Chad

The year 2018 saw two major setbacks for Chad’s economy. The government put a new tax law into effect that affects small businesses, and companies protested with strikes for about three months. A global price drop in barrels of oil hit Chad hard, because oil makes up more than 90 percent of the country’s exports. Eight out of 10 Chadians make a living from agriculture and livestock even though much of the country is a desert, so people’s livelihoods depend on rain. Fortunately, 2018 was a year of abundant rain, which helped stabilize food production. Currently, not much effort is being made at a national level to support people living in poverty or to promote women’s rights. The most vulnerable families still need better social structures to alleviate their hardships. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, tens of thousands of children participated in programs that are benefiting their lives. In 2018, our programs focused on water, sanitation, and hygiene. Local residents were trained to help their communities use better sanitation to improve overall health. We helped communities work on new and existing wells to expand clean water access for more people. Many schools received new latrines, which kept kids in school and supported their educational opportunities. The quality of education is improving, as teachers receive trainings and classroom materials. Our partners helped communities set up afterschool reading camps to boost kids’ literacy. Over 700 households received agricultural equipment and seeds for long-term stability, so they can be confident of growing enough food, even if rain is scarce in future years.