Mentoring for At-Risk Nomadic Girls in Rural Niger

Last fall, RAIN set out on a mission to train 25 mentors in the villages of Iferouane, Ingui and Gougaram about the most common diseases in their communities, good hygiene practices, raising awareness among the students and their parents about disease prevention, and spotting signs of illness for treatment as a pilot project in health education.  We're happy to report that since the project began, big strides have been achieved in our partner communities! 

• Mentors in all three communities are now able to recognize early symptoms and are referring students for treatment and following up with parents.
• Parents are increasingly bringing their children for treatment at first signs of illness.
• School attendance has increased 16%-18% from last year. Since health services for children have been provided free of charge, families use the system, so that a child who is ill can avoid missing school for long periods. 
• Health and hygiene practices by the students have greatly improved.
• Within six months, the project raised awareness about health issues for more than 2,000 people and provided free medical care to 700 nomadic students. 

These accomplishments are especially significant when compared to just a few years ago, when nearby conflict debilitated the local health and education systems. Beyond the benefits of prevention and care, this project has helped bring things back to normalcy. Health can be a major obstacle to children attending school - with your help, RAIN plans to continue the education and care of mentors, children and their families alike to clear the way for healthy and educated nomadic communities! 

Links:

• RAIN Website