preventing a death and saving a life..

Niger,the6thpoorestcountryintheworldhasapopulationofapproximately15millionpeople.Morethanhalf

ofthetotalpopulationislivingunderadollaraday.Niamey,thecapitalofNigerlocatedneartheNigerRiverhasa

populationofabout774,915thousandpeople.TheNigerRiveristhemajorsourceofwaterforover3millionpeople

inNiger.

Nigerdoesnothaveaccesstomanycleanwatersourcesresultingincitizensconsumingpollutedwatercon-

tainingbacteriaanddiseases.Nigermostlyconsistsofwastelandduetoenvironmentalissuessuchasdeforestation,

desertification,soilerosion,andovergrazing.Manyoftheseproblemsareduetothelackofwaterforplantations.Ni-

gerlostoverhalfofitsforestduetotheongoingdroughts.AhugeamountofNiger’spopulationisseverelymalnour-

ished,statisticsshowatleast2.5millionpeoplelivinginNigerdon’thaveenoughtoeatand44%ofchildrenunder

fiveareseverelymalnourished.Thisissuehasincreasedpovertylevelsbecausewithoutcitizensbeinghealthy,there

islessproductivityinschoolandwork.Asof2007,45%ofNiger’scitizensareenrolledinschool,butonly40%are

abletocompleteit.Thepopulationofmenfinishingschoolismuchhigherthanthefemalecompletionratebecause

womenoftendon’thavetimeforschoolbecausetheyfetchwaterandcarefortheirchildren.Sincepovertyissucha

bigissueinNiger,childrenhavegonethroughchildprostitutionandlabor.Childrenarerapedandforcedtoworkin

ordertoreceivemoneyfortheirfamilies.AllofthesesevereissuesarecausedbytheextremepovertyinNiger.

InordertohelpNigerimproveandbecomeabetter,stablecommunity,ourorganizationhasimplementeda

plantohelpNigerrisefrompoverty.Inordertoaddressthisproblem,ourorganizationhastargetedonemaincause

ofpovertyinNiger,whichisitswatersources.Niger’suncleanandinaccessiblewaterhascausedmanypeoplein

Nigertobecomeunhealthy,whichultimatelyleadstounproductivityanddecreasedenrollmentinschool.Ourgoal

istocleanNiger’swaterandgivemorecitizensaccesstowatertoimprovetheirhealthandwellbeing.Wewillbe

handingoutlifestrawstopeopleinNiger,installingsolarpoweredwaterpumpsintovillagewells,andcreatingwater

purificationsystemsalongtheNigerRiver.LifeStrawsareportablewaterfiltersthatremoveimpurities,bacteria,and

chemicalsmakingdirtywatersafetodrinkwhichwillsupplyimmediaterelieftohelpNiger.Wewillalsobeinstalling

solarpoweredwaterpumpsintovillagewells.Nigerconsistsofmanywellsthroughoutvillagesbutmostwellsare

contaminatedwithdiseases.Byinstallingthesesolarpoweredpumpsthewaterwillbecleaneddailyusingenergy

fromthesunallowingsafeconsumptionforfamilieslivinginvillagesinNiamey.Lastly,wewillcreatewaterpurifica-

tionsystemsalongtheNigerRiver.Sinceabout3millionpeopleusetheNigerRiverastheirwatersource,wewill

placewaterpurificationsystemsalongtheNigerriverevery10milesaparttoallowamajorityofthepeopleaccess

tocleanwater.ThewaterpurificationsystemtakesinwaterfromtheNigerRiverandpurifiesitremovingallbacteria

andchemicaltastethroughafilterandultravioletlightdisinfectionprocess.Thenthewaterisstoredinatankwhere

citizenscanhaveaccesstoit.

ThiswillbenefitNigerbyimpactingtheenvironmentandprovidingcleanwaterforcrops,decreasingthe

amountofpeoplesufferingfromwaterbornediseases,allowingwomenandchildrenmoretimeinthedaywithout

havingtoworklonghourstogetwater,increasingenrollmentinschoolsandlessstarvation.Ourprojectwillimpact

Nigerforthebetterbypreventingadeath,andsavingalife.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Before ImperialismAbout600,000yearsago,humansbeganlivingontheSaharadesertinnorthernNiger.ThelargestgroupsinNigeraretheHausa.TheHausapeoplemakeupoverhalfofNiger’stotalpopulation.TheHausaarefarmerswholiveinthesouthernareasofthecountry.OthergroupswholivedinNigeraretheFulani,Tuareg,andtheDjerma-Songhai.IslamcultureiswidelyinfluencedandpracticedbytheHausa,Fulani,andTuareg.TheHausastatesweredominantinsouthernNigerfromtheearly10thcenturyuntiltheearly19thcenturywhenHausastateswereconqueredbyFulani.Betweenthe10thand18thcenturies,WestAfricanempires,suchastheKanem-Borno,MaliandSonghaï,flourishedhere,tradingsalt,goldandslaves.BeforethearrivalofFrenchinfluence,NigerwassaidtobeanimportanteconomiccrossroadandmanyempiressuchasGao,Mali,Songhai,Kanem,Bornu,andHausastateshadclaimedcontroloverpartsofthearea.

During ImperialismAroundthe19thcentury,EuropeanexplorerssuchastheBritishandGermansexploredthelandsearchingforthemouthoftheNigerRiver.ThefirstEuropeantoentertheareawasScottishexplorerMungoParkin1795to1805andGermanexplorersHeinrichBarthandEduardVogelin1850.TheFrenchtookpossessionofthisareaaround1890.Inthe1900s,theFrenchputeffortintoestablishingpeacewithNiger.In1922,NigerbecameaFrenchcolony.TheFrenchhadadministeredalimitedformofFrenchcitizenshipofterritoriesandthe1946Frenchconstitutionlimitedparticipationinpoliticsandprovidedthedistributionofpoweramongthepeople.TheFrenchhadremovedallvotinginequalitieswhichtookawaythepeople’srightstocreateselfgovernmentsinindividualterritoriessuchaseducationandhealth.Frenchpromotedthegrowthofachief’spowerandenforcedNigertoshiftfromfarmingtocashcrops.

OnOctober4th,1958thefifthFrenchrepublicallowedlimitedselfgovernment.OnDecember4th,electionswereheldtoseeifNigerwouldremainintheFrenchcommunity.Twopoliticalblockswereinvolvedintheelection,theNi-gerenprogressivepartyledbyHamaniDioriandtheotherblockledbyDjiboBakary.Onthe18th,NigerhaddeclareditselfarepublicwithinaFrenchcommunity.Dioriwasannouncedpresidentin1958.

THE HISTORY

After ImperialismIn1960,NigerbecameindependentfromFrance.For14years,Nigerwasrunbyelectedpresident,HamaniDiori.Dioriwassaidtohaveestablishedoneofthemoststablegov-ernmentsinAfricaduetohisfriendlyrelationshipwiththeFrench.Dioriwasabletostayinpowerthroughthe1960sandearly1970.HoweverturmoilhadstruckNigerasseveredroughtsoccurredfrom1968to1974whichresultedincivildisorderandfaminecondi-tions.Thatsameyear,DioriwasoverthrownbythearmyledbyleaderKountche.Inthelate1970’sNiger’seconomyhadgrownduetouraniumgrowthinmarkets.Afewyearsafterthiseconomicgrowth,Kountchedied,leavingSeybou,anarmychieftobepresi-dentofNiger.Aroundthe1980suraniumpriceshadcollapsedandadroughtin1983killedthousandsofpeopleinNiger.In1991,anationalconferencewasheldtoprepareanewconstitution.AnewconstitutionwasadoptedintoNigerinDecemberof1992.

In1993,NigerhelditsfirstmultipartyelectionwhereOusmaneMahamanewaselectedpresident.OusmaneMahamanehadonlybroughtcorruptiontoNigersoMahamane’sguardsassassinatedhimin1999.Inresult,TandjaMamadouwaselectedpresident.In2004,Nigerhadamajorlocustoutbreakanddroughtwhichleadtoaseverefamine.3.6millionCitizensweresufferingfrommalnutritionandpresidentTandjaclaimedthefaminetobepropagandamadeupbyopposingcountries.InthewaragainstIraqandtheU.S,NigerwassaidtobehelpingSaddamHusseinbygivinghimuraniumforhisnuclearweapons.Thisaccusationwasfalse.PresidentTandjasuspendedtheconstitu-tioninMayof2009andplannedforanewconstitution.VotersendorsedhisplanswhichgaveTandjathepowertoremaininofficefor3moreyears.

1991-Nationalconferencetoprepareconstitution

1992-NewconstitutionadoptedintoNiger

1993-Firstmulti-partyelection,OusmaneMahamaneelectedpresident

1996-Newconstitutiongivingincreasedpowers

1999-OusmaneMahamaneassassinated,MamadouTanjaelectedpresident

1999-Newconstitutionrestoringbalancebetweenexecutiveandlegislativebranch.

2001-Nigerbanshuntingtosavewildlifepopulation

2003-U.SpresidentGeorgeW.BushclaimsIraqacquireduraniumfromNiger

2004-Majorlocustoutbreakanddroughtledtoseverefamine

2005-Widespreadprotestovertaxincreaseofupto20percentforbasicgoods

2006-Unionscallnationalstriketoprotestagainsthighcostliving

2006-Aidagencieswarnofdwindlingsuppliesoffood

2009-PresidentMamdouTanjasuspendsconstitution

2009-NewconstitutionstatespresidentTanjarulesforthreemoreyears

2010-PresidentTanjaoustedinacoup,seniorarmypromisestoreturnNigertoademocracy

1804-MungoPark(Scottish)seeksourceofNigerRiver

1850-GermanexplorersseeksourceofNigerRiver

1890-FrenchoccupyNiger

1898-FrenchsignsNigerconvention

1922-NigerbecomesaFrenchColony

1946-Frenchconstitutionlimitsparticipationinpolitics

1950-Nigerisallowedinternalselfagreement

1959-Uraniumdepositsdiscovered

1960-NigerbecomesfullyindependentwithHamaniDioriasfirstpresident

1968-1973-SeveredroughtdevastatesNiger’slivestockandcropproduction

1930-Niger’seconomygrowsduetouraniumgrowthinmarkets

1974-HamaniDiorioverthrowninmilitarycoup,Kountchetakesover

1980-Uraniumpricescollapse

1983-Droughtkilledthousandsofpeople

1987-Kountchedies,Seybouassumespresidency

TIMELINE

Niger,oneofthepoorestcountriesintheworldhasbeenstrugglingeconomicallyandenvironmentally.WiththehelpoftheMillenniumDevelopmentGoals,theNigeriangovernmenthasadoptedprogramsandprojectstoim-provethecountry.Nigerhasmadethemostprogressinreducingchildmortality.NigerhasadoptedtheInstitutionalStrengtheningandHealthSectorSupportProjectwhichhasstrengthenedpublichealthprogramsandreducedchildmortality.Nigerhasmadetheleastprogressineradicatingextremepovertyandhunger.Nigerstrugglesasoneofthepoorestcountriesintheworld,buttheyhaveadoptedthepovertyreductionstrategytoimproveconditionsofthepeopleandhelpthisgoalbeachieved.Thisstrategyfocusesonthedevelopmentofruralareasandimprovingaccessforthepoortosocialservicessuchasschools,hospitals,offices,andmore.AlthoughNigerhasstruggledtoimprovethroughouttheyears,NigercontinuestoimplementprojectsandplanstobenefitthecountryandachievetheMillenniumDevelopmentGoals.

Millenium Development Goals Data Impact1. Eradicating Extreme Poverty and Hunger

A. Population below $1.25 a day (1995) 78% (2007) 66%

Positive

B. Employment to Population Ratio Ages 15-24 (2007) 51% Neutral

C. Prevalence of Malnutrition, Children under 5 years old (2000) 43.6%(2007) 39.9%

Positive

Progess being made: Nigeran Goverment has adopted the poverty reduction strategy to improve conditions of the people.

2. Achieving Universal Primary Education

A. Literacy rate of females ages 15-24 (2007) 23% Negative

B. Literacy rate of males ages 15-24 (2007) 52% Negative

C. Primary Completion rate (1990) 16%(2000) 18%(2007) 40%

Positive

Progess being made: Nigeran Goverment has adopted Basic Education Project to increase enrollment and completion in basic education programs.

3. Promoting Gender Equalitity

A. Ratio of females to males in primary and secondary education

(2007) 71% Positive

B. Ratio of females to males primary enrollment (1990) 61%(2000) 69%(2007) 75%

Positive

C. Ratio of females to males secondary enrollment (2007) 61% Neutral

No current progress is being made to reach the goal of gender equality.

Millenium Development Goals Data Impact4. Reducing Child Mortality

A. Immunization against measles Children 12-23 months (1990) 25%(1995) 40%(2007) 83%

Positive

B. Mortality rate of children under the age of 5 (per 1,000) (1990) 304(2000) 230(2007) 176

Positive

Progess being made: Nigeran Goverment has adopted Institutional Strengthening and Health Sector Support Project to strengthen major public health programs (Reproductive health, Malaria, nutrition, etc.)

5. Improving Maternal Health

A. Morality rate per 100,000 livebirths (2007) 1,800 Negative

B. Adolescent birth rate per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (2000) 218(2007) 157

Positive

C. Births attended by skilled health staff (2000) 16%(2007) 33%

Positive

Progess being made: Nigeran Goverment has adopted Institutional Strengthening and Health Sector Support Project to improve essential drugs and medical supplies.

6. Combating Disease

A. Prevalance of HIV both male and female (1990) 0.1%(2007) 0.8%

Negative

B. Incidence of tubercalosis (per 100,00 people) (1990) 125(2007) 174

Negative

Progess being made: Nigeran Goverment has adopted Multi-Sector STI/HIV/AIDS Support Project to slow the spread, expand support, and care for infected.

7. Ensuring Environmental Sustainability

A. Access to an improved water source (2006) 42% Negative

B. Improved sanitation facilities (1990) 3%(1995) 5%(2007) 7%

Negative

C. CO2 emissions( metric tons) (2005) 0.1 Positive

Progess being made: Nigeran Goverment has adopted The Community Action Program Project for the mul-tiple global environmental benefits such as reduction of vulnerability to climate change and conservation of biodiversity and agro-biodiversity.

Millenium Development Goals

Sincegainingindependencein1960,citizensofNigerhavehadfewpoliticalrights.InNiger,therearemanypredicamentswithhumanrightssuchaswomen’sissues,civilliberties,andchildren’sissues.AmajorproblemforwomeninNigeristhegrowingpopulationofwomanhavingtoundergotheprocedureofFGM,whichisremovingpartsofthefemalegenitaliaandsewingitclosed.Domesticviolenceandsocialdis-criminationagainstwomencontinuetobeaseriousproblem.AnotherissueinNigerischildlaborandprostitution.ChildprostitutionoccursofteninNigerduetopovertyandthedesireformoneyorgoods.CivillibertiesandrightsputcitizensofNigerundergovernmentalcontrolandhastakenawaysomeoftheirnaturalrights.

Children’s IssuesAserioushumanrightsissueinNigerischildprostitution.Themainreasonforthisissueispovertyandthedesireformoneyorgoods.Accordingtostatistics,approxi-mately60%ofthepopulationinNigerlivesoffadollarorlessaday.Thechildrenundergoingprostitutionareinbetweentheagessevenandfourteenandaremostlyfrompoorfamilies.InNiger,65%ofchildren,agesfivetofourteenareinvolvedinchildlabor.Childrenareforcedtoworkindifferentfieldsoflaborsuchasdomesticservices,prostitutionandcommerciallabor.Thechildrenshineshoes,workasmerchants,guardcars,andworkasstreetbeggars.Nigerhasalsobeensaidtobeamainsourceoftraf-fickingwherechildrenaresoldtoothercountriesforslavery,sexualabuse,andforcedlabor.Childrenareoftenforcedtoworkratherthanattendschoolespeciallyduringplantingseasons.Statisticsshowonly34%ofchildrenareenrolledinprimaryschooland71%ofthechildrenwereonlyabletoreachgrade5.Childrenwhohavesufferedchildlaborhavelivedwithseverepoverty,discrimination,thelackofprotection,socialexclusion,andeducationalopportunities.

Woman’s IssuesAmajorhumanrightsissueforwomenisviolence.Violenceagainstwomeniscom-monespeciallywithincouples.70%ofwomeninNigersufferfromdailybeatingsandrapefromtheirhusbands,fathers,orbrothers.Womendohavetherighttoreportphysicalabuseandviolencetoofficialcourtsbutverylittledobecausetheirfearofbeingadisgracetosociety.AnotherissueforwomenisFGM,whichstandsforFemaleGenitalMutilation.FemaleGenitalMutilationistheprocessofremovingallorpartoftheclitoris.Thisprocedurewaskepthiddenuntil1987.Thisprocedurekeptfemalesfromhavingsexualintercourseandcausedwomentostayavirginuntilmarriage.Af-tertheprocedurewasdone,thevaginaonlyconsistedoftwosmallopeningsforurineandthemenstrualcycle.Reportsshowthatonlyabout2.2%offemalesbetweentheagesoffifteenandfortyninehavehadthisproceduredonesince2006comparedto5.8%in1998.MostwomeninNigerdonotworkalthoughtheyhavetherighttowork;onlyfewerthan7%ofwomendo.Mostwomendonotworkbecauseoftheirhealthandtheneedtocarefortheirchildren.Womenwhoworkedwouldhelpinfarming,childcareandwatergathering.

Civil LibertiesLastly,anotherhumanrightsissueiscivilliberties.Althoughcitizenshavesomerightstheyarestillundergovernmentalcontrol.Thegovernmentallowswomentherighttobuyandsellland,butmostwomendon’thaveaccesstoanyland.MostofthelandinNigerisdryanddesert,sothegoodfertilelandthat’sleftisusuallyownedbythemen.Nigerallowsfreedomofreligion.ThemostdominantreligioninNigerisIslam.Nigercitizenshavefreedomofassemblyaccordingtotheirconstitutionof1999,butthegovernmentplacesrestrictionsongatheringsinvolvingpolitics.Nigeropposesfree-domofpressandthegovernmenthastriedtoconstrainit,butthroughouttheyearsnewspapersandtheradiohaveprospered.Radiohasbecomeanimportantpubliccommunication.

HUMAN RIGHTS

ManycountriesinAfricadealwithenvironmentalissues,butonecountryinparticularissufferingfromseveredamagetoitsenvironment.InthecountryofNiger,therearemanyenvironmentalissuesoccurring.MostoftheseissuesareduetoNigerbeingdependentonfarmingasthebackboneoftheireconomy.AsNiger’spopulationincreases,forestlandshavebeendecreasing.Statisticsindicatebetweentheyearsof1990and2005,Nigerhaslostalmosthalfofitsforest.Nigeriscurrentlysufferingfromovergrazing,soilerosion,deforestation,desertification,andthreatstoitswildlifepopulations.Overgrazingiswhereplantsarefeduponbyanimalsforalongperiodoftimewithoutatimeofpausetore-grow,mainlycausedbytoomanyanimalsinasmallarea.Soilerosionisthewashingawayorremovalofsoilbytheflowofwaterorstrongwinds.Deforestationistheprocessofclearingorremovingforestlandsforfarmingpurposesanddesertificationisthechangefromhabitablelandtodrydesertlandscausedbysevereclimatechange.

Causes of Environmental IssuesInNiger,forestedlandsaresufferingfromdesertificationandsoilerosion.Desertificationis40-60%causedbyhumanactivitiessuchasabusetolandbycultivationorurbanization,severedroughtsorrainfall,andovergrazing.SoilerosionismainlycausedbystrongwindsduringdrywinterseasonsinNiger.Thesestrongwinds,calledHarmattanalsocon-tributetothecauseofdesertificationandovergrazedland.OneofNiger’sbiggestenvironmentalissuesisDeforesta-tion.Theaverageannualdeforestationrateis3.17%.Betweentheyearsof1990and2005,Nigerhaslost34.9%ofitsforestlandsduetodeforestation.DeforestationisbecomingahugeproblemforNigerbecauseitiscausedbyhumanactivitiessuchastheneedforlandtofarm,andasthepopulationgrowthinNigerincreases,thedeforestationalsoincreasesanddestroystheforestsandtrees.Asthepopulationgrowthcontinuestoincrease,thedemandsforforestgoodsandfoodalsoincreasescausingfarmerstoremovemoreforestland.DeforestationisalsoahugecauseofdesertificationbecauseclearingNiger’sforestlandsleavesmoredrydesertedlands.

Species of Animals and PlantsNigerhasapopulationof684speciesofanimals,approximately40ofthembeingendangered.Thereare131mam-mals,493birds,and58reptiles.Therearealso1,460differenttypesofplants.InNigertherearemanyendangeredspeciessuchastheaddax,damagazelle,slenderhornedgazelle,andwilddogsbutthemostendangeredspeciesaretheNigergiraffes.Duetoseveredroughts,habitatloss,farmlandconversions,foodscarcity,andhunting,giraffepopu-lationsinNigerhavedramaticallydeclined.Tenyearsago,giraffeshadapopulationof140,000butithasdramaticallydecreasedto100,000duetopoachinganddesertification.Accordingtostatisticstoday,itissaidthatgiraffesaremak-ingacomebackandpopulationshavebeenexpanding12%eachyear.

Water Quality in NigerDeathratesareincreasinginNigerduetopoorhygieneandsanitation.InNiger,havingaccesstosafedrinkingwaterisnearlyimpossible.Lessthan45%ofNiger’spopulationhasaccesstoacleanwatersource.Everyday,womenandchildrenstruggletofindcleanwaterfortheirfamiliestodrink.Whenwomenorchildrendohaveaccesstoawa-tersourcesuchaspondsorlakes,thewaterisoftencontaminatedandcontainwaterbornediseases.Waterbornediseaseshavekilledover20%ofchildrenbelowtheageoffive.Since1970,Nigerhasexperiencedseveredroughtsthathaveaffectedwaterresources.TheNigerRiver,whichisthemainwatersourceforthepeoplehasbeengreatlyaffectedbytheseveredroughtscausingtheannualinflowtodecreaseby30%since1970.

ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS

RESOURCE MAP

ThecountryofNigerisknownasoneofthepoorestcountriesintheworldwithmorethanhalfofitspopulationlivingunderadollaraday.Nigersuffersfromissuesregardingtheenvironment,women’srights,children’srights,education,anddiseases.AlloftheseissuesarecausedandperpetuatedbytheextremelyhighpovertyoccurringinNiger.PovertyhasseverelydestroyedNiger’senvironment.Nigersuffersfromdeforestationduetofarmersneedinglandtoharvestfoodwhichhasleftoverhalfofthecountryaswasteland.DuetotheenvironmentalissuesNigerexperiences,acleanwatersourceisverydifficulttofind.ThewaterinNigerisusuallycontaminatedandhascauseddiseaseswhichledtomanydeathsofchildren.Povertyhashighlyaffectedbothwomenandchildren.Womenareun-abletogotoschoolduetotheneedtocarefortheirchildrenandsocialdiscrimination.Aseriousissueduetopovertyandthedesireformoneyorgoodsischildprostitutionandchildlabor.Thesetwoissueshavealsolimitedchildren’sopportunitiesineducation.PeopleofNigerhavelittleaccesstoschoolsandashortageofteachers.Allofthesesevereissuesarecausedbypovertyandcontinuetoincreasebecauseofthecycleofpeoplebeingmalnourished,makingpeoplelessproductiveandtheeconomycontinuingtodecrease.InordertohelpNigerbecomeabettercommunity,Nigerneedstoincreasefinanciallytocreateastableenvironmentforallcitizens.Ifpovertylevelsdecrease,alloftheseissuesbecomelesssevereandhelpthecommunityasawholetoliveinabetter,morestableenvironment.

Poverty effects on Women63%ofNiger’spopulationlivesbelowthepovertylevel,withwomenbeingtwo-thirdsofthispopulation.DuetotheseverepovertyinNiger,womenareunabletogotoschoolbecauseofthesocialdiscriminationoccurring.Accordingtostatistics,menaremorelikelytocompletetheireducationthanwomenbecausewomengetmarriedattheearlyageof15andneedtocarefortheirchildren.Only15%ofwomenareabletoreadandwritecomparedto43%ofmen.PovertyhascausedwomentocontractdiseasessuchasHIVandAIDSduetounsanitizedtoolsusedintheprocedureoffemalegenitalmutilation.Mostwomenaremalnourishedandhavesufferedfromwa-terbornediseases.IfNiger’seconomygrew,womencouldfinallyattendschoolsandhaveaneducationandthepopulationofwomenbattlingdiseasescoulddecreaserapidlyleadingtolessdeaths.

Poverty effects on the EnvironmentNiger’senvironmentsuffersfrommanysevereproblemssuchasovergrazing,soilerosion,deforestation,anddesertification.Mostoftheseproblemsarecausedbyhumanactivitiessuchasfarmingandabusestolandbycultivationandurbanization.Betweentheyearsof1990and2005,Nigerhaslost34.9%ofitsforestcover.Duetopoverty,farmershavebeenclearingforestlandinordertoharvestgoodstosell.MorethanhalfofNigeriswastelandbecauseofthedrydesertedareathathadbeenclearedaway.Droughtsandsevereclimatechangehavealsocausedtheselandstodryup.MostofNiger’spopulationlivesinSouthernNigerbecauseithasfewtrees,amarketplace,andariver.ThispopulationgrowthinthecapitalofNiameyhascausedmoredeforestationtooccurslowlyturningtheeconomyworsethanithadbeen.Iftheeconomygrew,Niger’senvironmentcouldmakeadrasticrecovery.Forestcoverandplanta-tionscouldslowlyriseagainandfoodproductioncouldincreaseleavingfewercitizensstarvingandmalnourished.Statisticsshowatleast2.5millionpeopledon’thaveenoughtoeatand80,000childrenareatriskofbecomingseverelymalnourishedinNiger.

Poverty effects on ChildrenDuetopoverty,childrenhavesufferedinordertogetmoney.ChildtraffickingandprostitutioniscommoninNiger.Childrenhavealsoundergoneothertypesofchildlaborsuchasshiningshoes,guardingcars,andworkingasstreetbeggars.Childrenarealsoforcedtoworkincommerciallabor,prostitution,anddomesticservices.Povertyhasdrivenchildrentobephysicallyandemotionallybeaten.Childrenareoftenforcedtoworkratherthanattendschool,somostchildrenarenoteducated.IfNiger’seconomygrew,childrencouldleavethislifestyleandgobacktoschooltoeducatethemselves.Thiscouldincreasetheenrollmentinschoolsandcompletionrates.

Poverty effects on education EducationinNigerisverypoor.Nigerissaidtohaveoneofthelowestliteracyratesintheworld.Mostwomenandchildrenarenotbeingeducatedduetotheeffectsofpoverty.Mostcitizenswhocompleteschoolaremen.Nigercitizenshavepooraccesstoschoolsandashortageofteachersduetolackofmoney.Statisticsshowsonly29%ofprimaryschool-agechildrenobtainaneducation.Manychildrenandwomendonotattendschoolbecausetheyaresufferingfromdiseasestheirbodycan’tfightoffwhichmakesthemveryweak.IfNiger’seconomygrewtherecouldpossiblybebettersupplies,abetterschoolenvironment,andmoreteachersteaching.Morecitizenswouldbeeducatedabouttheirrightsandpossiblyhelpthecountrybyusingtheirknowledge.

Poverty effects on diseasesInNiger,therearemanydiseasesthatarekillingpeopleeveryday.In2006,thereweresaidtobe614casesofmeningococcaldiseaseand44deaths.InNiger,meningococcalwascausedbydustyweatherconditions,closecontactwithpeople,andthelackofsanitation.AlmostaquarterofNigercitizenssufferfromthedisease,bilharzias.Bilharziasarecausedbybathinginwatercontaminatedwithurine.13.4millionpeopleinNigersufferfromschistosomiasis,aparasiticskininfection.Thisdiseasewascausedbypoorsanitation,housing,andwatersupply.TheriskofbeinginfectedbyadiseaseinNigerisveryhighsincemostdiseasesarespreadablethroughcontact.ThereisahighpopulationofmalnourishmentinNiger.Whenthebodyismalnourished,itcan’tfightdiseases,whichmakethebodysickerandlessproductive.Thisisthemainreasonchildrenorwomendon’tgotoschoolorwork,becausetheirbodyistooexhaustedandweakfromdiseases.HospitalsinNigerarenotveryeffectiveattreatingallthediseases.Therefore,iftheeconomygrows,Nigercouldbuildahospitalwithprofessionaldoctorsabletohelppeoplediagnosedwithdiseases.ThiscouldhelppreventdiseasesfromspreadinganddecreasethedeathrateinNiger.

DESCRIPTION OF NEED

Where to beginThecapitalofNigerisNiamey,locatedsouthneartheNigerRiver.MostofNiger’spopulationlivesinNiameyorsurroundingvillagesbecausetheNigerRiveristheonlywatersourcetheyhaveaccessto.Ourprojectbeginshere,wherewewillgiveoutlifestrawsandinstallthesolarpoweredwaterpumpsinthewellsofthevillages.Fellowciti-zenslivinginNiameywillbeabletoaccesscleanwaterwithouthavingtowalkfarandspending3hoursworkingtogetthewater.

The Life StrawThelifestrawisaportablewaterpurificationtoolthatcleanssurfacewatersoitissafeforpeopletodrink.Thelifestrawisaplasticpipefilterthatremovesimpurities,chemicals,andbacteriathatcouldcausewaterbornediseases.InthecountryofNiger,manypeopleneedtotravelfardistancestofindacleanwatersource.ByprovidingeachcitizenwithaLifestraw,peoplecouldeasilyaccesscleanwaterwherevertheygo.Nigerhasmanywellsfilledwithdirtycontaminatedwater;byusingthelifestrawcitizenscouldeasilydrinkfromwellsclosetothevillageordrinkfromthebiggestwatersource,theNigerriver.Thelifestrawisasimpledevicethatanyonecoulduse,everyday.Itislowcostandresearchshowsitcleans99.999%ofwaterbornebacteriaand98%ofwaterborneviruses.Providingcitizenswithalifestrawwillsupplyimmediatereliefandaccesstocleandrinkingwater.ThelifestrawwillsupportNigercitizensforaboutayearwhiletheconstructionofsolarpoweredwaterpumpsarebeingmade,givingthemmoreaccesstowater.

Solar powered water pumpsSolarpoweredwaterpumpsareusedforpumpingwaterfordrinkingwater,livestock,cropirrigationandwatersup-ply.ThegoalofthisprojectistoensurethatNigerfamiliesareabletoaccesscleanwaterwithouthavingtowalklongdistancesorworking3hoursinordertogetwaterfromthewellmanually.Byinstallingsolarpoweredwaterpumps,Nigerwellswillautomaticallypumpcleanwaterfromthebottomofthewellsuptothetopinorderforwomenandchildrentoeasilyscoopouttheamountofwatertheyneed.Thiswaterpumpissolarpowered,itworksusingenergyfromthesun.Nigerweatherconsistsofsunandcloudsdailywhichwillallowthesewaterpumpstowork.TherearenotmanywellsinthevillagesofNigerwewillbuildmoreinsurroundingvillagestoensurethatthewholecommuni-tywillbebenefitted.Bydiggingboreholeswewillbeabletocreatemorewells.InstallingthesesolarpoweredwaterpumpsintovillagewellswillsupplyimmediaterelieftoNigerciviliansbyprovidingcleanwaterineveryvillagepos-sibleandtoeveryfamilypossible.ThisprojectwillbeputintoactionbyprovidingNigerwiththesolarwaterpumps,whichareeasytoinstallanduse.Wewillinstallsolarpoweredwaterpumpsintovillagestosupportanestimatedpopulationof774thousandcitizenslivinginNiamey.

Water Purification MachineThesolarpoweredwaterpumpswillgivevillagersaccesstocleanwater,butpeoplelivingalongtheNigerriverwon’tbenefitasmuch.ByinstallingwaterpurificationmachinessuchastheVillager,neartheNigerRiver,morepeoplecanhaveaccesstocleanwater.Thewaterpurificationmachineisputnearawatersource,whereitthensucksupthewaterandrunsitthroughafilterandultravioletlightdisinfectionprocess.Thecarbonblockfiltrationremovesdirtytastesandodors,sothewatercouldbecleanandsafetodrink.Thenthewateristransportedbackintoatankthatpeoplecangetwaterfrom.Thewaterpurificationmachineisasimplefiltrationmachinepoweredbyasolarpanel.Itisabletopumpwater12gallonsaminutewhichcanprovideforfamiliesandfarming.SeveralwillbesetupalongtheNigerRivertosupportthepopulationofapproximatelythreemillionpeoplewhousetheNigerRiverastheirwatersource.

DuetotheseverepovertycrisisoccurringinNiger,im-mediatereliefisneeded.OnemainissuethatcontributestothisconflictisthelackofcleanwaterinNiger.WehaveproposedaplanthatwillprovideimmediatereliefandlongtermpositiveeffectstohelpNigerrecoverfromthesevereeffectspovertyhascaused.Inordertohelppoverty,wehavecreatedaplanthatwillimprovetheamountofcleanwatersourcesandavailabilityinNiger.Tosupplyimmediaterelief,wewillgotoeveryvillageandgiveasmanycitizensalifestraw,whichwillallowthemtohaveaccesstocleanwaterwhereverawatersourceisfound.Thelifestrawisaportablewaterfilterthatwilllastapproximatelyayear.Duringthatyearwewillalsobeinstallingsolarpoweredwaterpumpsinlocalwellstoalloweveryvillageaccesstosafedrinkingwaterformanyyears.Althoughvillageswillhaveaccesstocleanwater,citizenslivingalongtheNigerriverwon’t.WewilltheninstallawaterpurificationmachinealongtheNigerRiverthattakesinwaterandpurifiesitwithoutusingelectricity,whichwillhelppeoplelivingalongtheriverwhodon’thaveaccesstovillagewells.ThecreationoftheseprojectswillbenefitallofNiger’scitizensbypro-vidingcleanerwatertosavetime,labor,health,andtheenvironment.ManyvillagesinNigerdonothaveaccesstoacleanwatersourcewhichhascausedmanywater-bornediseasesanddeathsatayoungage.Children,whofetchwaterfortheirfamiliesmusttravelfartolocalwells,andthishascausedchildrentoworkmorethantheygotoschool.Manychildrenarenotabletogotoschoolbecausetheyareeithertoosickfromthecontaminatedwaterortoobusyspendinghoursfetchingwaterfortheirfamilies.Duetothelackofwaterforfarming,Niger’senvironmenthasbeenfromsufferingdeforesta-tion,overgrazing,desertification,andsoilerosion.

PROJECT PROPOSAL

Byprovidingeverycitizenwithalifestraw,installingsolarpoweredwaterpumpsintovillagewellsandplacingwaterpurificationmachinesneartheNigerRiver,ourgroupwillimpactthedailylivesofNigercitizensbyprovidingNigerwithcleanaccessiblewater.Thiswillbenefittheenvironmentbyincreasingcropplantationsandfarmingbyprovid-ingcleanwaterforgoodfertilelandandplantstogrow.Duringrainyseasons,plantationinNigerincreases,butNigerissufferingseveredroughtswhichhaveeffectedplantgrowth.Theconditionsofthelandisverydry,butprovidingcleanwaterwillresultinmoremoistureinthelandforplantationstogrow,increasingforestcoverinNiger.Womenandchildrenwillnolongerhavetotravelfartogatherwaterfortheirfamilies.Thiswillsavetimeandworkfortheciti-zensofNigerandgivethemmoretimeforeducationandjobs,increasingannualincomeandenrollmentinschools.Havingcleanerwaterwilldecreasethepopulationofcitizenssufferingwaterbornediseasesultimatelyleadingtoadecreaseinthedeathrate.Ourprojectswillhelppurifythewatersotherewillbelesspeoplesufferingfromdiseasesandlesspeopledyingbecauseofthem.

AlthoughtherearemanypositiveimpactsourprojectshaveonthecountryofNiger,therearenegativeonesaswell.Someofthenegativeimpactsourprojectscanresultinaredirtbuildup.Ifourpumps,pipesorfiltersarenotcleanedonaregularbasis,dirtwillbuildupinthemandpossiblycontaminatethewatermakingitnotuseable.Also,ifbymistake,thefilters,pipesorpumpsarenotputtogethercorrectly,theycouldfaillateronandstopcleaningthewaterwhichcouldleadtomorewaterbornediseases.Peoplecouldthinkthewateriscleananddrinkmoreoften,givingthemahigherriskofdisease.Wewillmakesuretousethebest,mostdurablepipes,pumpsandfilterssothisdoesn’thappen,andwewillmakesurewemaintaineverythingcleansonothinggoeswrong.

Positives Negatives

•Villagerscanaccesscleanwatereasily.

•Impactsenvironmentbyprovidingcleanwaterforcrops

•Lesswaterbornediseases

•Womenandchildrenspendlesstimegatheringwaterfortheirfamiliesandwillhavemoreproduc-tivetimeforschool

•Thefiltercouldfailaddingtothediseasesinsteadofreduc-ingthem

•Thefilterswillhavesomesortofbuildupanditcouldpileupwithoutpropercleaningonaregularbasis.

•Lifestrawscanincreaseconsumptionofcontaminatedwateriffiltersarenotstrongenoughtoremovebacteriaanddiseases.

IMPACT ANALYSIS

Short Term: The Life Straw

August2010:-Presentourplanwithorganizationmembersanddiscussitsbenefits.-MeetingwithorganizationmemberstodiscusstheamountofLifeStrawsweneedandpurchasethem.

September2010:-BeginvisitingvillagesandeducatingpeopleonthepurposeoftheLifeStrawandhowtouseitproperly.-DistributeLifeStrawstoeverycitizenofNiger

Long Term: Solar Power Water Pumps

September2010:-Meetingwithorganizationmemberstodiscussthelocationsofvillagesinneedofwellsandplacementofwaterpumps.-Purchasealltheneededmaterials;solarpumps,solarpanels,pipingandwatertanks.

October2010:-Installsolarpanelsandattachthemtopumpsthroughpipingunderground.

January2011:-Installfiltrationsystemsintowatertankslocatedundergroundinpipes.

March2011:-Testwatersupplyandpurificationresults.-Oncetestedclean,allowcitizensaccesstowells.-Collectdataoneffectivenessofhavingsolarpoweredwaterpumps

June2011:-Buildmorewellsinvillagesinneed.

Long Term: The Water Purification Machine

June2011-Meetingwithorganizationmemberstodiscusstheplacementofthemachineandpurchase.

July2011-PlacewaterpurificationmachinesnearNigerRiver,oneevery10miles.-TestoutforeffectiveresultsofpurificationoftheNigerRiver.

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION