Dear friends, dear donators

 

The months have gone by at an incredible speed and soon autumn was just waiting around the corner.

 

Unfortunately, the political situation in Niger has not improved during the last half year. Despite attempts of mediation by various authorities, the situation is still instable, affected by violent conflicts between the Nigerien military and the MNJ (Mouvement des Nigériens pour la justice). One of the most important demands of the MNJ regards a fair distribution of the proceeds from the uranium mining, comprehensive development programmes as well as a political decentralization in favour of the Tuareg region. Instead of signaling a willingness to talk to the people of the liberation movement (MNJ), the government solely places their emphasis on a military victory.

 

These difficult times will throw a couple of stones onto our path. However, we will pursue our aim to support the Tuareg Nomads – always true to our motto „Engagement Commits“!

Hada’s silver casting course was followed by a Tuareg evening taking place in a nicely decorated tent in Bülach.

We had been invited to a presentation of our projects and at the same time enjoyed the film „Takolen – following the footprints of a new Tuareg generation" by Julia Oertli (Matura project).

At the beginning of this year the president of „hunger & thirst“ asked me for a presentation of our projects. After the first contacts Mouhamed and myself met with Cornelia Giger who is in charge of Relief Projects.

 

„hunger & thirst“ supports small relief projects that fight against hunger and thirst in crisis-ridden regions. All donations are collected at organized events. Thus the organizers take responsibility and all in a good cause. See also www.hungerunddurst.ch

 

In July we, therefore, received CHF 540.00 that will be used for reconstruction work of the well at Tschinsakan.

 

You will find the respective order form in our shop (German part).

We wish you all a sunny and pleasant autumn time.

Due to these circumstances, the ENMIGRAW Suisse management team has decided to make this problem top priority. After a brief discussion amongst the team, the decision to help immediately was taken.

We had in mind a kind of „driving supply van“ that was to be used in the seriously affected area of Talak, in order to provide the Tuareg families with millet, rice, oil and semolina to be bought at subsidised prices.

However, the Nigerien government has strictly banned such action. For fear that the rebels would get support, nobody is allowed to drive into the desert with more than 50 kg of food supply. Due to the fact that time was short and also because we did not want to tackle it too hastily, we had to look for a more pragmatic way.

After consulting with ENMIGRAW Niger, we decided to open a food supply warehous to be located in Arlit. This solution seemed to be the most practical one and appealed to all of us. In Benin, Alhassane Barka bought 4,5 tons of rice and 700 litres of cooking oil. Adam Barto purchased 4 tons of millet and 3 tons of semolina.

By handing out food ration cards to the families concerned, we grant them a subsidised purchasing of vital staple foods. Depending on the size of the family, a certain quantity of food per month will be provided.

News - especially good ones – travel fast within the desert and the Talak population is anxiously and impatiently expecting the opening of the food supply warehouse, since it is a question of their existence.

We hope to be able to report very soon about the successful opening. We would like to emphasize that this kind of help should only be short-termed. ENMIGRAW Suisse still concentrates its help on consistent and true long-term sustainability.

The Tuareg Nomades of Talak are in need of the indispensable water of Eschik Nischisch, because the well is situated outside of the military zone.

Due to continuous friction of the ropes, the concrete already full of holes started to crumble. Heavy rains and bad construction had lowered the ground around the well by 30 cm. To cut a long story short, the wall was in miserable condition.

After ENMIGRAW Niger had clarified the requirements, we started mid February with the reconstruction of the well “Eschik Nischisch”. Despite incessant unrest, the political situation in the Talak region was more or less stable, so that we could take the responsibility for the start of our work.

Within no time ENMIGRAW Niger had organised the necessary material, i.e. a well specialist as well as a pick-up. Many hands were impatiently waiting for the said day! They started off by bringing big stones and boulders in order to be able to fill the sunken area.

With the help of pickaxes, shovels and spades the ground was reasonably evened out and craggy transitions were levelled. Everybody helped in his/her own way – the Tuareg women brought food and the children were busy keeping the flocks of thirsty goats and sheep away from the well.

Also this year - thanks to the sunny weather - we had many visitors at our stall who were interested in the progress of our projects as well as in the attractive pieces of jewellery on display. Many an interesting conversation took place while drinking a cup of tasty Tuareg tea. By selling jewellery we were able to support our food project with CHF 1’231.--. Furthermore, the generosity of people’s donations had exceeded our expectation by far.

We say to everybody „Tannemert hullan“.

You are warmly invited to actively support us with your entering into membership. By doing so you will enhance the long-term financing of our projects. Your donations will solely be used for our current and future projects. We are a recognised non-profit organisation and, therefore, allowed to provide donation confirmations.

To download Application form click here

Enjoy a sunny and beautiful springtime!

Anita, Mouhamed, Bea and Sandra

Dear friends, dear donators

 

You know by now some of the events where ENMIGRAW Suisse was represented since we regularly report on. We intend to enlarge our network continuously to establish our institution as a seriously recognized relief organization. So we are glad to inform you today that the exemption of taxes we had been waiting for so long is confirmed now and it is possible to deduct your donations from your tax declaration from 1st of January 2007 onwards.

The Christmas Market in Pfäffikon was again an encouraging success. In addition to selling beautiful Touareg jewellery, meeting donators was most important for me. All these positive personal contacts are encouraging us to go on fighting for the interests of Touareg people.

Before Christmas the Canario Musicatelier of Wetzikon invited us for a special Advent evening. The Ad-hoc formation accompanied us and it was a touchy event which brought together all kinds of people “singing for freedom”. We’ll keep in mind the contemplative atmosphere of the evening while competently accompanied by Rahel Bibermann and Manuel Oertli.



Candles were lighted to invite more light into the world and and there was a generous collection afterwards fully issued to ENMIGRAW Suisse. Thank you to everybody involved!

In November 2007 we reported on the political situation in Niger. For more than twelve months the population of North Niger is suffering from civil war, even when almost nothing shows up in the Media here – just another forgotten war in Africa!

It goes without saying that we keep on paying the salaries of the main partners of ENMIGRAW Niger in these most difficult times. By the active support of our local representatives only we can grant the maintenance of our engagement for the Touareg Nomads.

Of course, securitiy matters are most important for us. We carefully check in advance the actual political situation with local sources before Wayounfane and Adam head on to a further scouting mission. Right now they are on their way to the Talak region to find out about the possibilities of  reconstructing a well in the aerea. They will report as soon as possible when we can start up our work there and we are waiting keenly for their answer.

In case the Talak-well-Project will be successful we’ll take up plans fort he conception of another well at Tschinsakan.

 

 

Anita, Mouhamed, Bea and Sandra