On December 16th 2005 we were invited to take part in the Christmas bazaar of the professional school at Radolfzell. Justina Honsel, the daughter of Mohamed’s boss, had proposed us to the director and of course we were very enthusiastic about beeing one of the four chosen relief organizations.
With bag and baggage we moved off to Germany. Our silver jewellery stand lined up with the other colourful stands of the students, who sold with joy their high quality workpieces for a good purpose.
Then on January 15th 2006 we received a check of 1000 Euro, profit of the bazaar activities. It was a joyful day for us and we celebrated a traditional tea ceremony together with the bearers of the check.
Thank you very much for your magnificent support!
At the beginning of January we came back from Niger where we had informed ourselves about the status of the different running projects. At the same time the annual meeting of the association took place in Gougaram/Niger.
At our arrival we were surprised by several festivities. The women of Talak had built up a typical Tuareg shelter (ehen) for us, in which we lived comfortably during our stay. The beautifully dressed women assembled to welcome us warmly with their lovely songs.
These days were full of expressive music and we were really connecting with the archaic culture of the Tuareg which was an unforgetable experience.
The Tuareg – People of the desert in "Times of Change"
ENMIGRAW has made her duty to back up with the Tuareg people in these difficult times of change and assist them with a few urgent and helpful projects.
Well and plantations in Gougaram
To be honest I was very impressed by the construction of the well and by the results the Tuareg had created here with their own hands, a shovel and a couple of kettles! The well is very frequented by the nomads nearby and for that reason ENMIGRAW had decided to install a strong Diesel-driven pump and to construct a water collecting basin for the irrigation of the gardens. At the same time small canals were built leading the water to the beds. The vegetable garden is just too large to be managed without a waterpump!
We are proud to say that the construction of this plantation system is regarded as a representative pilot project and is therefore watched with great interest. And we are convinced that this kind of support is most efficient for the locals!
Millet Storehouse "Tidaout"
During the meeting, Effad, the president of ENMIGRAW, made us clear how important is the millet storehouse for the population of Talak. Last year’s famine is still very present, although we had tried everything possible, not to leave our Tuareg families without their daily meal. The Management Committee wants to take the opportunity and thank all the donors warmly who had supported us in our fight against starvation.
ENMIGRAW considers one of her main concerns to guarantee nutrition maintenance in times of need. Meanwhile we are prepared to stock our storehouse with 20 tons of millet. Part of the heavy milletsacks reached Talak at the beginning of January.
About 700 families will profit from the enlargement of the store room. Not to forget that we have created two more jobs!
About 700 families will profit from the enlargement of the store room. Not to forget that we have created two more jobs!
The Women’s project "Tellit"
In the morning of the 25th of December the women of the Cooperative, the Management Committee of ENMIGRAW and we came together.
The women presented their handicrafts (bast and leatherwork). I tried to learn how to twist the bast strings.
But my fingers were too clumsy not used to the hard grass and my hands too stiff. What looks so easy while Tuareg women doing it, really gave me a hard time!
Raisha, the president of Tellit, directed our focus also to the social value of the Cooperative. She made clear that the Cooperative is merging and empowering theTuareg women of Talak as a whole. Together they are able to improve their life standards by selling their handmade products.
ENMIGRAW came to the decision to replace the old and run down storehouse by a bigger one. So the Cooperative can store all the raw material without loss and guarantee the income of the Tuareg women.
Tuareg and Music – a Symbiosis of Poetry and Tradition
ENMIGRAW has integrated the two music groups Imzad and Tende into the association since poetry and music plays an important role in nomadic daily life. Imagine that the history of the Tuareg people has always been handed down orally. Keeping up this ancient and already partly forgotten tradition is therefore an important concern of the Management Committee. Cultural roots are of great social value especially nowadays while life in Niger is changing so much.
While performing, Sidi, the singer, is reciting, accompanied by the Imzad (a one stringed lute). The songs tell about difficult moments in the Touareg past like bloody conflicts, also gloryfing the desert which they loved so deeply, other songs about the omnipresent camels, about longing and love.
There are brilliant young men stomping and dancing in front of the singing women. The vibrating atmosphere and the wild dances of the Touareg are a true revival of the heroic legends of the ancient times.
After the performance when dust had settled down men and women took their long way home under their feet. Other duties were waiting for them like collecting and milking the grazing animals and prepare evening meals.
The Tuareg families of Talak are aware that they cannot go back to their old nomadic life again. Please support them and give them a future perspective of a safe and independent life in dignity. Thus they will be able to keep up their culture and tradition within their own ancestral territories.
For the present and until further news I wish you bright sunshine and please check once in a while our website.