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Simiri Area Program

Sponsor a child

Program Type

Community Development

Planned Life Cycle

2012 - 2027

Location

Niger

Areas of Focus

Education | Child Protection and Participation

Program Timeline

Status: Active

Progress

1,315children attended in-school or after-school literacy activities

Progress

598people had access to handwashing facilities at home or school

Progress

199people were trained or involved in community water, sanitation or hygiene initiatives

A white jeep driving through a muddy path, featuring a rainbow and trees in the background.

Program Details

Context

The Simiri community is located in western Niger, close to the bordering countries of Mali, Benin, and Burkina Faso. The dominant ethnic group is the Djerma, who make up 99% of the population. The Peulh and Tuareg ethnicity make up the ethnic minority. Homes in the area are simple, made with mud and thatched roofs. The Simiri community has a very short rainy season from July to August.

Most people in the area make their living in agriculture. Others engage in fishing, animal breeding, and small commerce making crafts. Household income is low and can often barely cover family expenses, such as education, health care, and food. The lack of rain contributes to poor harvests, and many families do not have enough food year round. Men and youth often leave the area for urban centres, like the country's capital Niamey, in search of employment.

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Challenges
Education
Many challenges prevent children in Simiri from receiving an education. Illiteracy is growing in the area, despite the efforts of the government and their partners to promote education and increase the number of children attending school. There is a lack of proper educational infrastructures. Teachers also have not received proper teacher training, which affects their ability to effectively teach children. The dropout rate is resultantly very high, at over 30%.

Health Care
Simiri has only five health care centres for the entire community. These medical clinics hardly meet the needs of the population. There is a lack of health personnel, and there are no midwives or health workers to assist women during childbirth. Many illnesses plague infants and children. Malnutrition among children is especially high during times of poor harvests. Existing wells do not meet the water needs of the community, and people frequently consume unclean water from ponds, which causes waterborne illnesses.

Food
The kind of subsistence agriculture that is practiced by those living in Simiri does not meet their needs. Farmers do not use modern agricultural methods or improved seeds that could increase the quality and quantity of harvests. The lack of rain for crops, pests like locusts, and the poor soil quality compound this problem. Farmers also do not have access to water or equipment for irrigation that would allow them to grow vegetables and fruit in the dry season.

The decline of natural resources, such as ponds and grazing spaces for animals, along with the effects of climate change, are also reducing yearly crop yields and creating chronic food shortages. This plunges families further into poverty as they are forced to borrow money or sell what assets they have to buy food....
Plans
Education
To ensure children can access and benefit from quality education, World Vision will assist the community to:
  • Improve teacher's training and skills to enhance the instruction children receive.
  • Strengthen management committees in schools, such as school governments.
  • Encourage parents to send their children to school, especially their girls.

Health Care
With the partnership of Canadian sponsors and the community, World Vision will work to:
  • Support mothers to attend sessions on nutrition practices and how to cook nutrient-dense meals with locally available foods.
  • Help water, sanitation, and hygiene committees to improve water conditions.
  • Help health committees to support the population's health needs.

Food
To ensure parents in Simiri can provide for their families, World Vision will partner with the community to:
  • Promote vegetable farming and increase the production of rain-fed crops.
  • Support grain banks to stock food during the lean season and ensure people have access to food year-round.
  • Educate farmers about the impact of farming on the environment and encourage positive practices, such as reforestation.
  • Organize community savings groups so community members will have money available to buy food and livestock, or to start income-generating activities.
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An image of children sitting on the ground in a classroom, writing in workbooks.

Results

Unless otherwise stated, data presented on this page reflects the most up-to-date results of World Vision Canada programs reported between October 2022 and September 2023, and any previous fiscal years available. Previously reported data may not match the current presentation as we continuously receive and refine data from our programs. If you have any questions, kindly reach out to us.