West Africa
UPDATE ON ON MALI WELL CONSTRUCTION
We finally got a quote to construct a fence around the well in Mali that we could afford! According to those building it, this fence will be erected surrounding the well to keep the free range livestock out and provide ample space for users of the garden. We sent approximately $2,445.25 to complete this project. All of which was raised during our Jiggin’ at Georgetown, Second Annual Knocking Out Poverty Night, and Dropping Poverty Football Pool fundraisers. We hope to receive pictures soon that will illustrate the evolution of the small patch of dirt into a garden. Lastly, we are hoping to raise approximately $500.00 to purchase books for the Sadore School.
Upcoming fundraisers include a Trivia Night at the Quarry lead by Ashtin, a poker snow mobile ride organized by Ryne, and the Third Annual Knocking Out Poverty Night at the Quarry.
Information about Niger
About Niger
Niger is a landlocked country located in West Africa. It is bordered by seven countries (Mali, Algeria, Libya, Chad, Nigeria, Benin, and Burkino Faso). Niger's climate is arid and dry.
Several different ethnic groups live in Niger each speaking their own language. The two largest groups are farmers. The Hausa are the predominant group (56% of the population), followed by the Djerma-Songhai (22% of the population). The remaining two groups are nomadic livestock raising people. They are the Fulani (8.5% of the population), and the Toareg (8% of the population). The official language is French.
Listed in the table below is the Human Development Index (HDI) and some of the statistics that are used to calculate it. The United Nations Development Programme announces the HDI values in Human Development report. The HDI value "looks beyond GDP [Gross Domestic Product] to a broader definition of well-being. The HDI provides a composite measure of three dimensions of human development: living a long and healthy life (measured by life expectancy), being educated (measured by adult literacy and gross enrolment in education) and having a decent standard of living (measured by purchasing power parity, PPP, income)." In the 2009 report, Niger had the lowest HDI value.
| HDI value | Life expectancy at birth (years) | Adult literacy rate (% ages 15 and above) | Combined gross enrolment ratio (%) | GDP per capita (PPP US$) |
| 1. Norway (0.971) | 1. Japan (82.7) | 1. Georgia (100.0) | 1. Australia (114.2) | 1. Liechtenstein (85,382) |
| 180. Sierra Leone (0.365) | 159. Cameroon (50.9) | 148. Burkina Faso (28.7) | 175. Central African Republic (28.8) | 175. Sierra Leone (679) |
| 181. Afghanistan (0.352) | 160. Niger (50.8) | 149. Niger (28.7) | 176. Niger (27.2) | 176. Niger (627) |
| 182. Niger (0.340) | 161. Burundi (50.1) | 150. Afghanistan (28.0) | 177. Djibouti (25.5) | 177. Eritrea (626) |
Dr. Sam Alvey, Associate Professor of Biology, was a Peace Corps volunteer in Maorey and Sadore. These are two rural villages located in southeastern Niger. Over the 2009-2010 Christmas Break, Dr. Alvey lead a study abroad to Niger and Mali. . The Carroll Outreach Team funded various projects in both villages and continues to support these projects. Click on this link to watch a video that catalogues the service projects of the trip
Source: Encyclopedia of Nations, CIA World Factbook, Human Development Report 2009
Maorey Women and Children Community Garden
The Maorey Women and Children Community Garden will improve the lives of current and future generations of children and adults in Moarey. In good years, Nigerien's suffer through a hungry season and the failed harvests of 2004 and famine of 2005 demonstrated the need for improved food production. One way to alleviate this problem is community gardening during the dry season using irrigation water from wells. Unfortunately in Maorey, there is no garden.
In the fall of 2009, enough money was raised to contsruct a well in Moarey.
This newly constructed well will be used for gardening by the students at the school as part of their course work to instill the knowledge and utility of gardening in youth and by the adults in Maorey, women in particular, who will participate in the community garden.
Yet, a fence is needed to complete the project. This fence will be erected on the plot of land with the well to keep the free range livestock out and provide ample space for users of the garden.
Evolution of the Garden Well
The site of well
Circle of dirt - where the well was dug
Sadore School
The school in Sadore is new and currently only has two grades. It will grow by one grade every year until it reaches six grades. We purchased the reading and writing books for the first three grades this past trip, and are planning on buying the final three grades their books. Eventually, we hoped to fund the construction of a real school building.
Thank you!
Thank you to anyone who has supported these projects. The COT fundraisers that have supported these projects are: "2009 Dropping Poverty Football Pool", "2009 Knocking Out Poverty Night at the Quarry Bar and Grille", "1st annual Jiggin' at Georgetown", 2010 Montana Girls' State fundraising, and countless individual contributions.
Irikoy ma bana!
-God should pay you!