Monday, June 25, 2007

Sannu!

I just wanted to give everyone a brief description about Niger so you all will have an idea about the country that I will be living in for the next two years, so here it goes...

Niger is one of the largest countries in northwest Africa. Its area is slightly less than twice the size of Texas. Niger shares its border with seven other countries: Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Libya, Mali, and Nigeria. It is a land-locked country with the northern two-thirds of the country lying within the Sahara desert. Most of the twelve million Nigeriens live in the semi-arid zone across the southern one-third of the country known as the Sahel.

Niger faces many problems, both environmentally and economically. Niger was ranked 177 out of 177 countries on the 2005 UN Human Development Index. About 80% of the population are subsistence farmers and herders. The country faces rapid population growth (3.6% annually) and its per capita GDP was only $185 (US) in 2003. Only 46% of households have access to potable drinking water and only 27% of the population over the age of 15 is literate. Millet is the staple food in most of the country, however, sorghum and rice are also staple foods.

I am only writing you these facts in order to inform you all of the plight of this country, not to scare anyone. I know I have a difficult task ahead of me, yet I will try my best to help the Nigeriens better their lives so that they can provide for themselves well after my service has ended.

I guess that's about it for now.

Sai an jima,

James