October 2003

2004 International Calendar
Features Photo from Niger
Charles Cecil's Work Graces Month of April

In his June 10, 1963 speech at American University, President Kennedy said:

"What kind of peace do we seek? Not a Pax Americana enforced on the world by American weapons of war. Not the peace of the grave or the security of the slave. I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, the kind that enables men and nations to grow and to hope and to build a better life for their children -- not merely peace for Americans but peace for all men and women -- not merely peace in our time but peace for all time."

Seasonal Gifts Again Available
From Friends of Niger
T-Shirts, Video & Calendars

As in years past, Friends of Niger is again making available three high quality seasonal gift items - the 2004 International Calendar; the very well received FON T-Shirt; and, Brother from Niger, the 44-minute video production that features the work of Friends of Niger

Details regarding all three items can be found here. The Friends of Niger 2004 Membership & Order Form can be found here,

Take a look!! You'll like what you see!!

RPCVs Team with Maradi Area PCV
in Effort to Build Well in Village
of Maradi Hostel Guardian

For over ten years the Maradi Area Peace Corps Hostel has been faithfull guarded by a Wodaabe family from the village of Bammo Ibrahim. They have patiently helped generations of Peace Corps Volunteers learn the local language and culture.They are also exceptional friends and have opened their homes and families to us for many years.

Their home village of Bammo Ibrahim is currently deprived of one of the basic human necessities: water. A 40-year old well in the village went dry long ago and eight years ago the villagers hand-dug a traditional well after trying unsuccessfully to procure funding for a proper cement drinking water well. This traditional well now offers only an occasional seepage of dirty water, forcing villagers to walk 8 to 10 kilometers to pull water that they must pay for.

Peace Corps Volunteer Tara Helm is organizing a project to build a cement well in the village. She has received the maximum grant allowable through The Ambassador's Self-Help Fund and is seeking additional funding from other sources to cover the shortfall. The project requires another $2,500 to $3,000US. RPCV & FON member Suzanne Reasenberg, (Niger '91 - '93) is helping with fund-raising in North America. For further details and/or to make a financial contribution, Suzanne can be contacted at 16
Washburn Street, Watertown, MA, 02472; 617-923-1367 (h); 617- 877-2077 (cell); sreasenberg@wheelock.edu.

FON Announces Another
Trip to Niger:
Planning Begins for Early 2005

The FON Board of Directors has taken the decision to begin the planning required for a second Friends of Niger trip to Niger. The first trip took place in October 2002.

Micro Niger
- How You Can Help -

Contributions to our ongoing support for microcredit in Niger should be made payable to Friends of Niger and sent to: Micro Niger c/o FON, P.O. Box 33164, Washington, DC, 20033-0164 or sent along with the Friends of Niger 2003 Membership & Order Form .

Vitamin Campaign
- How You Can Help -

Donations to FON’s ongoing vitamin campaign should be made payable to Friends of Niger and sent to Vitamins, c/o FON, PO Box 33164, Washington, DC, 20033-0164 or sent along with the Friends of Niger 2003 Membership & Order Form

Video Production that Features FON
Available for Purchase

The 42 minute documentary on Niger, originally produced for Canadian TV and shot in Niger in January 2002, is now available for purchase from Friends of Niger.

From the blurb of the video's jacket - "In a 'Brother from Niger', award winning journalist Andrew Younger brings a story of courage, hope, and struggle from one of the world's poorest countries. ' Brother from Niger' follows Friends of Niger president Jim Schneider as he returns to a country he once called home, a country that's still as poor as when he left it.

The video was shot on location in Niamey, Maradi, Matamaye, Botsotsoua, Kantche and Zinder and includes interviews with Haoua Diatta of the Oxcart Project as well as with Schneider, representatives of FON's Nigerien partner organizations and others.

Copies of the videotape may be purchased for $20 each (2 for $35). Use the FON 2004 Membership & Order Form or send a check or money order, made payable to Friends of Niger , to Video, c/o FON, PO Box 33164, Washington, DC, 20033-0164.

“Serve, serve, serve. That's the challenge. For in the end it will be the servants that save us all.” - Sargent Shriver .

You’re Gonna Love This T-Shirt Available in 4 Sizes - S, M, L, XL		Makes a Great Gift!! It’ll Look Good on You as Well!!
Introducing - Friends of Niger T-Shirts... You’re gonna love this T-Shirt!! Based on a design originally created by our neighbors at Friends of Burkina Faso, FON had produced its first and very own T-shirt. The short-sleeved shirts are 100% cotton, pre-shrunk beefy-T, natural muslin-colored fabric. The design (above) is four color: brown, black and the orange and green of the flag of Niger. You’ll notice a nifty proximity map of Niger within the map of Africa which appears in the branches of the baobab tree. The shirts are available in Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large sizes and sell for $18 each, shipping included. Use the FON 2004 Membership & Order Form or send a check made out to Friends of Niger (indicating the number of shirts by size), along with your name and address to: Shirts. c/o Friends of Niger, P.O. Box 33164, Washington, D.C., 20033-0164.

Credits and Other Information

The Camel Express is the periodical newsletter of Friends of Niger (FON).
FON can be contacted via the post at P.O. Box 33164, Washington, D.C., 20033-0164;
by email at lorenz3@magi.com; and you will find FON on the web at the following Internet address - www.friendsofniger.org.

This edition of The Camel Express was prepared, produced and distributed by Sue & Don Bracken, Irma Poots Sarata, Judd Lyon, Gabriella Maertens, John Soloninka, Larry Koff, Penni St. Hilaire, Marcy Hewitt. Please send address changes and corrections, as well as any queries to The Camel Express at any of the addresses above.

FRIENDS OF NIGER
2004 MEMBERSHIP & ORDER FORM