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… Read more »
African Drone and Data Academy Empowers Nigerien Youth
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… Read more »
Donor Appreciation Brunch
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… Read more »
Water Access Can Reduce Violence
By Will Beeker 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… Read more »
Secretary Blinken Makes Historic Visit to Niger
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…. Read more »
We Zarma Love
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… Read more »
Artificial Rain Could Create a Silver Lining
By Will Beeker Source: Wells Bring Hope Despite heavy rains and flooding this fall, ongoing drought continues to pose a problem for Niger, especially late in its dry season. Niger often deals with periods of drought, but the country’s southeast is currently experiencing its lowest rainfall in 30 years, exacerbating food shortages. In August 2022,… Read more »
Finding Hope for Wildlife Conservation in Niger
By Kayla Ruff While Niger provides habitat for some of Africa’s most notable wildlife species, such as the hippopotamus and Nile crocodile, the country is also home to many lesser-known yet critically endangered species. It’s clear Niger’s rare desert species are in dire straits: Only about 100 addax desert antelope are left in the wild,… Read more »
The Languages of Niger: Hausa
By Megan Campbell Niger is linguistically diverse, with over twenty languages spoken in everyday life! French is used for professional communication and official proceedings. Indigenous languages are a way for members of a specific ethnic group to converse, but they are rarely spoken outside that population. Hausa, however, is an exception to that rule. Hausa… Read more »
Ancient Culture Thrives in Agadez, Niger
By Talei Caucau Source : Vincent van Zeijst Niger, West Africa, is not a place visited by many tourists. As one of the more isolated countries in Africa, it remains mostly untouched by globalization. However, the northern part of Niger has long tempted adventurous travelers who are drawn to Agadez and the vast expanse of… Read more »
