by Michelle Wolf Continuous population movement has weakened the security and protection systems in Niger. With over 302,000 refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and Nigerien nationals in the Diffa region, the need to protect residents is at an all-time high. In 2016 alone, Boko Haram carried out a reported 40 attacks. And as recently as… Read more »
Empowered by Water
by Kristopher Coulston Illness and family emergencies are typically the cause for school absence in developed countries. Unfortunately, this is not the situation in drought-stricken countries, such as Niger. Water is scarce and girls spend hours walking miles just to satisfy their desperate need for it, even if the water sources they are gathering from… Read more »
More Than We Know: Discovering Nigerien Culture Through Art
By Jennifer Dees As a writer, I feel that identity is tied to art. I’ve wondered at the painter’s mind while staring at furious strokes of color. I’ve watched musicians lose themselves in a powerful song. And I’ve seen dance movements that express more than words ever could. So I set out to discover female… Read more »
What Sets Wells Bring Hope Apart
by Andi Claman In my community, there are many opportunities to get involved. So why did I choose to dedicate my time to Wells Bring Hope? At Chadwick High School, we call our Club Fair “Clubaganza.” It consists of dozens of tables decorated with posters and baked goods lined up along our main lawn, each… Read more »
Drought Differences: California vs. Niger
by Andrea Levin Everything was parched and brittle. Once lush and green, yards turned brown and eventually gave way to swaths of dirt and swirling dust. As California entered its sixth year of drought, groundwater evaporated, reservoirs dried up, and water restrictions were implemented. For citizens, it meant not watering your lawn, except on pre-approved,… Read more »
A Universal Sound
by Shelton Owen Hope. Fear. Joy. Pain. These emotions have no borders or bias, no specific target or scope. Every race, gender, culture, and religious group is familiar with these essential human emotions. How enlightening is it to realize that we are all connected, each one of us at the mercy of our innate emotional… Read more »
Bringing Clean Water to Niger
by Michelle Wolf It’s difficult to imagine living a life without clean water. In First World countries, clean water is a basic need that is accessible and taken for granted. Clean water is an assumed right. Cities are held accountable for collecting and filtering water before that water enters homes. In places like Niger, clean,… Read more »
Water, Taken for Granted
by Rita Brhel I live in the middle of America’s heartland — Nebraska — surrounded by a sea of corn and soybean fields, most of which are irrigated for the entire growing season. Even the crops that aren’t irrigated still yield enough to provide the farmer with ample income to live on. I live atop… Read more »
Children on the Market
by Shelton Owen Hama Amadou, President Mahamadou Issoufou’s opposition in Niger’s 2016 election, was sentenced to one year in jail following a long-running baby smuggling investigation. The former candidate has been living in France for the past year after fleeing Niger just days before a run off, citing health concerns. The prosecution claimed Amadou was… Read more »
Accessing the Available
by Emily Johnson You wake up to sun through your bedroom window, realizing the room is warm, even hot. Your legs feel sticky from sweat. Your eyes are sticky, too, from sleep. It feels as though the ceiling fan only pushes heat around in circles. To the AC panel you go. You squint, fidget with… Read more »
