"THE REAL IMPACT OF EDUCATION"

by Kara VanderKamp, Executive Director re

Education is the ladder by which many people climb out of poverty in Niger.

For the better part of a year, I had the great privilege of living with a Nigerien family and seeing first hand the impact education can have on individual lives and communities in one of the least developed countries in the world. Hannatou, the mother of the family, is an exception in Niger, where over 60% of the population has never been to school, and only 27% is literate – with 9% of women being able to read and write.

Hannatou was born into a situation in which the odds of moving up economically were stacked against her. Her mother was orphaned at a very young age and never had the opportunity for education. In addition, Hannatou's father died while she was still a small child. However, her life was dramatically changed when she was given the opportunity to attend the Tsibiri Christian Primary Boarding School through the support of a missionary. Through hard work and a lot of encouragement, Hannatou received a quality education and was able to go on to high school and university. She now works for a large not-for-profit organization and has been sent to conferences throughout Africa because of her professional success and literacy skills. Impressively, Hannatou is literate in Djerma, French, English and Hausa.

Education has an enormous impact on individual lives and, in turn, transforms societies.

Hannatou has been able to positively impact family, friends and many other community members in unique and profound ways because of her own opportunities for self-development. Her five children are receiving a solid education and are developing the necessary critical thinking skills to be successful. Her church benefits greatly through her participation as a Sunday school teacher, her intellectual and social contributions, and a weekly tithe. Moreover, her impact on the economy cannot be overstated as she frequents the local markets, eats at restaurants, employs a house keeper, and participates as an entrepreneur and small business owner. Imagine the impact that a thousand or even a million people like Hannatou could have on an underdeveloped country like Niger. How different their country would be if more Nigeriens were given quality educational opportunities!