By Shelton Owen

In Niger, the so called “routine” of youth looks a bit different. For much of Niger’s youth, school is a nonexistent or limited opportunity, cut short by the priority of survival. If a girl, in particular, makes it past primary school and goes on to secondary school, she is one of few and extremely fortunate, because meanwhile, the rest of Niger’s female population is trekking miles in the blazing sun to gather water, water that is often contaminated. In fact, the “exceptions” who attend secondary school only account for 8.4% of total female population.As another school year starts up, I find myself slowly but surely falling back into the familiar routine that occupies August through May. This routine usually involves me groggily rolling out of bed after pressing snooze a few times on the alarm clock, attempting to make it to every possible sporting or social event, and staying up late to cram for a killer math test. As most privileged American teenagers, I sometimes think of school as a hassle rather than a blessing, as a requirement rather than an opportunity. The truth is, I get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of my own little microscopic world that I, mistakenly, block out the 7 billion people sharing this Earth with me.

The female attendance ratio for primary school looks a bit brighter, coming in at 31%, but still has extensive room for improvement. The drop in participation from primary school on to the next level can be credited to a number of factors. The most common of these is young girls’ role of gathering water trumping their commitment to education. When it comes down to gathering the liquid life thrives on or acquiring literacy, the decision makes itself.
-74.5% of children are married by age 18Poverty and poor sanitation combine to build up barriers in the education system. As a result, Niger’s female youth experiences these obstacles firsthand, with a minimal literacy rate of 15%. Aside from the quest for fresh drinking water, young women of this country are, due to cultural practices, subject to early marriage and pregnancy, which can lead to serious medical consequences. The statistics below highlight the significance of such situations:

-50.9% give birth by age 18

So, let us all step back for just a second and take off the blinders. When we open our eyes and look beyond our city’s borders, our state’s borders, and even our country’s borders, suddenly our little world doesn’t seem so small after all. It is then that we are capable of attaining a global perspective and recognizing the prevalent issues our neighbors in Niger face.

Thankfully, organizations like Wells Bring Hope contribute to raising awareness and educating fellow mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters, about the burdensome needs to be met, and the methods to do so. Whether it be writing a blog, offering monetary donations, or simply retweeting on social media to get the word out, anyone can dare to go beyond their comfort zone.

Join us at WBH by volunteering or starting a Water Circle today!