Fewer than 15 percent of Niger nomads are literate. For centuries, the Tuareg have had a written language, but little interest in formal education. As traditional livelihoods become increasingly difficult to sustain, parents realize literacy can create opportunities for their children.

Community projects sustain schools and expand resources.

RAIN works with Tuareg and other nomad parents to revitalize schools by building school market gardens that provide food for students. The gardens and other community enterprises, such as artisans’ cooperatives, also generate funds for schools.

Nomadic culture alive in schools

RAIN is concerned that the rich culture of the nomads of Niger not be lost as other aspects of their lives change. To reinforce that culture, RAIN provides schools with books by and about nomadic people, and brings traditional poets and musicians to schools.

ADULT LITERACY

In every country of the world, the use of reading and writing – literacy – is part of life. It is vital that everyone should be able to take part in these circles of written communication.

RAIN's bilingual adult literacy classes began in January 2008 for 30 women who mentor RAIN scholarship students and other RAIN volunteers.   They are learning to read and write in Tifinagh (the Tuareg written language) and French.  The classes are joyous, as women approach a blackboard and proudly, for the first time in their lives, write their own names.  They are motivated and progressing well.

These classes are part of our Literacy Loop. Parents help at schools and, in doing so, have their first experiences of education.  They seek literacy and begin to learn to read and write.  They send their own children to school and study with them, reinforcing each others’ skills.  In this way, society progresses.      

"The powerful links that exist between adult literacy and better health, higher income, more active citizenship and children’s education should act as strong incentives for governments and donors to be much more proactive in addressing the literacy deficit,”  says UNESCO’s Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura.

UNESCO publication, Literacy: a right still denied to nearly one-fifth of the world’s adult population.