Home for Children - Bararan N'Gougaram

In the North of Niger exceptional conditions had been prevailing from February 2007 to April 2009. The reason of the conflict lay in the incessant discrimination of the Tuareg population of the barren desert area. Social and economical misery was the result of the Nigerien government`s failure to realize development projects. The situation was rather bad, so that by the fighting the entire area became very unsafe for the resident Tuareg. Also the Nomad’s freedom of movement was extremely restricted by the Nigerien military and controlled by them through curfews, Check-Points, scattered landmines and reprisals.

As a result of that situation, all schools in the Talak region had to be closed. 450 Tuareg children had no possibility anymore to attend school. And for the future of those children attending school is most important.

Education – Means Hope for a better Future

The starting point of our new project was therefore education.
We made sure that despite the instable political situation the children still stood a chance to attend school. The Talak valley stretches out over 80 kilometres and the families live scattered here and there. Therefore, it was impossible for the children to cover such a distance daily and besides it was also dangerous. For this reason we opened our „Home for Children” in Arlit.

During this period of time we rented a house that we furnished appropriately.

We also bought school supplies and clothes, employed a chef (cook) and three women as child carers (supervising).

The local authorities gave their consent to the children attending classes at the various public schools of Arlit.

To cover the distance to and from the families at the beginning and end of each scholastic year, we rented an appropriate vehicle.

Thanks to the support of the canton of Basel-Town (CHF20’000), the proceeds of the food sales, many private donations and voluntary work of many parents, 38 children had lived peacefully in this boarding school for two years.

Ibrahim Mohamed and Takini Effad – a girl – passed the entrance examination into the Collège Arlit!

This project had shown us clearly that our engagement fell on fertile ground.

The total costs accrued for the “Home for Children” amounted to CHF 32’580.--.