Gender Equality Niger Project #4110

Mentoring for At-Risk Nomadic Girls in Rural Niger

by Rain for the Sahel and Sahara

Mentoring for At-Risk Nomadic Girls in Rural Niger

Project Report | Feb 16, 2024
Students Persist in the Face Of Challenges

By Kyana Burgess | Communications and Outreach Manager

Student benefit from increased mentor support!

Throughout the school year, RAIN’s team has continued to witness the incredible achievements made by our mentors and students as they create strong bonds and forge ahead in building opportunities for the future. Students are hard at work in the classroom, and our mentors are providing critical support and encouragement as they continue to tackle new material and develop essential skills. Our program has grown to include 170 mentors and 841 students.

The disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty following the coup this past July left public school openings in question. Yet remarkably, education is continuing for our students amidst these challenges, and increasing mentorship is more important than ever, helping to reinforce the value of education and making it a priority for students and their families as they navigate these difficult circumstances.

RAIN's mentoring program is built to help empower our students in confidently charting their paths forward. In these challenging times, education serves as a gateway to transformative opportunities, capable of reshaping a student's future. Our mentors stand ready to support our students as they continue their education and strengthen their skills both in and out of the classroom.

We’ve seen the positive effect that our mentorship program can have within the 28 communities we work in. Don’t just take it from us, take it from the students who put the impact of this program into perspective. Mariam is a 5th grade elementary school student in Torguit who participates in our mentoring program. She says

“We’ve never had a program like RAIN in school before. Beforethe mentoring program, I didn’t always go to school – it didn’t really seem that important. Now, with my mentor, I’ve gone to school every day!

My mentor helped us appreciate and stay in school. Now I earned my certificate which will let me continue my education in middle school.”

When asked about what she’d like to be in the future, she says “I’d like to become a teacher and come back to my village to teach my brothers.”

Your generosity plays a vital role in empowering students like Mariam and her peers as they embark on their paths towards a promising future. With your support, they gain the autonomy and opportunities to thrive, even amidst challenging circumstances. Consider giving today and sharing RAIN’s mission with your friends and family to help strengthen our impact for students in Niger.

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Oct 23, 2023
RAIN's Mentors Make an Impact as Schools Open

By Kyana Burgess | Communications and Outreach Manager

As summer break came to an end in Niger, many wondered if schools would reopen this fall. The fate of education for our students was uncertain between July's coup and the recent announcements of a 40% cut to the national budget, so we are absolutely thrilled to share that schools are open again! Students have returned to the classroom ready to continue their education, and our mentors are eager to continue providing crucial support to elementary and middle school students. In these times of uncertainty about what the future looks like, access to education and mentorship for students is more important than ever.

RAIN's education programs are designed to help our students develop the necessary skills to navigate their futures with confidence. Especially during these challenging times, accessing education opens opportunities that can change a student’s life – and RAIN’s team is prepared to support them in their journeys towards a bright future. With our 2+ decades of experience, 100% local Nigerien team, and deep community trust and relationships, we are well-positioned to forge ahead in our education programs.

We’ve witnessed how our mentorship program provides a significant, positive effect on our partner communities. Since March, 160 local women mentors served 799 elementary and middle school students across 27 communities. Our mentors reached an additional 854 community members through training programs that build awareness of the importance of education.

This year, RAIN's team is thrilled to support over 2,000 elementary and middle school students in their educational journeys and beyond.

Hearing our students share their experiences with our mentoring program puts the importance of this support into perspective. Students like Hawa describe the impact the program has on her life:

When Hawa passed the exams at the end of the Primary School Cycle, she was admitted to the Aouderas Middle School. She says “In the beginning [when I got to Aouderas], I was so discouraged I wanted to drop out –even if that meant making the long journey home alone on foot or riding a donkey. With the support and guidance of my mentor, I was encouraged and motivated to continue my studies and to succeed – even when it felt difficult.”

She attended RAIN’s daily after-school classes, met with mentors’ multiple times a week, and with this support system began to thrive in her new environment. She says, “I wouldn’t have gotten this far without that support. Otherwise, I think a long time ago I would have dropped out – I’d be with the other girls my age in my village – not in school, or even married to some stranger. Instead, I’m in the 8th grade and 6th among the students in my year. In turn, today I encourage my peers, the other girls in school, that they can also persevere to succeed.”

Your generous support helps students like Hawa and her peers in their journeys toward a bright future – one where they have the agency and opportunity to provide for themselves in this challenging landscape. Please consider giving today and sharing RAIN’s mission with your friends and family to help strengthen our impact for students in Niger.

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Jun 23, 2023
Working Towards a Sustainable Future

By Kyana Burgess | Communications and Outreach Manager

Girls at the ALC having fun together after school

When we think of under-resourced classrooms, we usually imagine outdated technology, limited art supplies, and not enough books to go around. But in many of the communities in which we partner, electricity is a game-changing opportunity.

We have witnessed firsthand the power of addressing these needs to help empower these young learners to reach new heights of knowledge and achieve their dreams. Our work helps students to thrive with reliable solar power so they can study no matter the time of day, and have more opportunities in an uncertain future.

But we’re not stopping at providing solar power for classrooms. With the Sahel region warming 150% faster than the global average, we recognize the inequal impact global warming has on Nigerien communities. RAIN has committed to aligning our Agadez Learning Center (ALC) expansion project with smart, cost-effective designs that help fight the climate crisis. By working with local architects, we are planning to incorporate traditional earthen building techniques to provide for a more sustainable and climate-adapted expansion.

Extra-thick earth walls and windows aligned with breeze patterns keep cool internal temperatures year-round and eliminate the need for costly fans or AC units. The expansion supports hygiene through an updated septic system that can accommodate a greater number of students and will include both living and learning space while freeing up old, less adapted space for storage or office needs. We have identified a firm in Niamey that has experience with this kind of construction, and we are looking forward to seeing our plans come to life!

GlobalGiving donors like you have made these plans possible, and we look forward to updating you in the near future as these opportunities unfold. Give today to support this expansion and help ensure these students have the resources they need to succeed.

Expanding the ALC for more students in the future

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