Rain for the Sahel and Sahara (RAIN)
Rating: 4.9 stars 39 reviews
Issues: International, Economic Development, Microfinance
Location: PO Box 1503 Portsmouth NH 03802 USA
Results: Developing enduring grassroots programs for over a decade to bring access to education and opportunity to some of the poorest communities in the world. Local women mentor at-risk girls to keep them succeeding in school. Self supporting agriculture projects increase food security and income. Training and investing in community enterprise and S&L groups for women increases economic security on both family and community levels. RAIN is bringing measurable changes in quality of life while preserving traditional lifestyles.
Target demographics: Rural and nomadic communities achieve access to education and enduring livelihoods.
Direct beneficiaries per year: 17 remote communities across the desert regions of Niger
Geographic areas served: Niger, West Africa
Programs: School Market and Women's Co-operative Agriculture, Mentoring for at-risk girls, Small Enterprise such as artisan and herding co-operatives, wells, Savings and Loans Groups, agricultural and business education, Learning Center for nomadic students to go beyond primary school.
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Community Reviews
Rain for the Sahel and Sahara (RAIN) is one of those rare organizations that is not about charity but rather about sustainability.Every dollar invested is intended to create the infrastructure or resources to enable local communities to carry on their educational mandate without further intervention from outside. Of course it takes time to build the communal institutions to accomplish this, so RAIN is the
initial resource to make this possible. Education is the key to combating the negative forces of fundamentalism that have played out in the region over the last 12 months. Please support these efforts that will sustain a rich cultural Tuareg heritage. I have been to Niger with Bess and RAIN and experienced the warmth and generosity of a culture in transition. Send me an email cw@charterweeks.com and I will send you my journal of that amazing journey to the very edge of nowhere.
Charter Weeks
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Education and empowerment for women and girls has proven to be a powerful force for peace and prosperity in developing nations. Programs like RAIN provide an enormous return on investment.
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The commitment and passion to the work RAIN does in Niger is a model for all small nonprofits. The Board and the staff create an environment that allows someone with very little knowledge of western Africa to understand the urgency of the need for education, water and support for the people in the communities served by RAIN. Though these communities are a far distance from the United States, RAIN works diligently to make us realize that all people deserve to be treated with dignity and respect when a foreign nonprofit is dedicated to providing assistance.
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I know that every dollar donated to RAIN is money used in the most effective manner. It is vital that the cultures of the world's fragile indigenous peoples, such as the life-revering Tuareg, be sustained and preserved. YOU can help in achieving this by donating to RAIN, an amazing non-profit which is dedicated to education and economic development in Niger. The Tuareg culture (renowned for its matriarchal families, inspiring music and beautiful jewelry) has survived the harsh realities of the desert since its creation; however, it is at risk in our violent world. The road to peace is paved with the prosperity of people such as those that RAIN is "boosting" with education and, also, with the essentials for good health that enable learning and putting to work what has been mastered. God bless the people of Niger, and God bless RAIN for all it accomplishes in Niger!
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1 person found this review helpful
RAIN for the Sahel and Sahara is dramatic evidence of the power of one. When Bess Palmisciano first visited the Sahara desert of Niger, she didn't just exclaim over the scenery, she wanted to learn how a nomadic peoples lived in such a place. When she saw some of the essential things they needed, she set about her work of recruiting help to dig wells, build schools, enable nomadic children to attend the schools by planting gardens to feed them at school. RAIN now helps to educate women to be economically independent and girls to be educated while not neglecting important support for men and boys in Niger. The work of RAIN demonstrates the transformational importance of two statements attributed to two ground-breaking women: Marilla Ricker, "It had to be done so I did it', and Margaret Mead, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." I am proud to support such valuable work!
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1 person found this review helpful
I've seen how powerful the mentoring bond can be in practice in schools in this country. A way for both mentor and mentee to see beyond their daily horizon and take new, positive and sometimes scary risks. It can be life-saving. I am so happy to have discovered RAIN's education programs in Niger that give young nomadic girls opportunities beyond traditional roles and their community mentors new livelihoods and training in health, business and social issues. We know how important every year of school is for these very rural and nomadic youths living in a changing and challenging world. RAIN's impact on their Nigerien partners and friends is real, personal and sustainable - and deserves our help.
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A recent 50th reunion of former Peace Corps volunteers who served in the Niger Republic voted to recognize and fund RAIN and one other non profit group as a legacy non profit serving the critical needs of Niger citizens. A sub-committee of former volunteers experienced in international aid and development considered and developed a short list of 6 potential organizations, some very large and established and operating in Niger. RAIN was selected for recognition and funding due to its leadership, use of primarily well experienced Nigeriens to manage the organization, its support of under-served population, provision of services in education, economic development, food security in a sustainable manner, and support of girls education.
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RAIN for the Sahel and Sahara is a fantastic non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of many groups in Niger. RAIN has implemented programs to fight for the right of equal education and has formed cooperatives with both women and men to help support their lifestyles. RAIN also educates Americans about the difficulties these people face each and every day. A wonderful and thoughtful organization!
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There are many reasons that I support RAIN both as a volunteer and as a donor. One of the biggest reasons is that they are an organization who sets the stage for people to help themselves. They are not an organization that sweeps in and imposes western solutions. RAIN listens first and then works to help. Their staff in Niger is Nigerien. I think that speaks volumes. When you speak with their ED, Bess Palmisciano, you see that her deep respect for the Tuareg people informs RAIN in everything that they do.
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Bess and the staff at RAIN are intelligent and compassionate leaders working to create positive change for the nomadic people of Niger, some of the poorest people on Earth. RAIN's efforts are multi-faceted....fundraising, helping to make the rough desert environment more functional for survival, education and training, and selling in the U.S. the goods made by the women of the nomadic cooperatives so that the money can be put back into schools for children back in Niger. A lot of work done efficiently and with incredibly positive results!!