Empower girls in Niger for change via education

HAPPY NEW YEAR !

2022 is bound to be a prosperous year for girls in Niamey who are recipients of scholarships from our non-profit, “les Amis de Hampaté Bâ.”  We are proud to make a difference in young girls’ lives and give them hope.  After all, these underprivileged girls are receiving a precious gift from our charity : The Gift of Education ! What better gift could they possibly receive to start the new year? 

Gender equality, a fundamental right

We firmly believe that gender equality is a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. We have been striving for almost 13 years now to achieve gender equality through our actions to empower underserved young girls in Niamey by providing them with equal access to a quality education. We are delighted to be a part of preparing them for a great future.

Why is it important to empower young girls?

In Niger, traditionally, it is boys who receive preferential access to educational opportunities. Girls are often prevented from going to school and becoming autonomous due to early marriage. Our Girl Empowerment Project endeavours to help even the odds by supporting the development and education of girls. We focus on empowering impoverished young girls by providing scholarships, encouraging them to stay in school and avoid drop-out, thus protecting them from early marriages.  Our aim is to get more underprivileged girls into school, ensure that they continue their education and that they possess the basic tools needed to succeed in later life.

Thanks to YOU, our GlobalGiving donors, we are able to provide the adequate financial support to make these objectives a reality.

What do we do to help empower girls?

Computer training gives our girls the opportunity to learn skills and become computer proficient from 6th grade through 12th grade (Middle school and High School). Computer training includes the basics of computers and MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet access and MS Access. 

Ongoing training is provided at the Hampaté Bâ computer lab in weekly classes with a trained instructor, thus preparing girls for success in today's computer society. These girls are getting the skills they need to become empowered young ladies.

Some words from Mariama, now admitted to a top technological institute in Niamey after getting her professional Baccalauréat last year:

“I am looking forward to learning more and becoming a computer expert !

I have worked hard on my computer skills and am confident that this new learning opportunity will open up new career options for me. I love my studies and am proud of being a girl in a domaine mainly populated by boys.”  

Scholarships help cover tuition,  provide School Supplies and books,  and keep girls in school. Girls from marginalised backgrounds are penalized and denied access to education since their families cannot afford to pay school fees. The greatest barriers to ongoing education of girls in Niger are poverty and teen marriages. Education is definitely the key to helping girls become independent.

As expressed by Atika :  “ I am so grateful for my Scholarship.  I come from a very poor family that doesn’t have the means to pay for me to go to Secondary School and yet, I had excellent grades in primary school and I am keen to learn.. Thanks to the support of ” les Amis de Hampaté Bâ” I can continue my education.  Otherwise I would be at home doing housework or would be forced to marry.”

After-School Tutoring sessions give equal opportunities to scholarship girls who are weak in certain subjects, have no place to study at home, and live with illiterate parents who cannot help with homework. These sessions are vital to them especially in the year they have their BEPC and BAC exams.

According to Hadiza : “I don’t know what I would do without the tutoring. At home there is no light and no electricity and no space to study. The tutors are patient, encouraging, give us individual attention and clearly explain the exercises we don’t understand. This is a life-saver and our grades are better.”

Girls Mentoring Sessions called “Home Economics” are only-girl classes.  These sessions empower the girls, providing them with knowledge and essential life skills that they need to succeed as women. Our project also provides training in self-esteem, critical thinking skills, and teenage pregnancy awareness.  

Career Talk & Guidance Counseling 

We hold Girls Mentoring Programs every month of January to help girls choose a career. Our partner in Niamey presents the types of careers with examples and helps each girl select a career path adapted to her talents, but also encouraging the girls to have passion for what they want to do, in order to succeed. The girls receive invaluable guidance and counseling to stay on track with their educational goals.

Improving Girls’ Destinies through Education

We have witnessed over the years how education can make an incredible difference in the lives of young girls coming from very poor backgrounds. Education uplifts them and can totally change their destinies. We have many girls who were given Scholarships in Middle School and were motivated enough to work hard and succeed in getting their Brevet  after 4 years, followed by their Bac 3 years later, and even some who have succeeded after 3 years Post Bac in August 2021 and received a Bachelor’s Degree in different specialities:  Business, Marketing, Law, and Finance. Others have succeeded in getting a Diploma after 3 years post Bac to be Nurses.  And even others are excelling in Computer Studies.

However, many of our girls have been met with barriers that many impoverished girls face. With your support, they have been able to overcome everything that stood in their way.

We are seeing girls who were once at-risk,  maturing and blossoming into well-educated, emancipated, gainfully employed and self-sufficient women. How exhilarating! These empowered women are transforming their families and communities. 

Help Make a Difference 

Thank you for your ongoing support towards empowering and educating girls in Niger.

Together we can change girls’ lives and make a huge difference. We can break the cycle of poverty and empower girls’ lives by providing educational opportunities and resources. We strengthen self-reliance in these girls so that they can create positive change in their own lives.`

Your support is making their education dream come true. Thanks to your generous support, the future of our scholarship girls is looking brighter each day.`

Making a donation is the most effective way to help girls get their education. Every amount donated makes a difference!.   Thank you so much!