supply. Inadequate water supply affects over two billion people in various countries worldwide. Half of the world’s population could be living in areas with water scarcity by 2025.

Water Plays a Critical Role in Malnutrition

Lack of access to clean water and proper sanitation facilities have a significant impact on malnutrition, particularly in developing nations like Niger. Niger, along with two other central Sahel nations, is listed among the 15 countries hardest hit by an unprecedented global food and nutrition crisis, according to UN agencies. These agencies have warned that faster progress is needed to tackle acute malnutrition among children.

When people don’t have access to safe water, they are often forced to use contaminated sources for drinking and cooking, which leads to a higher risk of waterborne diseases like diarrhea and cholera, both of which reduce nutrient absorption in the body. Unsafe water also affects hygiene and food preparation practices, as hands can’t be washed properly before handling food or caring for children, and food and utensils can’t be thoroughly cleaned, which increases the risk of infection.

As Manuel Fontaine, the Director of Emergency Programmes at UNICEF put it: “No matter how much food a malnourished child eats, he or she will not get better if the water they are drinking is not safe.” This statement highlights the critical role of safe drinking water in reducing malnutrition and improving child health in developing nations like Niger.

Source : Jane Miller/DFID

Let’s Wear Nigerien Shoes a Bit

Picture this: Niger is among the countries suffering the most from water scarcity. The lack of access to safe and clean water has far-reaching consequences. It not only affects nutrition, but it also hampers education and economic development. Furthermore, the lack of nearby safe water sources means that girls and women in Niger often have to walk for hours each day to fetch water for their families. This not only puts a tremendous strain on their physical health and well-being, but it also means that they are unable to attend school or engage in income-generating activities, which perpetuates the cycle of poverty and deprivation. The impact of water scarcity on education and economic development is just one aspect of the far-reaching consequences of the lack of access to safe and clean water in Niger and other countries.

Wells Bring Hope Is Tackling some of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The United Nations has 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their sixth, Clean Water and Sanitation goes hand and hand with Wells Bring Hope’s mission. This UN Goal states: “Clean, accessible water for all is an essential part of the world we want to live in.” Like the UN, Wells Bring Hope recognizes the far-reaching impact water scarcity has on health, nutrition, education, economic development, and happiness. We’re working hard to bring hope to communities in need and changing lives for the better.

Wells Bring Hope’s work in Niger supports multiple SDG goals. By providing safe and clean water, we contribute to SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 2 (zero hunger), and SDG 3 (good health and well-being). Our focus on gender equality aligns with SDG 5.

Source : Wikimedia

 

https://www.unicef.org/wash/water-scarcity

https://reliefweb.int/report/niger/warnings-over-child-malnutrition-rising-niger-year-climate-crisis-conflict-take-toll

https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/

https://globalnutritionreport.org/resources/nutrition-profiles/africa/western-africa/niger/

Transforming Schools, Transforming Futures

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By Kayleigh Redmond and Kayla Ruff

In 2021, 21 Nigerien children died when their school, which was made of straw, caught on fire.
Not only were these straw buildings deemed physically unsafe, they were also considered to be
unsuitable for students’ growth and development. Now, more than ever it is imperative for
children to have a structured environment in which they can learn the skills necessary for life in
the modern technological world.

Nearly two years after the fire, the Pays-Bas school in Niamey reopened to 1,800 students. now
with additional amenities that offer a chance to gain a wide variety of digital skills. The UN
Children’s Fund (UNICEF) – along with the Nigerien government, members of the community,
and other global partners – has completely rebuilt and modernized the classrooms to allow for
a more tech-forward education.
The renovated educational center provides a safe space for students and community members
to learn digital skills like computer graphics, social media management, cybersecurity, and 3D
printing. Innovative solutions like this will be critical to increasing enrollment and graduation
rates of students in Niger and for preparing graduates to enter the modern workforce.
Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the United
Nations Sustainable Development Group, recently visited the newly renovated school.
According to Amina Mohammaed, “École Pays-Bas serves as a model for what can be achieved
when key actors come together to support the government in promoting creative and bold
approaches to ensure all children have access to a safe learning environment which prepare
them for the future.” Mohammed added that providing a safe and high-quality education to
Nigerien students requires much more than infrastructure and equipment. “It requires
enhanced curricula, sufficient teachers with enhanced skills, school health and nutrition in
schools including school meals”, she said at the site visit.

Source : Pencil for Kids

After the success of Pays-Bas, the Nigerien government is eager to upgrade schools country-
wide. With nearly 36,000 straw classrooms still remaining, replacing them with more updated
amenities will require a lot of resources. Increasing school enrollment and improving the quality
of education in Niger is not an easy task, and it requires a holistic approach and cooperation
among a wide range of people and organizations, each playing their part.
Wells Bring Hope, for example, plays an integral role in increasing the number of children
enrolled in school in Niger. When wells are drilled, girls no longer have to walk multiple miles
each day to find water, giving them time to go to school. Some parents remain hesitant to
enroll their children in school, however, due to safety concerns such as fire risks from straw-
built classrooms. Transforming these classrooms into safe and durable learning spaces will
reduce the risk of school fires, thus potentially increasing student enrollment. The project at the
École Pays-Bas school is just one example of the extraordinary impacts that can be made in
communities when the government and NGOs work together.

Sources:
https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/03/1134027
https://explorance.com/blog/7-reasons-students-need-technology-classroom/

 

Launch of the BIOFIN Initiative Brings Hope for a Sustainable Future in Niger

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By Kayla Ruff

Source: Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

The Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) was officially launched in Niger on March 22, 2023. BIOFIN is a global partnership launched by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Commission, and the initiative works to measure existing biodiversity expenditure levels, assess future financial needs, and design plans that will improve the efficiency of biodiversity management plans. By increasing funds and resources toward biodiversity preservation in Niger, BIOFIN could play a key role in conserving the nation’s biological diversity.

About 21 million acres or 6% of Niger’s land area is protected; however, over 70% of these protected areas have lost substantial portions of their biological diversity. Three of the protected sites, W National Park, Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves, are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These areas are among the most important regions in the Sahara for wildlife, as they are some of the last remaining habitats for a variety of threatened desert species. They are some of the most biologically diverse communities remaining in the Sahara and are home to the critically endangered addax and dama gazelle, the Saharan cheetah, and Barbary sheep. The dama gazelle is a critically endangered species that has become a national symbol for Niger.

Niger is home to over 1,400 plant species, more than 500 species of birds, and over 150 species of reptiles and amphibians. The country is also home to over 130 mammal species, one of which is the endangered West African giraffe. Once ranging from Senegal to Cameroon, there are now only about 600 West African giraffes left in the wild, and their populations are confined to just a small part of western Niger.

Preserving species like the West African giraffe and the dama gazelle is not easy, however. BIOFIN estimates that preserving biodiversity worldwide will require between 599 and 824 billion U.S. dollars, but at present, only 143 billion dollars are invested per year. The funding required for Niger’s biodiversity initiatives is unclear but will be evaluated.

The BIOFIN Niger program could help alleviate the financial burden that often prevents Niger’s biodiversity from being preserved. The BIOFIN process aims to improve budget planning, identify specific financial needs, develop and implement a range of financing solutions, and determine the baseline level of biodiversity-related spending for the country while tracking biodiversity in budgets. BIOFIN’s activities will also be conducted in close collaboration with other partners, including the Executive Secretariat of the National Environment Council for Sustainable Development (CNEDD) of Niger and the Capacities for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development (CEBioS) program of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences.

While preserving Niger’s biodiversity is a difficult task that requires a multi-faceted approach, the launch of the BIOFIN initiative is a positive step towards a sustainable future.

West African Giraffe | African Wildlife Foundation (awf.org)

Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) | United Nations Development Programme (undp.org)

BIOFIN | United Nations Development Programme (undp.org)

Niger | African Wildlife Foundation (awf.org)

Niger becomes the 41st country to join BIOFIN | BIOFIN

Official launch of the BIOFIN initiative in Niger | BIOFIN

African Drone and Data Academy Empowers Nigerien Youth

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By Amber Persson

Imagine that a mother of five in rural Niger suddenly develops a fever, headache, and nausea; the diagnosis—malaria. She must receive treatment as soon as possible before the swift-acting disease develops further. Unfortunately, her community is largely inaccessible by road, and there are no hospitals in the vicinity. It could take several days before she is able to receive the anti-malarial medication she needs. A new program aims to address this life-threatening challenge.

Drones Can Provide a Solution for Remote Communities

In 2016, UNICEF proposed using drones to transport medications, vaccines, and diagnostic biological samples to solve health crises like this one. A drone is able to deliver lifesaving medications in hours as opposed to days or weeks. For this mother, a few days could mean the difference between recovery and fatality.

 

Source: Wilson Oluoha Wikimedia Commons

Drones were first used in Malawi to assist with the HIV testing of infants by transporting blood samples from remote communities directly to laboratories. The initiative was soon expanded to Vanuatu, a country in the South Pacific, where vaccines were effectively distributed using drones. Before this project, 20% of children in Vanuatu were unable to access vaccines because of the country’s 1300 km of mountainous terrain and limited healthcare infrastructure. Vaccines were often delivered on foot in coolers, a journey that can take several days. The drones made the journey in a mere 25 minutes.

Drones have also been employed for surveillance of areas affected by natural disasters. They can easily assess the extent of flooding and damage, identify communities most in need, and be used for search and rescue purposes.

As powerful as drones can be, they require training to operate and maintain, and the data they collect must then be analyzed. This is a challenge in disadvantaged communities that lack the capacity to build and support such an initiative.

This is why the African Drone and Data Academy (ADDA) was created. ADDA is a global initiative spearheaded by UNICEF that aims to increase the accessibility of health-related materials and diagnostic testing by training drone operators. Potential pilots take three courses over 11 weeks in which they learn drone basics, planning, and data logistics. Through these courses, pilots gain valuable hands-on experience tailored to the Global South.

 

Source: Anouk Delafortrie

African Drone and Data Academy in Niger

ADDA was recently adopted in Niger with the support of the Nigerien government. In collaboration with Virginia Tech University, the curriculum was translated to French so it could be taught in the Sahel region. After preparing five Nigerien drone instructors, the first class of 24 youth graduated the ADDA training program in 2022. 60% of the students in this class were women.

ADDA encourages young people to get excited about helping their community. It also provides a clear employment path that culminates in a remote pilot license, which would otherwise be reserved for more privileged individuals. Addressing the drone piloting skills gap enables young people to obtain well-paid jobs, boost local economies, and contribute to something greater than themselves.

The safe local wells that Wells Bring Hope drills enable more girls and women to attend school and contribute to their communities in a bigger way, maybe one day by piloting a drone.

Sources:

https://www.unicef.org/innovation/dpg-pathfinding-countries/niger

https://www.unicef.org/innovation/AfricanDroneAcademy

https://canso.org/drone-skills-vital-to-african-success/

 

Donor Appreciation Brunch

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On Sunday, May 21st, some of Wells Bring Hope’s most loyal L.A.-based supporters gathered at the home of WBH president and founder Barbara Goldberg for a donor appreciation brunch. It was a glorious sunny day as we gathered in her Japanese garden.

Guests sipped mimosas and bloody marys while enjoying delicious bagels (courtesy of Western Bagel) with cream cheese and smoked salmon. There were also plenty of pastries to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth and a delicious watermelon salad, courtesy of board members David Girard and Eduardo Robles.

 

We had an incredible group of volunteers – eight scholars and two teachers from Odyssey STEM Academy in Lakewood. They helped set up, greeted guests and ensured that the event went off without a hitch. Angel, one of the amazing student volunteers, is responsible for all of these photos! If you would like a copy of any of these photos, please email kate@wellsbringhope.org.

Once guests had a chance to mix, mingle, eat and drink, Barbara formally welcomed them and expressed our deep appreciation for their support of Wells Bring Hope, especially those who had been with us since the very beginning. She also introduced WBH’s valued board members.

Barbara announced that we are only about $20,000 away from hitting the six million dollar milestone raised since we started in 2008. She also asked everyone to mark their calendars for our 15th anniversary fundraiser, which will be held on October 1st at the home of Sukey and Gil Garcetti, the man who inspired our cause and this year’s honoree.

Finally, Director of Operations Kate Cusimano introduced four recent graduates of our Ambassadors Program who have been working hard to apply what they learned to help save lives with safe water in Niger.

Siblings Mackenzie and Ben Nelson along with their friends Bronwyn Vance and Adam Neiberger, formed a group called H2O (Help to Others), and have dedicated themselves to water causes. Back in March, they set a goal of raising funds for four wells ($25,200). When they exceeded that amount this month, they raised their goal to six wells! We are so incredibly grateful for these generous, hard-working global citizens and all of our amazing donors!

Water Access Can Reduce Violence

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By Will Beeker

Source: Wells Bring Hope

Access to clean drinking water in Niger provides numerous benefits, one of which is a reduction in violence in its many forms.

Studies have shown a connection between water scarcity and violence in the Sahel region of Africa, but also anywhere there is limited access to clean water. Even small variability in rainfall is linked with an increase in violence in the region and some even claim that much of the violence in and around Niger can be attributed to water scarcity-induced migration.

How does water scarcity lead to violence?

There are many forms of violence that can stem from a lack of access to clean water:

  • Competition for access to water supplies can lead to violence between farmers and herders, sometimes involving national militaries and police forces.
  • Water scarcity hinders economic and social development, which can lead to radicalization and its associated violence.
  • Women are forced to make long journeys many miles from their homes to fetch water, which can put them at risk of gender-based violence.
  • Villagers may have to travel through militarized zones where fighting occurs to reach a water point.
  • Migrants fleeing violence put extra strain on already limited water supplies, which can lead to tension and conflict with hosting communities.

As Hycinth Banseka, the technical director for the Lake Chad Basin Commission, has put it: “Escalating impacts of climate change and water scarcity are likely to provoke more conflict if water access isn’t improved for the different communities. We need to develop strategies to ensure that wherever people live, they have access to the water that they need allowing them to develop their economic activities and maintain their communal organizations and ties.”

Any time groups are forced to compete for limited natural resources, there’s bound to be conflict. However, the correlation goes both ways: when there is greater access to water, there’s bound to be less conflict.

How can water security reduce violence?

  • As water access becomes more widespread, farmers and herders have less need to fight over limited water supplies.
  • Water security, and the economic and social development associated with it, reduce radicalization, meaning people will be less likely to join violent militant groups.
  • Water security can reduce the distance women and children need to travel to fetch clean drinking water, making them less vulnerable to attack.
  • When wells are drilled in the villages that need them, they are less susceptible to control by a hostile outside group and villagers can avoid dangerous areas.
  • Water security allows safe havens to support more migrants, helping them respond to the greater need for water.

The borewells drilled by Wells Bring Hope equip villages with a safe, local source of clean drinking water, improving water security and reducing violence in all the above-mentioned ways. Villagers become safer and healthier, and in turn the whole region benefits.

 

Sources:

https://www.csis.org/analysis/supporting-water-programming-sahel

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01436597.2022.2083601

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0022343311426165

https://genevasolutions.news/explorations/the-water-we-share/how-can-water-drive-peace-in-the-sahel

https://www.eib.org/en/stories/niger-water-development

https://blogs.worldbank.org/water/water-security-way-out-conflict-climate-risk-trap-lake-chad-basin

 

 

 

Secretary Blinken Makes Historic Visit to Niger

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By Will Beeker

Source: Secretary of State meets Nigerien authorities

In March, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a historic visit to Niger during which he praised the country for upholding democracy as neighboring countries have fallen prey to coups and political upheaval. This is the first time in history that a U.S. Secretary of State has visited Niger, signaling the growing importance of the Sahel in global politics. Blinken’s visit and remarks also underscore the fact that Niger is one of few regional success stories since its transition to democracy in 2011.

“Niger is a young democracy in a challenging part of the world, but it remains true to the democratic values we share. And Niger has been quick to defend the democratic values under threat in neighboring countries,” Blinken said while in Niger’s capital, Niamey, after meeting with President Mohamed Bazoum.

Niger’s Foreign Minister Hassoumi Massoudou said Blinken’s historic visit showed “solidarity and consideration” for Niger, while emphasizing his country’s responsibility as a democratic bulwark in a troubled region, saying: “We need to show that democracy is the only way to defeat terrorism.”

Blinken’s visit comes over a year into the Ukraine war during which Russia’s influence in the Sahel has grown. Mali’s junta has hired mercenaries from the Russian Wagner Group to combat insurgents there. Ghana reports that Burkina Faso has also employed the Wagner Group; Burkina Faso has declined to comment on the claim. Blinken said the use of Russian mercenaries has not proven to be an effective response to extremism. “It’s not just we know this is going to end badly, we’ve already seen it end badly in a number of places,” Blinken said.

Blinken also pledged $150 million in humanitarian aid for Niger and other countries in the Sahel, bringing the U.S. aid total for the region to $233 million in the 2023 fiscal year. Blinken said the humanitarian support “provides urgent, life-saving support, including food, shelter, safe drinking water, sanitation, hygiene, and other key services.”

During his visit, Blinken also met former violent extremists from Niger’s conflict zones who have been rehabilitated through vocational training backed by $20 million in U.S. funding. The program, called the Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration, and Reconciliation (DDRR) program is dedicated to “helping to give people livelihoods, and in effect giving them a better choice than falling into violent extremism” and is “from our perspective, very much a model that others can look to,” Blinken said afterwards.

Overall, Blinken’s visit highlights the significance of Niger’s successes in recent years. There is much responsibility placed on the growing nation to uphold democratic values and provide a guiding light to a struggling region.

Sources:

https://www.state.gov/150-million-in-new-humanitarian-assistance-for-the-sahel-region-and-west-and-central-africa/

https://www.state.gov/secretary-blinkens-travel-to-ethiopia-and-niger/#:~:text=In%20the%20first%20ever%20visit,democracy%2C%20development%2C%20and%20defense.

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/blinken-brings-aid-praise-niger-it-battles-insurgents-2023-03-16/

https://www.voanews.com/a/nigeriens-voice-optimism-skepticism-during-blinken-visit-/7009368.html

https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20230318-us-calls-niger-a-beacon-of-democracy-in-fight-against-sahel-terrorism

We Zarma Love

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By Megan Campbell

 

Niger has a wide variety of indigenous languages, which are usually majority languages that are natively spoken in a certain area. Hausa, spoken all over Niger, is the most widely spoken indigenous language. Zarma is the second leading language, and it is spoken primarily in the Southwest region of Niger, and in the capital city of Niamey. 

 

Nigeriens speak English and French for business, education, and administration. But, indigenous languages are very important in local culture, for shopping, socializing, and developing relationships with Nigeriens. Zarma, particularly, is very important for communication in local markets and even in some professional circles. 

 

The Zarma Language Has a Rich History

 

Zarma is part of the Songhai group of languages. The origin of this group can be traced back to the Songhai empire in the fifteenth century. The empire later fell in the sixteenth century, and the language group fragmented into two distinct branches: Northern and Southern. The Southern branch is concentrated around the Niger River and southeastern Niger.

 

Zarma speakers can understand some other Songhai languages, including Songhoyboro Ciine and Dendi. This is similar to how Spanish speakers can often understand Portuguese because the languages are so closely related, but they would not be able to understand French. Zarma speakers cannot, for example, understand Koyraboro Senni, which is spoken in Gao, Mali. 

 

While Songhai languages can be found all over Western Africa, Zarma is spoken primarily in the southwestern part of Niger, and in cities such as Tillaberi, Dosso, Niamey, Tahoua, and Agadez. But, this language can also be found in other countries such as Mali, Benin, Nigeria, Ghana, and Burkina Faso. The Zarma people are also typically found in this region. 

 

The Zarma ethnic group numbers approximately three million. This group dominates the public and private sectors in many locations and is known for craftsmanship and architecture. This group likewise accounts for the greatest majority of native Zarma speakers, but others in Zarma-dominated regions may learn the language due to its relevance to everyday communication. 

 

Take a Closer Look at a Few Interesting Features of Zarma Language

 

The Zarma alphabet is based on the Latin script and features 25 letters. Interestingly, the letter “v” is not typically present in the language (though it can be found in some foreign words), and many native Zarma speakers cannot pronounce it. The Zarma alphabet also has a couple of additional nasal letters. Both N and M are nasal consonants, and you can feel the vibration of these sounds in your nose. For example, the funky-looking N in the above image is a nasal consonant, and it really just represents the “Ng” sound that you hear in words like “along,” or “hungry.”

 

Another interesting feature of the language is it is not gendered at all. You can refer to a “he” “she” or “they” with the same word. If you were talking about your friend John and his little sister, you could use the same pronoun to describe both of them. In this example, I could say, “I met John and his little sister yesterday,” and one could reply with “I love him!” In this case, the word “him” refers to both John and his little sister. 

 

Verbs do not have tenses and are not conjugated, but certain aspects can be specified by markers before the word. A grammatical tense conveys information about the meaning and time of verbs. One aspect (called “perfectivity”) refers to the distinction between a completed action and an ongoing action. For example, the English sentence “I have finished eating” would be formatted as “I eat [marker] finish.” The marker refers to the action being completed. 

 

Zarma is a subject-object-verb (SOV) language with postpositions. English is a subject-verb-object (SVO) language. The sentence “I drew dogs,” would become “I dogs drew” in Zarma. Additionally, suffixes are used in Zarma to denote what kind of article (like “a” or “the”) a noun should have. So, the English sentence “I gave the ball to her,” would look like “I ball-the gave her to.” And, the phrase “I love Zarma” is translated to “I Zarma love” in SVO form. 

 

So, in conclusion, I Zarma love! 

 

Sources:

https://babelos.net/songhay/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songhay_languages

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zarma_language#References

https://files.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/audio/languagelessons/niger/NE_Zarma_Language_Lessons.pdf

https://nalrc.indiana.edu/doc/brochures/zarma.pdf

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Zarma

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 Gallon Challenge

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What:
For one day, attempt to limit water usage to seven gallons of water a day, which is a high estimate of how much the average rural Nigerien uses in a day.

For every gallon over seven that you use, donate $1 to Wells Bring Hope.

Film yourself sharing the results of the challenge. At the end of the video, call on a friend or two to take the challenge too. Post the video to social media using the hashtag #7gallon challenge. Don’t forget to tag the friends that you challenged!

Why:
By limiting daily water use and documenting the experience, both participants and the people they share their experiences with will learn how little seven gallons of water actually is, and they’ll be more of aware of the massive amounts of water Western countries consume on a daily basis.

By sharing the experience of participating in the challenge and calling on others to take it as well, we can raise awareness of the global water crisis and what Wells Bring Hope is doing to save lives with safe water.

Tips:
• From the second you wake up, carry a journal/paper with you so that you can write down all water consumption, or use this simple tracking form: 

7 Gallon Challenge Tracking Form