Photo by RET

Article by Jean Baptiste Gihugu, Project Communications Officer (EMEAA) for RET

HAMDALLAYE, NIGER – In the heart of Birni Kobéri, a village located 20 kilometers from the Hamdallaye commune in Niger, hope thrives through education and empowerment. Thanks to the BMZ-funded project dedicated to promoting girls’ access to and retention in quality primary and secondary education, implemented by the national NGO SongES with technical support from RET Germany, this community has experienced remarkable transformations in its schools and among its students.

The project has provided extensive support to the village’s primary school and Collège d’Enseignement Général (CEG), established in 2018. Infrastructure improvements, such as new classrooms, water points, and tree plantations, have created a more conducive learning environment. Beyond infrastructure, students and school management committees have benefited from school kits for children transferred from SSA/P (Stratégie de Scolarisation Accéléréeà travers les Passerelles) bridge centers, performance rewards for excelling girls, menstrual kits for female students, and school canteens to ensure no child learns on an empty stomach.

Yet, the success of this initiative would not have been possible without the contributions of women mentors, a group of extraordinary community leaders committed to guiding and inspiring the village’s young girls. Among them stands the passionate and dedicated Mme Hadjo Hassane, a 37-year-old housewife and mother of four children, whose efforts have become a cornerstone of Birni Kobéri’s educational progress.

Photo by RET

A Mentor’s Role in Empowering Girls

This is what earned Mme Hadjo her selection as a Mentor among the 17 mentors that the village has out of the 58 mentors of the project. Over three years, she has supported and mentored three young girls, providing them with the guidance and encouragement needed to stay in school and thrive. Her mentorship has yielded remarkable results, with her mentees consistently excelling and earning performance awards.

“I feel proud every year when the project distributes performance kits,” Mme Hadjo shares. “My three mentees are always among the recipients. It’s a joy to see them succeed.”

Her role as a mentor has been bolstered by training sessions provided by the project, including workshops on mentorship and psychosocial first aid. These have equipped her to identify and support girls in need of additional assistance, ensuring no child is left behind.

Photo by RET

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Building a Legacy of Community Change

For Mme Hadjo, the BMZ project’s education program has been more than a series of activities—it has been a transformative experience. Reflecting on the changes it has brought to her community, she says:

“This project has been a blessing in our village. Even though the project might be coming to an end, what we have learned will remain with us as a precious legacy. We have learned to live together harmoniously, to collaborate, and to value education. Before this project, we didn’t discuss our problems as women or those of our children and community. Today, we see life differently, more positively. With or without this project, we will continue to apply and pass on what we have learned to those less fortunate than us. Thank you endlessly.”

A Lasting Impact

Mme Hadjo’s story exemplifies how empowering women can transform entire communities. By nurturing girls’ education and fostering collaboration, she and her fellow mentors have built a foundation for sustainable development. The skills, values, and lessons imparted through the this project will undoubtedly continue to ripple through Birni Kobéri, shaping a brighter future for generations to come.

In Mme Hadjo’s words, the project has given them everything they need to secure their children’s futures— a gift that will continue to make a lasting impact.

To help us continue this critical work in Niger and around the world, make a donation to RET today.