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Celebrating our 10th Year: RAIN's got LEGS!
 Learning and Earning Groups Bring it all Together
Here in Niger, it's hard to get ahead.
Education and self sufficiency are key. When RAIN first came to Niger, we found parents desperate for their children to have better lives - yet they thought they could not send them to school. In Niger's rural expanses, children live so remotely, many must walk five or ten miles to get to school. Others live further away and so must reside
at school, yet the state-run boarding
schools often have no food. The most direct route to increasing school attendance is to provide food.
Giving food aid in emergencies is humane, giving food without long-term planning to develop food security can be problematic. One cannot give forever....then what?
The answer: to grow food, and have the food pay for itself. Thus, the self-sustaining school market garden became RAIN's first education program. The gardens' cash crops cover all expenses and generate funds for schools. Our goal is to join parents in supporting schools by integrating education with business.
We are creating Learning and Earning Groups - enterprise cooperatives in which members learn skills, earn money and share their profits with their children's schools. RAIN children gain access to schools through the hard work of their proud parents.....
AND A "LEG UP" FROM OUR DONORS.
THANK YOU.
By: Bess Palmisciano, Niamey, Niger
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2010: Growth amid adversity - with a little help from our friends, RAIN persevered through political unrest, drought and floods.
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| AGADEZ Draws Cheers in New Hampshire |
 | | Bombino is embarking on an international tour in January. Look for his double CD AGADEZ in stores and online. |
AGADEZ: The Music and the Rebellion, a documentary featuring the Tuareg musician Omar Almoctar, also known as "Bombino," drew standing ovations from a sold out crowd for its debut showing at the New Hampshire Film Festival in October.
Bombino entranced RAIN supporters at our 2009 Annual Event. His screen debut was even more electrifying, introducing wowed audience across New England to a unique music and culture. Music plays a key role in Tuareg life, including the shaping of political movements.
Known for their rugged independence, the Tuareg have, at times, sought social equity through forceful means. Bombino, a well beloved musician in Niger, has a new mission: to spread the word about peace and democratic solutions to social and political problems.
AGADEZ was produced by Ron Wyman of Zero Gravity Films, a long time RAIN collaborator. RAIN's decade long community involvement, along with Tuareg appreciation of RAIN's work, allowed Wyman rare access into the inner workings of the culture. Says Wyman: "I could probably not have made this film without having been associated with RAIN."
For more about AGADEZ, visit www.zerogravityfilms.com. |
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Catch Bess in an interview with NPR's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton about the recent kidnappings in Niger:
Click here to read and listen.
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we need your
email!
Help RAIN reduce costs and keep you in the loop about news and events -
update us with your current email.
Changed your latitude and longitude? Let us know.. We don't want to lose you in this big wide world!
Send to:
julia@rain4sahara.org
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RAIN is proud to be a partner organization on the Nat Geo Action Atlas Network, featuring our Girls' Mentoring and Scholarship Program!
Use the clickable World Map to connect with other world conscious individuals, find projects to support, including RAIN, and create your own fund raising campaign.
To participate visit:
http://actionatlas.org |
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SUPPORT RAIN'S ANNUAL APPEAL
Building futures, one child at a time. | | |
 Miriama
Miriama Mohamed is the first girl in her poor Arlit neighborhood to enter high school. She credits her RAIN mentor who encouraged her and taught her how to embroider. With this skill - which she in turn taught to her mother - she is earning enough to buy her own school supplies. RAIN gave Miriama the tools to help her build her future.
 Abdou
Tillaberi and Arlit are at opposite ends of Niger, but they have one thing in common: RAIN's mentoring program! Meet Bouli and Abdou. Abdou refused to attend school this year. So his mentor, Bouli, went to visit his parents. His father, Jalihad, just returned from Ghana where he had gone to take temporary work. As Bouli talked to Jalil, he spoke of his own life. As he described his struggles, he realized how much he regretted not having an education. Jalil enrolled his son in school - Abdou attends every day now. With Bouli's help and encouragement, he's now succeeding and enjoying his studies.
So many Abdous and Miriamas are waiting!
PLEASE JOIN US TODAY
To give online visit: www.rain4sahara.org, or send check to: RAIN/PO BOX 545/Newmarket NH/03857 |
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Be a part of the RAIN online community! Stay abreast of news and weigh in...we value your comments, insights and feedback!
 
 Follow the RAIN Blog "Nomadic Notes" |
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