Holidays Muslim prays five times daily. If possible, pray

in a mosque, and on Friday do so with common prayer Celebrations are very important to your sponsored child and a sermon. also requires that Muslims make and family. The most important ones have religious and a pilgrimage, called the Hajj, to the holy city of Mecca political significance: at least once in their lifetime. Islamic holidays include January 1 Ramadan, the holiest month of the Muslim calendar, New Year’s Day which commemorates the month in which Muhammad Date varies* received the revelations that became the Koran. Eid Prophet’s Birthday al-Fitr is a joyous feast celebrating the end of Ramadan August 3 and the month of fasting. Al-Hijra celebrates the Islamic Niger Independence Day New Year. December 18 Commemoration of the Republic of Niger is the term used to categorize the plethora of localized indigenous throughout the world. December 25 Christmas Animists live in a world dominated by a complex interplay of spiritual powers—those of the creator or

*date varies creators (gods), the destroyers (demons), the forces of nature, the deceased (ancestors), and the living in Niger (healers or witches). The manipulation of such powers Population 17 million through magic, to benefit humans, is subject to strict Most Nigeriens are Muslim (80 percent). The remaining rules, including rituals, sacrifices, and trance. Animists Capital City 20 percent follows indigenous beliefs or . believe that when people die their life force (soul) leaves Official Language French the body, joining the invisible world of ancestors. The Muslims are followers of Islam. Islam is an Arabic Per Capita Income US$370/year word meaning “submission to the will of Allah (God).” invisible world is also populated by nature spirits of the Youth Literacy Rate 52% male/23% female Muslims believe that Allah’s will was revealed to the wind, rain, forest, animals, and earth. prophet Muhammad more than 14 centuries ago Christians are followers of Jesus, a carpenter and a Access to Safe Water 100% urban/39% rural and was captured in the Islamic holy book, the Koran Jew from the city of Nazareth in present-day Israel. Under 5 Mortality Rate 114/1,000 live births (Qur’an). Together with the Sunnah, a collection of Christians believe that Jesus is the only son of God, born sayings attributed to Muhammad, these texts provide of a virgin woman (Mary) in a stable in Bethlehem. His Source: The State of the World’s Children 2014 (UNICEF) a firm basis for religious and social life for all Muslims, story is told in the New Testament of the Christian holy including rules for diet, dress, hygiene, and more. book, the Bible. The Republic of Niger is a landlocked country bordered by Algeria and Libya to the north, Islam is a religion of peace and prayerfulness. A devout Chad to the east, Nigeria and to the south, Burkina Faso to the southwest, and Mali Additional sources include the CIA World Factbook and State Department websites. to the west. Northern Niger is part of the Sahara, with vast expanses of rocky and sandy Plan International USA is part of a global organization that works side by side with communities in 50 developing countries to wilderness broken only by occasional oases. From north-central Niger to its northeast end the cycle of poverty for children. We develop solutions community by community to ensure long-term sustainability. Our corner are the Air and Djado mountains. The capital city of Niamey sits on the banks of 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 the Niger River, which flows through much of West Africa. Niger has three climatic zones come, and range from clean water and health-care programs to education projects and child-protection initiatives. from the south to the north: Sudan, Sahel, and Sahara. The Sudan zone gets more than 23 inches of rain per year. The Sahel zone gets from eight to 20 inches of rainfall per year. The Promising Futures, Plan International USA temperature differences in the Sahara zone are wide-ranging, from extremely hot during Community by Community 155 Plan Way • Warwick, RI 02886 1-800-556-7918 • planusa.org the day to very cold at night. The climate is characterized by a high average temperature and strong contrasting seasons: a short rainy season and a long dry season. A Brief History Child survival

During the Middle Ages the Niger region was on the This program aims to boost child survival rates by central caravan route connecting North Africa to the improving communities’ access to quality health Hausa states, the Mali Empire, and Songhai. The first services, safe drinking water, and improved sanitation European to enter the area was Scottish explorer facilities. We work to build capacity at all levels, Mungo Park in 1795. The French occupation began enabling institutions, health personnel, and communities in 1890 and held sway over what is now Mauritania, to better manage illness, access quality health services Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the turn of the 20th and safe drinking water, and ensure sustainability of century. After independence, which was granted on activities. August 3, 1960, then‑President Hamani Diori created a Zarma-dominated state with power concentrated in Quality education for all children the Francophile Niamey elite. President Hamani was overthrown in a military coup d’etat led by General Plan works to increase the ability of communities authorities. Our disaster risk reduction work includes Language Seyni Kountche in 1974. After the death of President- and children to participate in their own education, microfinance activities, food security stocks, awareness- General Kountche in 1987, his successor, Ali Saibou, through support for community and student groups. raising and training in early warning, and emergency In addition to French, the most common languages in established the Second Republic in 1989. Niger’s We help authorities through support to infrastructure, management. the cities and in rural areas are Hausa and Djerma. It first genuinely multiparty election was held in 1993, equipment, supplies, training, policy improvement, and is very likely that you will encounter a language barrier with various political parties taking part. The adverse resource mobilization. Economic Security in communicating with your sponsored child, as the political situation in 1995 led to a coup d’etat by majority of the children do not know enough English to then-Colonel Ibrahim Baare Mainassara in January Protection for all children Uranium remains the country’s major export. Niger’s write a letter. Those who do not know English will be 1996. After the establishment of a new multiparty main food crops are millet, sorghum, cassava, and assigned community workers and volunteers who will This program works to end all forms of child abuse. constitution, presidential elections were held in July rice. The cash crops are cow peas, cotton, groundnuts, explain your letters and help the children compose their Plan is partnering with the government and other key, 1996 with General Baare being declared the winner onions, and green beans. These agricultural activities responses. like-minded organizations to promote and enforce are almost totally dependent on rainfall, as irrigation amid charges of electoral fraud. A military coup led to Here are a few phrases in Djerma that you might legal texts on child protection, such as the UN’s Child is virtually nonexistent except for a few government- President Baare’s death on April 9, 1999. The Conseil de want to use in your correspondence with your Rights Convention. At the community level, we train backed, irrigated rice-growing projects. Periods of low Reconciliation Nationale, led by Major Daouda Mallam sponsored child: vigilance committees to prevent abuse, and we support rainfall inevitably lead to cereal and livestock deficits, Wanke, a military head of state, promised to restore Aran kani baani all partners’ birth registration activities to give children resulting in varying degrees of famine. It is estimated democracy after a transitional period of nine months. Good morning official identities and thus easier access to protection that more than half of the people do not have enough On July 17, 1999, the people of Niger approved the Aran foy baani and health and education services. Children are involved to eat even when rainfall is good. Outside of agriculture, proposed constitution of the Fifth Republic. Good afternoon in all aspects of the program, particularly in spreading the public sector is the only significant formal employer. key messages, raising awareness, and preventing cases Shops and small-scale industrial units in the main towns Mate fu? Plan’s work in Niger covers four core How is your family? of abuse. account for a few thousand jobs, as does the mining areas, all of which are rooted in the industry. Ir ma foy baani rights of the child: Disaster risk reduction and response Have a nice day

Child survival People in Niger are vulnerable to emergencies, such Quality education for all children as drought and flooding. This program aims to reduce Protection for all children household vulnerability and strengthen communities’ Disaster risk reduction and response capacities to better prevent and manage risks and emergency situations, in partnership with key