Kornaka West

The needs in Kornaka West

Sponsor a child in Niger

Education
Schooling opportunities in rural Niger are quite rare, yet the demand for school enrolment continues to grow at an ever-increasing rate. In spite of very low literacy rates, government literacy programs re virtually non-existent. In Kornaka West, the education system suffers from a lack of schools, insufficient classrooms and equipment, and low education levels, particularly for girls.

The overall rate of children attending primary school is quite low at 17.6%, with girls accounting for only 5% of the area's primary school population. In addition, education is often not valued by parents. Community attitudes and customs require children to help tend fields and cattle, and, in the case of girls, marry very early. This prevents children exercising their right to an education.

Health Care
Kornaka West faces many challenges that prevent community members from enjoying good health. There are only two health centres, and the majority of neighbourhoods do not have a dispensary. Health personnel like first-aid agents and traditional birth attendants are also lacking. There is no medical doctor in the entire region of more than 193,600 inhabitants, compared with the national average of 1 worker to 62,600 inhabitants, and the World Health Organization standard of 1 worker to 3,000 inhabitants.

There is a high susceptibility in the area to repeated outbreaks of diseases eradicated elsewhere, such as polio, meningitis, trachoma, and measles. Malaria is the principal killer-disease in the area. There is also a high incidence of malnutrition resulting from a lack of access to food through recurring food crises, as well as traditional practices where children are fed a grain-based diet low in nutrients. Mothers are not informed of the importance of exclusively breastfeeding children under six months old.

Food
The principal crops grown in the area include millet, sorghum, peanuts, and cowpeas. However, declining crop production, poor stock management, and high post-harvest losses contribute to the acute food shortages experienced during the 3-4 month lean period preceding the next harvest.

Families do not have safety nets like savings or alternative income-generating activities to fall back, on particularly during times of crisis when harvests fail. This means households are often forced to sell off valuable livestock or farming materials in order to buy food. This perpetuates chronic cycles of hunger and poverty.

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Kornaka West's Community is graduating

Kornaka West’s community is making strong progress toward caring for all its children, not just those who are sponsored. Together with other Canadians, you’ve played an important part in helping Kornaka West get there. Thank you!

With the help of your generous and loving support, life in Kornaka West has transformed. Children and families are much stronger now. The community has met its goals, and its members are working together to tackles new ones. Your support will have a lasting impact for years to come.

The Kornaka West community is situated approximately 700 km east of Niamey, Niger's capital city. The terrain is flat, with some dry valleys. There is a short rainy season that falls between June and September, and the rest of the year is dry from October to May. Rainfall is scarce and irregular, and temperatures are regularly over 4℃ in April and May. The area is characterized by food insecurity, high rates of malnutrition, desertification, and deforestation. There is poor social infrastructure, dispersed settlements, and it is difficult to access some community centres.

88% of the population is of the Hausa ethnicity and Hausa is the main spoken language. Most people engage in subsistence agriculture and animal husbandry. Youth migration, particularly to the neighbouring country of Nigeria, is gradually gaining ground as a major economic activity. There is an acute water shortage in the community, and many residents are obliged to invest hours fetching water in order to meet their daily water requirements. Apart from the rare stagnant water produced during the rainy season, no ponds or surface water exist. As a result, water points are crowded virtually all day long, and girls are utilized by their mothers to give a helping hand in fetching water.

Niger experienced significant food crises in 2005, 2010, and 2012 due to insufficient rainfall. This has caused low food production and high food prices, resulting in families struggling to find disposable income to buy enough food to meet their daily needs.

Thanks to the generosity of Canadian sponsors like you, life in Kornaka West has improved. Your support will have a lasting impact for years to come. Let’s celebrate these accomplishments!

Education

1,227 children are participating in clubs to develop new skills, have fun and build friendships
20 clubs are giving children and youth a safe space to develop new skills and have fun
89 teachers learned child-friendly teaching methods to improve the quality of education for children

Health

101 children received deworming medication to treat intestinal worm infections and protect them from future health issues
2,701 children were vaccinated to protect them against preventable diseases
346 people were vaccinated to protect them against preventable diseases
89 health workers were trained to provide quality health services, especially for women and children

Livelihood

1,505 people are part of savings groups, helping them meet their financial needs and access small loans
300 people were trained on practices to preserve and manage the environment and its resources
61 savings groups are helping children and adults save money and access loans to grow businesses or cover basic expenses

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

10 people have safe water for drinking and cooking thanks to improved water sources
2 committees are promoting sanitary behaviours and managing water supply systems to ensure long term access to clean water
2 new water sources are providing access to safe water, protecting children against waterborne diseases
200 new latrines are granting families better access to sanitation and helping to protect children from illness
599 people learned about the importance of water safety, proper sanitation and hygiene to stay healthy

Results achieved from October 2017 to September 2018

Education
To ensure children can access and benefit from quality education, World Vision will assist the community to:

Construct and equip classrooms.
Support teachers to improve their instructional skills.
Increase the number of boys and girls provided with equal opportunities to enrol in and complete primary school education.
Increase the number of adults trained in literacy and academic skills.
Improve parents organizational and managerial capacities to help them participate in their children's education.
Help children access vocational training opportunities and literacy programs to give children alternative opportunities if they have dropped out of formal school.

Health Care
With the partnership of Canadian sponsors and the community, World Vision will work to:

Increase access to potable water to reduce the incidence of waterborne diseases.
Establish a productive partnership between the community and state health agents.
Educate community members about HIV and AIDS prevention and care.
Train mothers and caregivers in the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for children under six months old, as well as the consumption of a nutrient-dense diet.
Distribute mosquito nets and information on the prevention and treatment of malaria.

Food
To ensure parents in Kornaka West can provide for their families, World Vision will partner with the community to:

Support small-scale farmers with improved seeds and training on improved agricultural practices.
Install grain banks to store harvest grain so that food can be accessed at a reduced price during the lean season, when prices of food tend to increase.
Improve and restore land quality to increase agricultural production and support the management of natural resources, including livestock grazing land.
Increase household income by facilitating access to savings and credit and increasing income-generating activities, such as off-season irrigated vegetable gardening.
Support households with livestock and improved animal health care.

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current conditions

To protect the privacy of children, this map shows only the general area of the community, not the exact location.

Life cycle of a sponsorship community

Kornaka West, is in Phase 3

PHASE 3: Enhance sustainability

Children and families enjoy improved living conditions. They're ready to become independent and continue the work you helped start. We invite you to help another child and community!