Send 40 Girls in Niger to Secondary School

Dear Friends,

Thank you for supporting girls and young women in Niger through our scholarship program. We are closing this campaign, so this will be the last report that you see. We continue to raise money for our Girls’ Advancement Program, which includes the scholarship program to which you have so generously given. Stay tuned for a new project to be posted in GlobalGiving!  The Remember Niger Girls Advancement Program provided 79 tiered scholarships to middle school-aged girls in Niger during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years. We are thankful that Remember Niger's collaborative partnerships with those who own and operate their schools in Niger enables us to continue our work, even when there is instability and uncertainty in Niger.

Less than 50% of girls in Niger attend primary school, only 11% progress to middle school, and less than 5% matriculate to high school. Keeping girls in school during middle and high school has a positive, cascading effect on their lives, families, and communities. The intended outcome of our Girls Advancement Program is that girls are enabled to continue their secondary education and that 90% of girls in the scholarship program will pass the National Exam given at the end of 3eme (9^th grade). An additional outcome is that families and communities become more engaged and invested in ensuring that girls receive a middle school education. Often, when a girl does have the opportunity to attend secondary school, she finds the work challenging and needs extra support and care in order to stay in school.  Remember Niger’s scholarship program is designed to offer the girls the assistance they need to succeed.

We’ve shared about Houge in the past and are highlighting her journey again in this report, as she offers an excellent example of a young woman who would not be in school without the extra support and care provided through Remember Niger Coalition and her sponsor.  Houge is now attending a university in Niger where she is studying to become a doctor.  However, what most people don’t know is that Houge has suffered setbacks and challenges along the way.  For example, she didn’t pass the high school exit exam and had to retake her senior year and retake the exam.  She passed the exam the second time and was admitted into the university.  For many girls, the reality is that their parents don’t allow them to continue and try again when they fail the exam the first time.  But, because she is in our scholarship program, we were able to support her through this challenge.  The second challenge occurred during the first semester of university.  Houge suffered from a stomach illness that kept her from attending classes for over a month.  She was forced to retake the first semester of classes.  Again, she was able to overcome this difficulty and stay in school because Remember Niger gave her the support she needed.  Most women in her situation would not have been able to continue.

The Remember Niger Coalition’s scholarship program is designed to provide girls and young women with the support they need to stay in school and fulfil their dreams.  We don’t expect the girls to be perfect.  We know that they will encounter challenges along the way.  That’s why we take the time to talk to their parents, provide extra tutoring and conduct “check-ins”. We make certain that they know if they work hard and desire to stay in school, we’re there for them.  

Thank you for being there for the girls in our scholarship program.  This challenging, and yet, very rewarding work would not be possible without you.

With gratitude and in partnership,

Kara 

Links:

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