The community of Seiga is in the Tillaberi region of Niger: one of the most food insecure in the country. Recent droughts have brought serious food shortages. Opportunities for income are scarce; especially for nomadic women. 30 women artisans in Seiga will form a cooperative with the help of RAIN, improving their skills while generating income for their families and children's school.
As food and livestock dwindle while the cost of food rises after prolonged drought, nomadic families in Seiga face hunger all year long while the local school cannot feed the students. With no way to generate income, women need help supporting their families as husbands are often away in search of work. Limited access to travel means limited access to markets, forcing women to sell their goods at low prices. The inability to buy materials in bulk limits production and quality is uneven.
Artisan cooperatives build upon traditional skills to create sustainable small enterprise that preserves culture, is economically viable for women and keeps children in school. RAIN provides materials, design training, and marketing help to increase the quality, quantity and access to local and U.S. markets. The women provide a network of support to each other and all contribute to the decision process. The artisans receive 100% profits and agree to give 50% to their children's schools.
Investment in the world's women and girls is the key to alleviating poverty. A new artisan cooperative in Seiga will ensure school attendance for 500 nomadic children and economic independence for 30 nomadic women resulting in increased stability and food security for their families. Traditional culture will be promoted and preserved, establishing a wider market for traditional Nigerienne goods for future generations.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
