Bring Lights, Books and Computers to Niger

            The Agadez Learning Center is making the move to expand. RAIN wants to create a building that is able to hold books and knowledge for students that wish to learn.  The ALC is one of the most important and vital parts of RAIN’s programs. It is the key to bringing education and ending circular poverty.

            This is most important to the young women and girls, many of whom have the potential of been married young and never having the chance to finish their education. RAIN helps give skills and informed knowledge to illiterate women mentors, who turn into activists. They encourage girls to stay in school by telling them about their struggles.

            The expansion of the ALC will allow more students to benefit from computers and information not available to them without one. Many students have never seen a laptop and computer skills are lacking in the country. This would give them a step up in their communities and also give them practical skills that are desirable. Children will become curious and creative. 

            Students will research at the library and use the internet to learn and study. They all have the intention of providing for their communities and families. This is what is so powerful about the rural and nomadic communities, they work together to survive and give back to one another. The solar library will give a new opportunity to students that truly want to empower themselves and who want to succeed. The continued support and growth of the learning center are vital as it allows more students the ability to get an education to have support and guidance.

            RAIN needs your help to build this special space. Having a place that promotes opportunity is so rare in West Africa. Support for these remarkable people comes in many forms from RAIN, but its best is education. Come join Rain for the Sahel and Sahara as we push students toward their dreams and ambitions.

• Construct separate girl’s bathroom
• Construct library and media center for computer lessons
• Construct 4 classrooms for after-school classes
• Construct additions to existing dorms to accommodate students
• Build French library collection and computer learning tools
• Furniture for the new buildings
• Replace older materials (beds, shelving, etc)

            The solar lab is being sponsored in part by the Portsmouth Rotary Club and by donors like you. This faculty will empower rural nomadic children to explore their curiosity and develop a love for knowledge. With more access come more opportunities. These children will be given the ability to see the world and be given a new perspective and understanding. These students come from villages far and wide without to continue their education.

 Mouda an Agadez Learning Center student came to the Center from a place of poverty and lack of opportunity. She is a motivated and bright individual. Many of the other children her age cannot continue their education past primary school, due to distance, lack of funds, or parents that would rather have them help around the home.  The ALC houses motivated and determined children like Mouda and allow them to continue their education. The Center provides a living space for students that would not have access to secondary school. Students are provided with afterschool lessons from local teachers, food, water, electricity, traditional crafts, and life skills lessons. Progress is being made on many fronts. We have designs for an expansion to the center that would include: a separated girl’s restroom, facility for the director to live on site (for extra security), and the solar computer lab/classroom.

Currently, the Center can house fifty students. RAIN currently is sponsoring 31 students. With these added facilities students will be able to have access to the internet and learn about things that they have never dreamed of. In expanding these students will have more opportunities and be better prepared for the future.

 "My parents are poor and cannot help with my education. When we compare our lives with our friends who aren’t at the center, it is easy to see that we have so many more opportunities than other girls. We hope that our other friends can also benefit from RAIN's support." - ALC Student Mouda

Students like Mouda need to be supported in order to have a voice. They have the solar equipment, now they just need the building. Help us create a more sustainable future for these at-risk children. During this troubling time right before the “hunger season,” the ALC will need as much help as possible, so will our partner communities.

With your support, Mouda and others like her will have the chance to change their lives and communities. It starts with you, you are the catalyst for change!