In the midst of all the conflicting headlines you see each day, you’ve probably heard about the Africa hunger crisis. Here are a few basic facts about drought, famine, malnutrition, and hunger in Africa as well as how you can help World Vision respond.
Why World Vision is in Niger
In 2015, Niger helped neighboring Nigerian refugees who fled across the border to escape the armed conflict between militant group Boko Haram and the Nigerian government. In May, World Vision Niger opened an office in the border town of Diffa to help the 150,000 refugees, mostly women and children. Emergency supplies were provided and Child Friendly Spaces were created to ensure children’s safety. When Ebola ravaged West Africa in 2015, Niger’s efforts turned to training and educating faith leaders. World Vision presented workshops called Channels of Hope to involve religious leaders from all regions of Niger, training them to better convey the message of disease prevention in their respective sermons. Malnutrition presented yet another challenge last year. 37,417 children suffering from acute malnutrition were admitted to rehabilitation centers run by World Vision and nearly all of the children recovered to a healthy weight for their age. Recognizing that clean water and good hygiene also keep children from becoming weak and malnourished from waterborne illnesses, 182 borehole wells were constructed and 48 school latrines were installed.
We never give up on people
World Vision child sponsorship looks at all the things that prevent children from surviving and thriving in their community, and then works with that community to bring all the pieces of the puzzle together to build a better life for all children. For sponsors, it’s a personal way to show God’s love to a child in need in a life-changing way.
Sponsor a child in Niger ❯
Progress in Niger
Thanks to the generous support of donors, we’re making great progress toward the well-being of children and their families.
Child Protection and Care
Boys and girls are safe and valued, well cared for by their families, and participating in their communities as agents of transformation.
- World Vision worked with community volunteers, religious leaders, and child protection committee members to strengthen child rights and equip them to handle violations.
- To increase economic resilience for families, we established new saving groups and empowered savings group members, especially women, to use low-interest loans to start new income generating activities, like soap making and handicrafts.
- In partnership with other development organizations, we provided technical assistance and distributed seeds and fertilizer to help farmers mitigate natural disasters such as droughts and ensure sustainable crop production.
Healthy Children and Families
Children and families are well nourished, protected from infection and disease, and have access to essential health services.
- To improve child and maternal health, we partnered with local health organizations to support a vaccination program for women and children in the area.
- World Vision trained community members, school management committees, and religious leaders on the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach. CLTS is used to stop the traditional practice of open defecation and increase access to latrines. We also provided trainings for households on latrine construction and maintenance.
- To help prevent malnutrition, we trained community health workers to provide one-to-one counseling with young mothers on exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and serving age-appropriate foods to toddlers. We also provided treatment and growth monitoring for malnourished boys and girls.
- We partnered with local organizations to construct enclosures that protect wells from animals whose waste could contaminate the water.
Education for Better Lives
Children have opportunities to learn and to develop their talents, young people are equipped for the future, and families and communities support children's education.
- We carried out awareness campaigns across Niger about the importance of girls’ education.
- We promoted the importance of early childhood education through awareness campaigns and empowered communities to build preschools and help kids get off to an early start.
- To improve the quality of primary education, we trained instructors on effective methods of teachings kids reading, writing, and math. We also trained school management committees to plan and monitor schools to ensure that educational programs are sustainable.
Love of God and Neighbors
Children and families are growing spiritually, local churches are strengthened to demonstrate Christ's love in practical ways, and people are living at peace with their neighbors.
- We worked alongside children and families to change lives, promote peace and understanding, and demonstrate God's unconditional love.
Prayer Requests from Niger
World Vision's staff in Niger are asking us to join them in prayer for the following:
Farmers dealing with long-term drought conditions and poor soil quality.
School kids learning skills like gardening that will help them earn a living in the future.
News from Niger
From the Field
Global drought, food shortages affect 70 million people in 2017
The delayed effects of the 2016 El Niño warming phenomenon are now settling in worldwide. Prolonged droughts, worsened by conflict and severe food shortages, are affecting as many as 70 million people throughout central, east, and southern Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia.
From the Field
Humanitarian world news: Hunger and conflict
Hunger and conflict are taking a heavy toll on children and families in the areas of Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad near the Lake Chad water basin. Food production in Syria is at a record low as farmers are losing their ability to cultivate crops with dwindling resources. And areas of South Sudan could experience famine in the coming months if families are unable to access more food or livelihood help.
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