Rain For The Sahel And Sahara Inc

RAIN'S MISSION IS TO PARTNER WITH RURAL AND NOMADIC PEOPLES OF NIGER TO ENABLE ENDURING AND RELEVANT LIVELIHOODS THROUGH ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND OPPORTUNITY.

ACCESS TO EDUCATION: FEWER THAN 15% OF NIGER'S NOMADIC AND RURAL CHILDREN ATTEND SCHOOL. GIRLS WHO DO ENROLL ONLY REMAIN FOR AN AVERAGE OF 3 YEARS. RAIN'S MENTORING AND TUTORING PROGRAMS INCREASE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND SUCCESS THROUGH WOMEN MENTORS - UNEDUCATED COMMUNITY WOMEN WHO ENCOURAGE AND ADVOCATE FOR AT RISK STUDENTS, MOSTLY GIRLS. THE WOMEN RECEIVE TRAINING IN HEALTH, HYGIENE, GENDER ROLES AND MORE - THEY BECOME WISE COUNSELORS TO STUDENTS AND THE GREATER COMMUNITY. THE MENTORED GIRLS LEARN PRACTICAL SKILLS THAT MAY LEAD TO FUTURE LIVELIHOODS AND THEY STAY IN SCHOOL LONGER THAN THEIR CLASSMATES. IN RECENT YEARS WE HAVE SEEN THE FIRST GIRLS EVER GRADUATING FROM UR PARTNER PRIMARY SCHOOLS. THE AGADEZ LEARNING CENTER OFFERS ACCESS TO SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR NOMADIC CHILDREN.

FOOD AND WATER SECURITY. NIGER IS THE POOREST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD (UNDP 2014). MALNOURISHMENT AND DISEASES CONTRACTED FROM CONTAMINATED WATER ARE RAMPANT. TO HAVE ACCESS TO EDUCATION CHILDREN MUST HAVE ADEQUATE NUTRITION AND GOOD HEALTH. RAIN'S FOOD AND WATER PROGRAMS ADDRESS THESE ISSUES VIA: SCHOOL MARKET GARDENS THAT PROVIDE FRESH FOOD FOR STUDENTS AND GENERATE CASH CROPS WHILE USING REDUCED WATER AND ENERGY. COOPERATIVE GARDENS WHERE WOMWN LEARN ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL TECHNIQUES AS WELL AS HYGIENE AND NUTRITION; GRANTS TO GARDENERS TO IMPROVE PRODUCTION; AND TEMOKO PROGRAMS - GOATS, SHEEP OR COWS ARE GIVEN, THEIR OFFSPRING ARE IN TURN GIVEN TO ANOTHER HERDER, OR SOLD TO BENEFIT THE LOCAL SCHOOL. AGRICULTURE AND HERDING ARE TRADITIONAL LIVELIHOODS THAT, WITH RAIN'S HELP, ARE BEING TAPPED TO SUPPORT EDUCATION AS WELL AS IMPROVING EARNINGS FOR FAMILIES MOST IN NEED.

RAIN'S WOMEN'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM TRAINS COHORTS OF WOMEN IN THE BASICS OF FINANCIAL LITERACY AND BUSINESS PRACTICE. BY LAYERING OUR STRUCTURED TRAINING PROGRAM ONTO FAMILIAR INCOME-GENERATING PRACTICES - LIKE GARDENING AND HERDING, WE SEEK TO RENDER THE PROCESS MORE ACCESSIBLE AND SET THESE NETWORKS OF WOMEN UP TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND ONE ANOTHER AS THEY COLLECTIVELY NAVIGATE WHATEVER CHALLENGES THEY MAY FACE.

AGADEZ LEARNING CENTER FOR TOMORROW'S LEADERS. IN DECEMBER 2012 RAIN WAS GIFTED LAND AND BUILDINGS IN AGADEZ, NIGERIA. THIS COMPLEX IS THE HOME OF AGADEZ LEARNING CENTER, WHERE STUDENTS FROM NOMADIC COMMUNITIES THAT OFFER NO EDUCATION BEYOND PRIMARY SCHOOL HAVE BEEN AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND GRADES 7 - 10. STUDENTS RECEIVE BOARD AND TUTORING. IN THE 2020 - 2021 SCHOOL YEAR OUR STUDENTS, WHO HAD NEVER BEEN TO A CITY,COMPETED EFFECTIVELY WITH CITY STUDENTS WITH MOST AT OR NEAR THE TOP OF THEIR CLASSES.