Location:

Agadez, Niger

PROJECT TEAM:

The University of Florida

PARTICULAR NEED:

Rain for the Sahel and Sahara is seeking to expand the Agadez Learning Center’s enrollment capacity through the construction of a new female dormitory.

CUSTOMIZED SOLUTION:

Construct a new dormitory that will allow the school to increase its capacity from less than 25 to 50 female students.

ENROLLMENT:

23 female students (looking to expand to over 50)

AREA OVERVIEW:

Encompassing 394,000 square miles, the Agadez region of Niger is the largest subregion in Africa. As of 2020, it is recorded to have a population of 626,100, (around 2.6% of Niger’s total population), due to the Sahara Desert dominating the region. As a result, many of Agadez’ inhabitants are nomadic, or semi-nomads. Nomadic people face added obstacles to education that come with constant mobility, demonstrating even lower education levels where only about 8% of girls attend secondary school.

SUSTAINABILITY PLAN:

RAIN has forged partnerships with various rural and nomadic communities in Niger, enabling them to help grow access to education and opportunities. RAIN offers their services to students on the basis of likelihood to succeed. In this way, girls who demonstrate a commitment to education are given the opportunity to learn, without any barriers. This ensures that those who will benefit the most are targeted. Project RAIN is a sustainable endeavor for Circle of Women, as community support/general RAIN fundraising revenue will maintain the dorms after the construction. By supporting this sustainable initiative, Circle of Women is able to help girls attend school who otherwise would not be given the opportunity.

PARTNERS:

PROJECT STATUS:

Project RAIN has been paused following the allotment of the first dispersement of funds (2023). Following the recent socio political changes in Niger, the specs of this project have been altered by Rain and its scope has now expanded to include the construction of a new common building within the School’s grounds. This expansion could raise the budget from $500,000 to $1 million. Construction is pending due to reliance on securing additional funding, and although designs were updated in January 2024, legal permits were only recently obtained, delaying the start.