Guinea’S Population Are Muslim; Want to Use in Your Correspondence with Your Christians Comprise Another 8 Percent

Here are a few phrases in French that you might About 85 percent of Guinea’s population are Muslim; want to use in your correspondence with your Christians comprise another 8 percent. The remainder GUINEA sponsored child: follow traditional indigenous or animist religions. Bonjour Hello/Good morning Muslims are followers of Islam. Islam is an Arabic word meaning “submission to the will of Allah (God).” Au revoir Muslims believe that Allah’s will was revealed to the Goodbye prophet Muhammad more than 14 centuries ago Comment vous appelez-vous? and was captured in the Islamic holy book, the Koran What is your name? (Qur’an). Together with the Sunnah, a collection of Comment allez-vous? sayings attributed to Muhammad, these texts provide How are you? a firm basis for religious and social life for all Muslims, including rules for diet, dress, hygiene, and more. Holidays Islam is a religion of peace and prayerfulness. A devout Muslim prays five times daily. If possible, Muslims pray Holidays are very important to your sponsored child in a mosque, and on Friday do so with common prayer and family. The most important ones have religious or and a sermon. Islam also requires that Muslims make political significance: a pilgrimage, called the Hajj, to the holy city of Mecca January 1 New Year’s Day at least once in their lifetime. Islamic holidays include Population 11.5 million Ramadan, the holiest month of the Muslim calendar, February* Capital City Conakry Prophet’s Birthday which commemorates the month in which Muhammad received the revelations that became the Koran. Eid Official Language French April 3 al-Fitr is a joyous feast celebrating the end of Ramadan Anniversary of Second Republic Per Capita Income US$460/year and the month of fasting. Al-Hijra celebrates the Islamic May 1 New Year. Youth Literacy Rate 38% male/22% female Labor Day Access to Safe Water 90% urban/65% rural October 2 Christians are followers of Jesus, a carpenter and a Independence Day Jew from the city of Nazareth in present-day Israel. Under 5 Mortality Rate 101/1,000 live births Christians believe that Jesus is the only son of God, born *date varies of a virgin woman (Mary) in a stable in Bethlehem. His Source: The State of the World’s Children 2014 (UNICEF) story is told in the New Testament of the Christian holy Religion in Guinea book, the Bible. The Republic of Guinea is located on the western coast of Africa. In addition to the Additional sources include the CIA World Factbook and State Department websites. Atlantic Ocean, which borders to the west, Guinea also shares borders with Sierra Leone, Plan International USA is part of a global organization that works side by side with communities in 50 developing countries to Liberia, Ivory Coast, Mali, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is often called the Chateau end the cycle of poverty for children. We develop solutions community by community to ensure long-term sustainability. Our d’ Eau (Water Tower) of West Africa, due to the numerous rivers that originate there, level of community engagement, long-term outlook, and constant focus on the needs and priorities of children is unique among international development organizations. Our solutions are designed up-front to be owned by the community for generations to including the Niger River. Guinea is divided into four geographic regions: the Lower or come, and range from clean water and health-care programs to education projects and child-protection initiatives. Maritime Guinea, inhabited mainly by the Soussou ethnic group; the Fouta Djallon or Middle Guinea, inhabited mainly by the Peul (Fulani); the Savannah Region or Upper Promising Futures, Plan International USA Guinea, inhabited mostly by the Malinke (Mandingo); and the Forest Region, inhabited by Community by Community 155 Plan Way • Warwick, RI 02886 1-800-556-7918 • planusa.org various “forest groups,” such as the Kissi, Toma, Lele, and Guerze. A Brief History Child participation and protection Guinea was once part of a series of West African Through this program, children are being made aware Empires that extended political and commercial that they have basic rights. Although in Guinea child influence over many ethnic groups from Guinea’s participation in decision-making processes varies greatly Atlantic coast to the southern edge of the Sahara. depending on cultural practices, this program strives Portuguese explorers first appeared regularly along the to boost the participation of children and youth to coast of West Africa in the 15th century, followed by promote children’s rights through media campaigning. the British, Dutch, and French. Guinea became a French colony in 1893 despite the effort of Samory Touré and Good hygiene and sanitation his alliances to expel the French. In 1958, Guinea voted practices against membership in the French community and thus became an independent republic. President Sékou Touré We work to ensure that children under age 5 are remained in power from 1958 until his death in 1984, immunized against major life-threatening diseases. Economic Security Naming Traditions presiding over an authoritarian form of government. We also work to reduce the spread of HIV through Upon his death, “The Military Committee for National awareness-raising activities and support of community Rural families usually rely on traditional methods Most of the families that Plan works with belong Redressment,” the present government, assumed power. health workers. of farming. Depending on the village group, farm to the Kissi ethnic group. In the Kissi (pronounced The former constitution was abolished, together with work may be done either individually (by a family) “kee-see”) tradition, there is a standard way in which the sole political party. The establishment of the Second Governance and civil society or collectively (several families). The woman plays a children are named: The first male child of every Republic was announced. key role in agriculture, as well as in the running of the woman is automatically called Saa; the second male development household. Children often help both in the field and at child is Tamba; the third, Faya; the fourth, Fara; the Plan’s work in Guinea covers four This program aims to strengthen the knowledge and home with chores. Important cash crops for families fifth, Niouma; the sixth, Ali; and the seventh, Koundou. skills of community councils so that they can assume include rice, coffee, cacao, fruits, palm oil, peanuts, and Likewise, female children of the same mother are named core areas, all of which are rooted in their roles and responsibilities and, in turn, support cola nuts. Crops grown for home use include rice, millet, in order of their birth: Sia, Koumba, Finda, Tewa, Yawa, the rights of the child: community-based organizations to assume their roles cassava, yams, corn, fruits, and vegetables. Families may Sona, and Toulou. After the first name, a second name is Basic education and responsibilities in overseeing delivery of various also engage in small enterprises such as soap-making or given, followed by the family name. Since many families Child participation and protection services. This goal is achieved by providing training carpentry. are polygamous, the second name is very important in Good hygiene and sanitation practices on roles and responsibilities of local council members identifying the families. Because there is no standard Governance and civil society development and their relationship with local government units at Family Structure way to write names, the spelling of names may vary prefecture and sub-prefecture levels (how the local from letter to letter. The basic family unit may consist of a man with several Basic education councils function, how they raise funds, how they act wives living in the same compound or village. The and collaborate with government agencies, etc.). Language We seek to ensure that all children graduate from concept of “family” includes the extended family, primary school (sixth grade) and that a majority of comprising aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins. The official language is French, but the principal national them graduate from secondary school (10th grade). Diet and Nutrition Sometimes, the concept of “family” may also extend to languages are used extensively. Major written languages Plan also works to increase the capacity of communities A typical diet might consist of rice with peanut or villagers, friends, regions, or the entire nation. If one are French, Peul, and Arabic. It is very likely that you will to provide education services for their children and to palm oil sauce mixed with chopped greens. Meat is or both parents are deceased, a child is automatically encounter a language barrier in communicating with maximize the number, variety, and quality of learning not consumed often, although families may raise some passed to another family member or to a new parent your sponsored child, as the majority of the children do opportunities for children in more remote areas. chickens, goats, sheep, or cows. Food is cooked outside who becomes the child’s parent. Most children are not know enough English to write a letter. Those who the main house, and families eat once or twice a day. born at home and the exact dates of birth for many are cannot write will be assigned community workers and Very few families have access to clean drinking water. unknown. volunteers who will explain your letters and help the children compose their responses..

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