by Jennifer Dees On June 20, 2018, the world honored millions of refugees for World Refugee Day. Along with their bravery and resilience, I also want to honor Niger, one of the countries that has given refugees hope for a new life. To understand Niger’s role, we first need to understand the refugee crisis in… Read more »
Water Action Decade
by Stephanie Coles 2018 marks the start of what the U.N. is calling “the Water Action Decade:” a decade-long quest to improve the world’s access to clean water. As outlined by the President of the United Nations General Assembly, “clean, accessible water is critical for sustainable development and the eradication of poverty and hunger, and… Read more »
The West African Giraffe: Niger’s Success Story
by Elaine Wallace In the past 30 years, Africa’s giraffe population has been reduced by 40% due to habitat loss, poaching, and civil unrest. In some areas, it has plummeted by more than 80% bringing some giraffe species close to extinction. The future looks bleak for many of Africa’s giraffes. But in Niger, home of… Read more »
Five West African Visual Artists that You Should Know
by Shayna Watson Every year, art collectors, admirers, and enthusiasts gather in New York during the first week of March for one of the world’s leading contemporary art fairs, Armory Show. An important event for the art world since 1913, this art fair has become increasingly interested in how technology and culture contribute to the… Read more »
Saving Money, Sharing Money
by Jennifer Dees Money adds up. As someone with a sweet tooth, I probably spend about $7 each week on sweets, sometimes planned, usually on a whim. I got curious about how much money that adds up to over a year: $336. Look, I’m not willing to cut sugar out of my life. I’d fight… Read more »
Niamey: Capital of Niger, and the Next Fashion Capital of the World?
by Shayna Watson Most of us have heard about the major fashion industry events that take place in the recognized fashion capitals like New York, Paris, London, and Milan. Emerging fashion designers flock to these cities in hopes of working with renowned designers, and gaining exposure for their art and talents. We have heard about… Read more »
One Tribe: The Representation of Race, Africa, and Women in Black Panther
by Jennifer Dees If it hadn’t been for the hype, I probably would have waited to see Black Panther at home. There have been more than enough Marvel films in the past few years, but it quickly became clear that Black Panther wasn’t just another superhero movie. It’s a celebration of black and African culture,… Read more »
3 Lessons from Water Poor Countries
by Stephanie Coles I recently watched a great Ted Talk by Lana Mazahreh, a water conservation activist. I always find Ted Talks insightful, but what was great about this one was the simple and hopeful message behind it: we can work together to solve water crises. How do we do this? Let’s learn from what… Read more »
The Personal Impact of Giving Back
by Kristopher Coulston Service for others is one of life’s most rewarding experiences. For as long as I can remember, I have felt the urge to volunteer and give back, and this drive is the reason for some of my fondest memories. There are so many wonderful experiences I have had during volunteer work: the… Read more »
New Year, New Hope
by Shayna Watson The village of Kobio is typical of many communities in the Tilaberi region of west Niger. Its people face many challenges as they try to create better lives for their children in the midst of poor conditions like recurring drought and famine. Women used to walk more than six miles to find… Read more »
