Niger Emergency Food Aid Fund

-Project Update: Foudouk, Niger and the Air Massif, From Founder Bess Palmisciano

Dear Friends,

I have been in Agadez, the more remote, northern region of Niger, for about a week now, in the village of Foudouk, meeting with the Women's Artisan Cooperative RAIN has there, as well as with the President of the community Parent Association.

Both groups are gratified to report that Foudouk is doing well now, and the population is very content and grateful for the life saving assistance offered by RAIN.  For example, RAIN had donated both goats and sheep to the Foudouk Young Men's Association, as well as to a number of women in the community.  These herds will not only improve livelihoods, but will generate funds to support the children in Foudouk's school. 

As you remember, Foudouk was one of the areas hardest hit by the summer's drought and resulting food shortage: 40% of all livestock had perished from starvation. With your support in this effort, RAIN not only provided food relief to families in Foudouk, but for Foudouk's herding animals, as well.  I was told today that all the livestock are well, are growing, and have started to produce healthy young, replacing those that were lost over the summer.

The Young Men's Association is keeping one herd for the benefit of the local school.  The goats are providing milk,  cheese and meat to augment the diets of Foudouk's children, increasing the nutritional value as well as the quantity of millet alone.

Looking ahead, RAIN is finding ways to continue to help these communities recover from the devastating effects of the summer food crisis. Schools in Niger opened late this year, and RAIN staff are currently working in the Air Massif region, preparing for the transport and delivery of the school food aid.  Abdourahamane Koini, our Agriculture Director, is overseeing the installation of two strategically placed cereal banks in the region where communities that continue to have a need have been identified.  Along with our RAIN supporters, The Prem Rawat Foundation has been instrumental in ensuring this continued support as these communities recover.

We will continue to provide updates from the field in the upcoming weeks as things develop.

With thanks,

Bess Palmisciano

In the region of Agadez, not far from Foudouk, there is a small, nomadic community called Teyiss. RAIN is new to Teyiss, though the community was aware of RAIN, hearing wonderful news from their Foudouk neighbors about the ways RAIN was helping the schools and families there. Teyiss is rather isolated and also showed real vulnerablilty to the current food crisis. In response, RAIN added Teyiss to the list of communities to receive food aid in August.

Like Foudouk, Teyiss has also been hit hard by the current drought and food crisis, with the now familiar sad story to tell of their suffering livestock and fears for their families. Prior to the food distribution, a community-wide meeting was held to introduce RAIN, and to plan the transport of food and animal feed to the village. Many expressed their joy and gratification for this assistance, which they had never experienced before. Without hesitation, all came together in contributing to the food transport, carried out in spite of the difficulties of roads washed away by floods.

2.3 tons of food was distributed to the Teyiss school, which supports 31 children. The children and their parents were present for this event, some smiles coming through in spite of the prolonged stress from the crisis. 55 sacks of 50 kg each of animal feed were given to those families determined by the community to be most in need, 55 in all. One individual, speaking on behalf of the recipient families, expressed that this help had come just in time, being a crucial turning point for their remaining animals.

The community of Teyiss expresses their great appreciation to donors, and hopes for continued future partnership with RAIN.