Niger is more than sand and scarcity, it is children holding to school and safety through hunger, conflict, and long distances. From Maradi to Tahoua and Diffa, their courage is daily and unsung; our work is to lift it, protect it, and invite others to stand close.
Nearly 3 in 4 girls are married before the age of 18. Many drop out by grade 5 and face lifelong consequences — from early childbirth to lost opportunities and emotional trauma.
Prolonged drought, poverty, and instability have left over 40% of children chronically malnourished. In some regions, children go days without meals or rely on humanitarian aid to survive.
Armed violence in western and southeastern border areas has displaced tens of thousands of families. Many children live in informal camps with no school access, high trauma, and risks of trafficking or recruitment.
In Tahoua and Zinder, Lafia Matassa receives girls who were treated as labor or wives and tells them the truth: you are a student, you are a child, you have rights. Shelters offer calm; counselors help name fear; bridge classes rebuild letters and numbers; vocational tracks meet older teens where they are. Legal aid confronts forced unions; caseworkers mediate with families and elders; community pledges make protection public. Parent workshops replace rumor with knowledge; mentors stay close so courage does not fade after the first week. Supplies, uniforms, and safe transport remove barriers that once felt impossible. Each girl’s plan is practical and personal; success looks like attendance that holds, a notebook filled, a voice returning in class and at home.
Along border regions where schools closed and families scattered, HED Tamat sets up tents, unfolds boards, and starts lessons that restore rhythm. Children receive food packs and school kits; teachers trained in trauma aware practice pace the day with patience; play circles steady the body. Peer educators learn to notice distress and to lead with kindness; parents join sessions on safety that feel possible in camp life. Mobile teams register new arrivals, track progress, and return on schedule so trust can grow. The work is simple and near; it treats education and nutrition as one promise. In places shaped by fear, small circles of peace form around children, and learning takes root again.
Community educators mapped settlements, enrolled children where they slept, and placed tents where paths crossed; makeshift classrooms filled by morning. Each learner received a kit and a name on a roll; group counseling helped quiet the jump of sudden noises; reading returned line by line. Parents attended evening talks on protection; volunteers kept spaces clean and safe; older students tutored those who had missed years. Teachers adapted lessons to mixed levels; meals anchored the day; attendance rose because predictability returned. The campaign restored more than school, it restored a sense of tomorrow, a plan that families could hold. Hope felt close enough to touch.
Women, grandmothers, teachers, and former child brides gathered in open halls; testimonies were given, hard questions asked, quiet tears shared. Health workers explained risk and care; legal teams outlined routes to protection; faith leaders spoke of dignity with clarity. Art corners let girls paint futures; enrollment desks registered those ready to return; mentors collected contacts for visits. Village pledges followed; murals declared we are more than wives; study circles formed that night. The forum ended, but the promises traveled home and began to change decisions. Community by community, childhood gained ground.
Provides humanitarian aid, emergency health care, and community development support in Niger.
Fosters equitable growth in Niger through environmental sustainability, training, and innovation.
Offers reproductive health services, family planning, and education for women across Niger.
Works to eliminate neglected tropical diseases through health system strengthening and treatment programs.
Mobilizes young leaders to advocate for family planning, sexual health, and youth rights.