Why School?

In this photo, the chief of Tangarwashane, Mohammed, fetches water for his son.  Like most other Touareg fathers I know, he would do most anything for his children.  And while he is the village chief, he shares in daily village tasks with the other village men, such as caring for the community borehole built by @ammanimman, tending to their community garden, caring for the livestock, etc.  His function as chief is to help guide the community through his experience and wisdom, and to make final decisions when a consensus cannot be reached. Read more…

The Intricacies of Humanitarianism

THE INTRICACIES OF HUMANITARIANISM: I would like to return to my second to last post, where I discuss cultural differences among Niger’s various ethnic groups.  As a humanitarian ethnographer, and head of an NGO, understanding such differences is crucial for having maximum impact on people’s lives.  In a country like Niger, with over eight different ethnic groups, applying a “one size fits all” approach to development is doomed for disaster. Read more…