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 »
International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028
by Michelle Nelson von Euw “Access to water and sanitation is a precondition to life and a declared human right.” – United Nations As evidenced by the frequency with which it appears in the Sustainable Development Goals, access to clean, well-managed water, for both consumption and sanitation, is vital for human development. Any level of… Read more »
The Water Issues around the World
by Raphaela Barros Prado Water and climate change have been two of the biggest environmental themes discussed around the world for decades now. We know that water is a treasure and a limited resource in many places in the world. This is particularly true in Niger where the limited water that is available may be… Read more »
The Deadly Consequences of Unsanitary Water
By Catherine Cheng Access to safe, sanitary water is a huge problem in Niger. Water is scarce since the Sahara Desert comprises two thirds of the country, and Niger is a landlocked country. Water in Niger becomes contaminated for a number of reasons. The practice of open defecation is widespread. People relieve themselves in bushes,… Read more »
Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
by Michelle Nelson von Euw Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Generally speaking, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a collection of 17 international development goals set by the United Nation’s General Assembly in 2015 for the year 2030. These goals are sometimes also referred to as the 2030 Agenda…. Read more »
Climate Change and Life in the Sahel Region
by Raphaela Barros Prado The weather around the world is changing as evidenced by the many natural disasters and growing patterns of abnormal weather like droughts and heat waves. The temperature in the US for example, has risen by 1.8F, while the Earth’s average temperature has increased by about 2 degrees Fahrenheit since the beginning… Read more »
The Tuareg: A Tribe of the Sahara Desert
by Sarah Ravazza Lack of access to clean water negatively impacts many communities in Niger, including the Tuareg people, a nomadic tribe that inhabits the Sahara Desert. This ancient African tribe has been popping up in the news recently due to their involvement in uprisings and with various rebel groups. Although the reasons behind these… Read more »
Why I Stopped Taking Water for Granted
by Britt Lipson In 2013, I had a unique and life-changing experience. For most of the year, I volunteered at an orphanage school in Buea, Cameroon. No, it was not a mission trip or a study abroad year. No, I did not go with friends or family. No, I did not know anyone there. When… Read more »
Volunteerism through Wells Bring Hope
by Kristopher Coulston It is fascinating to think about the ways that a shared desire to make a difference can have a major impact. The yearning to do something great makes a difference in schools, non-profit organizations, communities, and individual lives around the world every day. Wells Bring Hope is an organization that is run… 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 »
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