This year, as many as 7.8 million people - more than half of Niger's total population - face the grim prospect of months without sufficient food. Sporadic rains during the last growing season have had a devastating effect on harvests and food supplies, leaving households with little to save for the long "hungry season" between harvests. There are already widespread reports of families - particularly women and children - skipping meals and having...
Celebrate the 49th anniversary of the Peace Corps This year join the Peace Corps community nationwide and celebrate the Peace Corps' 49th anniversary with a third goal activity! Honor Volunteers of past and present and your host countries by bringing the world home. You can do this through a variety of ways such as organizing a cultural event, presenting an exhibit of photographs or crafts, or visiting a classroom. Don't forget to register your...
Five Returned Peace Corps Volunteers began filming their experiences during a return trip to Niger in 2008. Now they are hoping to turn these experiences into a full-length documentary. Jic Clubb, Filingue 1967 From the documentary web site: In the summer of 1966 a group of 65 idealistic Peace Corps volunteers headed for Africa and landed in the dusty, heat-scorched desert of Niger. We stayed for two years working in agriculture, digging wells...
In case you missed it, come check out our April 2009 Camel Express (PDF, 1.3 MB), posted directly below, for the heartwarming story about how a Peace Corps volunteer from the early 1970's reunited with his old Nigerien friend over thirty years later, and they continued to enrich each other's lives. John and Idy reunite after 31 years John Baird first met Idy Gondah while living in his village as a volunteer in the early 70's. John never thought...
The Peace Corps is inviting former volunteers to submit stories and photos from their volunteer experiences to be used in the 50th anniversary celebration of the Peace Corps. From their web site: The 50th Anniversary Digital Library provides a searchable collection of electronic Peace Corps materials from 1961-present, including: Photos and stories contributed by Volunteers and RPCVs, using an online submission form Digitized newsletters,...
Author and Northeastern Professor William Miles, discusses his memoir, My African Horse Problem on December 3, 2008. Miles returned to Niger in 2000 with his ten-year-old son Samuel, to resolve an inheritance dispute over a horse. His experience captivated National Public Radio, and "All Things Considered" covered both his pre-departure story and follow-up after his visit. His account weaves together memoir, history and anthropology and...
Niger has always been a rich country for archeological research. This blog post links to a research paper outlining some of the more notable archeological finds and their significance. It's highly technical information, but it's interesting to get an idea of all the work going in in the country relating to the history of mankind. Full URL:
Andrew Marinelli, a recent RPCV from Niger, is planning an ambitious "Third Goal" service project. Beginning in March of 2009, he will begin a 6,000 mile bicycle ride from Key West, Florida, to San Francisco, California, stopping at primary and secondary schools along the way to give talks about his experiences in Niger, and help spread awareness about global hunger, rising food costs, and areas affected by conflict, while raising money for...
Reconnect with the Peace Corps community and give your job search a jump start with four days of career-development workshops and discussions for recently returned Peace Corps Volunteers. This is a FREE event for RPCVs. Pre-registration is required for all sessions, and attendees are responsible for their own travel, food, and lodging costs. For more information, visit:http://www.peacecorps.gov/rpcv/events.
Partnership With Peace Corps Niger And Friends Of Niger Supports Young Girls Scholarship Program The Estrogenius Festival's Voices Of Africa (VOA) is a collaboration with Peace Corps Niger. This unique collaboration, featuring stories, poems and songs written by young Nigerien women, will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2008. Ginger O'Neill, a former Estrogenius Festival volunteer, created the Pangea Festival in Niger along with co-creators...