Thursday, July 26, 2007
Last letter from the states!
Just wanted to let everyone know that pre-service training was great and i'm heading to Niger with 41 of the most amazing friends! I can't wait to get there and immerse myself in the culture! I'll update this as soon as possible, but until then everyone take care! Peace and Love, James
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Community Health Agent
Sannu!
I just received the packet detailing what my actual assignment will be once I get to Niger. My official title is "Community Health Agent". The Peace Corps Niger's health mission includes: "Improving maternal and infant health, improving the nutritional status of households, and improving the community's ability to prevent and treat illnesses." Wow! Sounds like I will have my work cut out for me!
Some examples of the kind of work I will be doing at my post include:
Sai anjima!
I just received the packet detailing what my actual assignment will be once I get to Niger. My official title is "Community Health Agent". The Peace Corps Niger's health mission includes: "Improving maternal and infant health, improving the nutritional status of households, and improving the community's ability to prevent and treat illnesses." Wow! Sounds like I will have my work cut out for me!
Some examples of the kind of work I will be doing at my post include:
- Giving presentations on health and hygiene to local clinics and schools
- Training villagers on how to keep their well more sanitary
- Assisting with Polio vaccination campaigns
- Doing a weekly radio show promoting healthy lifestyles
- Talking to women about HIV/AIDS
Sai anjima!
Monday, June 25, 2007
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
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
Monday, June 18, 2007
Monday, June 18, 2007
Hello everyone,
I decided to set up this blog website because it will be my best way of relaying information to you guys while I'm out of the country. I have recently received my assignment to serve in the Peace Corps and I will be leaving on July 24, 2007.
I will be doing Community Health Education/Health Extension in Niger for the next 27 months. On the 24th of July I will fly out to Philadelphia for a three day pre-departure orientation and then I will fly to Niger for three months of pre-service training (PST) before I am sent to a rural village to begin my work. During training I will learn all of the necessary skills (language, technical, cross-cultural, etc) that I will need once I arrive in my village.
For now, I am making the necessary preparations to prepare for a 27-month trip to Africa! I have begun to learn French, the business language in Niger, as well as two local languages, Hausa and Zarma. I have also tried to start packing what I think I'll need for the next two years although packing for two years in only two bags is not as easy as you would think!
Well, I guess that's all for now, I will give further details as my departure date draws nearer!
Salaam aleikum,
James
James
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