Mentoring for At-Risk Nomadic Girls in Rural Niger

“I have learned a lot of things through my mentor. She talks with us about health, telling us to be sure to wash our hands before and after we eat and to wash our clothes regularly. She also tells us about education with examples about the importance of education. She also teaches us how to make crafts.” – Safiatou.

The effects of education spread to the communities of these children too. They learn and grow, re-teaching others what they have learned. The mentors inspire students -- giving them a reason to think of the future with hope and eagerness.  Educating girls is the way to improve society. Girls grow up to be women who send their children to school, have smaller and healthier families, and contribute to their communities. Mentors are key to motivating parents to invest in their daughters by sending them to school.

“I share what I learn from my mentor with my parents and with my friends. Even among us sponsored kids, I have a friend that speaks/is Songhai [Safiatou is a Tuareg, Tamasheq speaker, but also bilingual in Songhai and learning French at school as third language]. As soon as my mentor finishes explaining something to us in Tamasheq, I explain to my Songhai friend. She understands very well with me there. Everything that our mentor explains, I listen very well and after I explain that to my friend.” – Safiatou.

                Niger is in dire need of educated people.  Mentors are the key that unlocks the potential for young girls’ and boys’ bright minds.  Students like Safiatou share their knowledge with those around them.

Mentors help nurture students reach their highest potentials academically, socially, and personally. Mentors also teach fundamental skills like traditional crafts.  These skills will likely become a means of a potential income. Mentors’ encouragement of education is vital for these children as many of the students come from families where education is not valued or understood to be important.

                 You can help change the lives of so many young girls, who wouldn’t have the opportunity to thrive otherwise. Donating helps more than an individual, it helps whole communities.

    Girls in rural and nomadic Niger are the most susceptible to falling into circular poverty. Niger is one of the poorest counties in the world. Women are affected by this the most. However it has been shown that women give back to their communities and families more often than men. With education comes the safeguard against child marriage, cyclical poverty and illiteracy. 

     The mentoring program that RAIN has set up, allows young girls to be guided by older women to continue their schooling. The women will be counselors, talking to students and parents alike. Many of the parents have never finished primary school let alone secondary school. With the mentors help the students are learning and staying in school longer. It is imperative that the parents understand the importance of school. Girls can be married off at the age of 12 sometimes younger, so every year that they remain in school gives them that better chance to ensure a better future.

I have two professional options defined as follows:

     “First, be a teacher to help educate the young of my village and secondly, be a professional trainer like our mentor Madame Azara in order to support women in my village. I could help women to develop management skills in small businesses that they will be using to earn money.

     The income generating activities (practical skills) our trainer teaches in the center will allow us to help our sisters who have not had the chance to go to school or continue their education cycle, to learn a job that will satisfy our financial needs.” – Doulla Student.

      The mentor program gives women the skills they need to help one another and teach, not only the young girls, but also other women in the communities. With the growth of one comes the growth of many. The Agadez Learning Center is also a way that the girls can gain support to remain in school. The ALC offers tutoring programs and a primary school education. Many students are benefiting from this building and the mentors themselves stated above are given training to teach them business and leadership skills. This in turn helps them motivate the students to achieve more and continue to grow and learn.