by Michelle Nelson von Euw Humanitarian aid organizations and the government of Niger are scrambling to design more targeted relief plans to respond to the recent upsurge in violence at the hands of armed groups in Niger. Violence in areas that border Burkina Faso, Mali, and Nigeria has created yet another challenge for already vulnerable… Read more »
The Wodaabe Gerewol festival
by Raphaela Barros Prado Much has been written about Niger and the challenges it faces. According to the United Nations Human Development Index, Niger was ranked 187th of 188 countries in 2015 and 189th out of 189 countries in the 2018 report. The nation has grappled with a range of issues due to its land-lock position including inefficient agriculture, high fertility rates, poor educational levels, lack of infrastructure, poor healthcare, and… Read more »
Water Conservation Challenge
By Caroline Moss For some, water is available with a quick turn of a faucet, while others have to walk for miles every day to search for and collect water. Access to water is a privilege we often take for granted. Water is an invaluable resource, and easy access to it is a luxury for… Read more »
Facts About the Capital of Niger
By Catherine Cheng Niamey is the capital of Niger. Located next to the Niger River, it is Niger’s largest city. As of 2019, its population is estimated to be 1,251,511. Source: CIA – CIA World Factbook How to Pronounce Niger and Niamey The pronunciation of Niger can be traced back to its colonial roots. Niger was… Read more »
Water is the First Step
By Caroline Moss Millions of people live in poverty due to the lack of available water resources. In developing nations, the task of retrieving water often falls to women and young girls. In rural Sub-Saharan Africa, women and girls may spend upwards of 3 hours per day, retrieving water that is contaminated and unsafe to… Read more »
Review of Niger’s Progress Toward the Sustainable Development Goals
by Michelle Nelson von Euw As the five-year anniversary of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda approaches, many nations are beginning to assess whether and how they are achieving these targets and indicators set by the United Nations. To summarize, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a collection of 17 international development objectives set by… Read more »
2019 Successes
As we start to think about the holidays and the end of the year, we thought we’d share photos of just a few of the wells that you made possible in 2019. On behalf of the people of Niger, thank you. Nagode! Linlingou Completed February 7, 2019 Serves 300 people Funded by Noosh Brands Ouroutchale Completed March… Read more »
The Magic Tree
By Elsa Sichrovsky In a country like Niger that is three-quarters desert[1] and has an eight-month dry season[2], drought is a constant threat. With extremely limited natural resources, aggressive grazing and farming practices take an enormous toll on the environment. Add a rapidly growing population and a strained ecosystem, and the result is food and… Read more »
The Women Revolutionizing Music in Niger
By Caroline Moss Every culture enjoys music regardless of its purpose. Whether it’s a tradition, used to sooth a child, or to tell a story, music is a part of our lives no matter where we live. Culture shapes music, and music undoubtedly influences culture. Music offers an outsider insight into unfamiliar cultures and into the… Read more »
Littattafan Soyayya: The Love Stories Hausa Women are Telling
By Elsa Sichrovsky Almost half of Niger’s population belongs to the Hausa ethnic group, so Hausa language and culture are essential to Niger’s ethnic melting pot. In recent years, a new and exciting genre of Hausa literature has been changing the lives of women in Niger and northern Nigeria. This new literary movement originated in Kano,… Read more »
