Rebuilding with Dignity: Zeinabou’s life transformed in Niger

A life transformed thanks to World Vision

Zeinabou Agadogo is a 70-year-old mother of eight who lives in Guiladjé village, 119 kilometres from Dosso in Niger's Falmey department. Like many families in this region, her family has long lived in extreme poverty, exacerbated by challenging socio-economic conditions.

Although the Dosso region is endowed with strong agricultural potential, it faces many challenges, including persistent food insecurity, poor access to basic social services, land degradation, and the growing impact of climate change.

The Falmey department, in particular, is characterised by heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture, widespread rural poverty and significant emigration of young people to urban centres or neighbouring countries in search of better opportunities.

In this context, Zeinabou's life was a daily struggle. "Before World Vision's intervention, my family was going through a real ordeal. I lost a child to famine, and we sometimes went several days without food," she says, her voice full of emotion.

Despite her age, she had to do hard labour to survive, such as pounding millet for neighbours and chopping wood in the bush for resale. Her eldest son had gone abroad to try his luck, but he had to return, overwhelmed by the difficulties. Zeinabou even had to borrow money to bring him back.

"When he returned, he became our mainstay. He worked hard to feed us, even when we had very little," she recalls.

The real turning point came when World Vision gave her family four goats. Though seemingly modest, this support had a profound impact.

"These goats have changed our lives. They have multiplied, and thanks to them, I no longer need to go into the bush. I sold three of them to buy seccos and Banco to rebuild my large hut in time for the rainy season. Today, we eat better and more variably, and we live with more dignity," says Zeinabou.

In a region where livelihoods are fragile and opportunities are limited, this initiative has given Zeinabou back her hope and autonomy.

Full of gratitude, she concludes with these powerful words: 'World Vision found us for dead, and yet today we are alive. May God bless them and grant them the wisdom to continue helping the most vulnerable.'