For the schoolyear 2011-2012, 21 pupils hope to pass the entry exams for the college of Abalak. They will live in town then, a new situation that still needs to be organized.
Since 2004, the Wodaabe organize each year in September a general assembly, a kind of social, economical and cultural forum. Representatives of all Niger's Wodaabe associations gather their with traditional chiefs and the Wodaabe population to think about their situation and problems. Finally, representatives of other pastoralist people from within and outside Niger come to talk about their common situation.
The Wodaabe want to call attention to their needs as pastoralists and minority. At each assembly, government representatives are invited for an exchange. Several have honoured them with their presence at the past assemblies.
These gatherings are also an occasion to make their development projects known to partners from outside the country to get the help they need. Organizations active in Niger like UNICEF, DED, Vets without Frontiers, CARE ... have also been present to spread information.
At the same time, visitors can discover their rich culture with its singing, dancing and costumes. In that way, the event helps propagate the diversity of ethnical cultures in Niger.
The general assembly is organized in a different sedentary Wodaabe site each year. In this way each group can show how they have organized themselves, the progress they have made and the existing needs. The first five editions were held in Tagoudoum (2004), Foudouk (2005), Adjangafat (2006), Tagayet (2008) and Akkadi (2009).
The editions of 2007 and 2010 were cancelled because of the insecurity in the north of the country. Each time, a reunion of the collectif with representatives of its member associations and traditional chiefs was held, but without celebrations or visitors from outside the community.
For the edition of 2011, the semi-sedentary centre of Belel Tanfirgan was chosen. The organization will be in the hands of the local association Djabbral.
The Wodaabé finance their annual General Assembly with the contributions from visitors.
Belel Tanfirgan, created in 1986, is situated 40 km northwest of Abalak, on the road to Tchin-Tabaraden. 500 Wodaabe live in this centre.
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| Since May 2009, Belel Tanfirgan disposes of a borehole, a project carried out by the Belgian NGO Ninafri. Apart from the centre's population, an estimated 1500 nomadic Wodaabe and Tuareg living around Belel Tanfirgan come here to find water for their households and livestock. During the dry season, the drillhole provides water for about 500 cows, 400 camels, 1000 goats and 900 sheep each day. | The French associations Mil Espoir Mille Savoirs and AGIR Essonne work in the domain of education. In Belel Tanfirgan, they have built a school which now has three classes and three teachers. For the schoolyear 2010-2011, 110 pupils are in the primary level, and 38 children are in the nursery school. For the schoolyear 2011-2012, 21 pupils hope to pass the entry exams for the college of Abalak. They will live in town then, a new situation that still needs to be organized. |
Outside Belel Tanfirgan, the association Djabbral has been the local partner of the French organisation ARED for the construction of three wells in other semi-sedentary sites in the Abalak region.