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BC Goes to Niger
. . . more about the trip

Trip Description:   August 7th to 17th, 2007

  • Two days in Casablanca for plane transfer and climate and culture acclimation.
  • Eight days in Niger, ranked by the United Nations as one of the poorest nations in the world.
  • Group of ten people, who met through Bridgewater College affiliations, each of whom have studied or are studying international relations, history, and communications.

 Trip Goals:

  • To learn about underdeveloped nations, cultural diversity, and especially traditional Islamic cultures.
  • To visit a Peace Corps site – emphasizing agricultural development. We will be staying with a Corps volunteer in a rural village and touring an urban agricultural research center.
  • To meet and interview staff with major development organizations including the Peace Corps, Doctors without Borders, the UN, etc. to learn about their work and volunteer opportunities.
  • To contribute to a Peace Corps project in a village outside of Maradi, about 100 miles from the capitol, Niamey.  While visiting the village our group will help construct a garden.  We will bring supplies needed for this project, educational products, as well as other culturally appropriate gifts.

 Costs:

  • This trip, including supplies and gifts for the village, will cost approximately $2800 per person.

 Contact information:

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Niger Trip Items Requested for Donation:

  • School Supplies – “The school really lacks all kinds of critical supplies” Peace Corps Volunteer
    • Elementary education supplies of any kind
    • French picture and children’s books (only 10% of people in Niger speak French, but all primary school classes are taught in French.  Currently the school has one children’s book.)
  • Children’s Project
    • Disposable cameras
    • Tape recorder or MP3 player
    • Art supplies for personal art use
    • Art supplies for mural
    • Developing costs upon return from trip (Late August 2007)
  • Gardening Project in village of 3000
    • Seeds – vegetable and moringa
    • Pruners, Hoes, rakes, spades, gloves
    • Any other items suggested for low rainfall farming areas
  • Food Gifts
    • High protein breakfast bars
    • Similar light weight, high vitamin/calorie items
  • Medical preparation
    • Water purification tablets
    • Deet mosquito spray
    • New mosquito prevention patches
    • Sunscreen – Neutrogena 70+
    • Gloves
  • Documentation Project – Returning to the US and sharing information about Niger
    • Digital camera batteries
    • Digital camera (inexpensive)
    • Digital camera memory stick

 Donation Information:

  • A local church has generously established a fund for our trip, which allows donations to be tax deductible.  Donations and gift certificates for supplies can be sent to Trissels Mennonite Church - 11246 Hisers Lane. Broadway, VA 22805.  They should be labeled, “Niger Trip.”