Association des Scouts du Niger
Encyclopedia
The Association des Scouts du Niger (in Hausa language
Iskutun Niger and Zarma language
Nizer Skutey) is the national Scouting
organization of Niger
. It was founded in 1993 and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
in 1996. The coeducational Association des Scouts du Niger has 3,202 members as of 2011.
. The movement was disbanded by the military regime in the 1970s. In 1993, the Roman Catholic Church
and the National Directory for the Youth restarted Scouting, supported by the Scouts de France. The Association became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1996.
in Chile
in 1998 as part of the West Africa
contingent.
Faced with the 2005-06 Niger food crisis
, in May 2005, the government of Niger
issued a call for national and international solidarity in a bid to offer help to nearly 3.6 million in distress. In order to participate in the national solidarity efforts, the Association des Scouts du Niger appealed to the international Scout fraternity, through a project dubbed Scouts du Niger contre la faim (Scouts of Niger Against Hunger), funded by Lëtzebuerger Guiden a Scouten
. In addition, UNFPA had recourse to the Scouts of Niger for the implementation of a project of food distribution
to pregnant and breastfeeding
women in the Agadez
and Zinder
areas. According to the Chief Commissioner, Yazi Oumarou, with the support from Guides et Scouts du Luxembourg, food
(sorghum
and millet
) was bought and stored to be resold at an affordable price, to the population of the catchment area. Scouts were involved in gardening
in plots with access to water, that were given out by the local authorities. After harvest
ing, Scouts sold the produce to their communities.
Hausa language
Hausa is the Chadic language with the largest number of speakers, spoken as a first language by about 25 million people, and as a second language by about 18 million more, an approximate total of 43 million people...
Iskutun Niger and Zarma language
Zarma language
Zarma is a member of the Songhay languages...
Nizer Skutey) is the national Scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
organization of Niger
Niger
Niger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
. It was founded in 1993 and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
World Organization of the Scout Movement
The World Organization of the Scout Movement is the Non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations, with 31 million members. WOSM was established in 1920, and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland...
in 1996. The coeducational Association des Scouts du Niger has 3,202 members as of 2011.
History
Scouting in Niger was started in 1947 under the auspices of French ScoutingScoutisme Français
The Fédération du Scoutisme Français is an umbrella organization that combines the efforts of the several Scouting and Guiding associations in France and also represents the Scouting movement in French Guiana, Martinique, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, New Caledonia, Réunion, Wallis and Futuna and...
. The movement was disbanded by the military regime in the 1970s. In 1993, the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and the National Directory for the Youth restarted Scouting, supported by the Scouts de France. The Association became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1996.
Activities
Scouts in Niger are active in the Africa Region and attend many International Scout camps and Jamborees with their African neighbors. One Scout attended the 19th World Scout JamboreeWorld Scout Jamboree
The World Scout Jamboree is a Scouting jamboree of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, typically attended by several tens of thousands of Scouts from around the world, aged 14 to 17....
in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
in 1998 as part of the West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
contingent.
Faced with the 2005-06 Niger food crisis
2005-06 Niger food crisis
A severe but localized food security crisis occurred in the regions of northern Maradi, Tahoua, Tillabéri, and Zinder of Niger from 2005 to 2006. It was caused by an early end to the 2004 rains, desert locust damage to some pasture lands, high food prices, and chronic poverty. In the affected area,...
, in May 2005, the government of Niger
Politics of Niger
Politics of Niger takes place in a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Niger is head of state and the Prime Minister of Niger head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government...
issued a call for national and international solidarity in a bid to offer help to nearly 3.6 million in distress. In order to participate in the national solidarity efforts, the Association des Scouts du Niger appealed to the international Scout fraternity, through a project dubbed Scouts du Niger contre la faim (Scouts of Niger Against Hunger), funded by Lëtzebuerger Guiden a Scouten
Lëtzebuerger Guiden a Scouten
The Lëtzebuerger Guiden a Scouten is one of Luxembourg's Scouting and Guiding organizations. It is a member of the Luxembourg Boy Scouts Association and of the Bureau de Liaison des Associations Guides du Luxembourg....
. In addition, UNFPA had recourse to the Scouts of Niger for the implementation of a project of food distribution
Food distribution
Food distribution, a method of distributing or transporting food or drink from one place to another, is a very important factor in public nutrition. Where it breaks down, famine, malnutrition or illness can occur...
to pregnant and breastfeeding
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the feeding of an infant or young child with breast milk directly from female human breasts rather than from a baby bottle or other container. Babies have a sucking reflex that enables them to suck and swallow milk. It is recommended that mothers breastfeed for six months or...
women in the Agadez
Agadez
-Sources:* Aboubacar Adamou. "Agadez et sa région. Contribution à l'étude du Sahel et du Sahara nigériens", Études nigériennes, n°44, , 358 p.* Julien Brachet. Migrations transsahariennes. Vers un désert cosmopolite et morcelé . Paris: Le Croquant, , 324 p. ISBN : 978-2-91496865-2.*. Saudi Aaramco...
and Zinder
Zinder
Zinder is the second largest city in Niger, with a population of 170,574 by 2005 was estimated to be over 200,000...
areas. According to the Chief Commissioner, Yazi Oumarou, with the support from Guides et Scouts du Luxembourg, food
Food
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
(sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
and millet
Millet
The millets are a group of small-seeded species of cereal crops or grains, widely grown around the world for food and fodder. They do not form a taxonomic group, but rather a functional or agronomic one. Their essential similarities are that they are small-seeded grasses grown in difficult...
) was bought and stored to be resold at an affordable price, to the population of the catchment area. Scouts were involved in gardening
Gardening
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants. Ornamental plants are normally grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance; useful plants are grown for consumption , for their dyes, or for medicinal or cosmetic use...
in plots with access to water, that were given out by the local authorities. After harvest
Harvest
Harvest is the process of gathering mature crops from the fields. Reaping is the cutting of grain or pulse for harvest, typically using a scythe, sickle, or reaper...
ing, Scouts sold the produce to their communities.
Sections
The association is divided in three sections according to age:- Louveteaux (Cub ScoutCub ScoutA Cub Scout is a member of the section of the worldwide Scouting movement for young persons, mainly boys normally aged about 7 to 11. In some countries they are known by their original name of Wolf Cubs and are often referred to simply as Cubs. The movement is often referred to simply as Cubbing...
s) - ages 8 to 12 - Eclaireurs (ScoutsBoy ScoutA Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
- ages 13 to 17 - Routiers (Rover Scouts) - ages 18 to 25.