A founding member of CONIDE ( Coalition of Niger NGOs in favor of Children's Rights) in which she occupies the position of National Secretary for Communication, Fraternite Notre Dame, under the leadership of her Founder the Most Reverend Bishop Jean-Marie, continues working for the defense of the Rights of children in Niger, in accordance with the Convention relative to the Rights of the Child (CDE) and the African Charter of Children's Rights and Wellbeing (CADBE).
The NGOs (non-governmental organizations) members of CONIDE work together through 4 networks with the aim of making children's rights better known, and to improve the situation of children, in particular by fighting against children's labor and trafficking, insisting on the importance of the protection of children, intervening before national and international authorities, but also with communities, families and religious leaders towards a better knowledge and implementation of children's rights in Niger.
Throughout 2012 and within the framework of CONIDE, Fraternité Notre Dame took part in several activities organized by various United Nations agencies.
On April 4th, 2012, Fraternité Notre Dame participated in a meeting with the deputy director of the High Commission on Human Rights. This meeting was an opportunity for dialogue between the deputy director and Niger's civil society, this with the aim of gathering information on the situation of Human Rights in Niger.
In May and June, 2012, Fraternité Notre Dame participated in the meetings organized by the Department of Population, the Promotion of Women and Protection of Children, the goal was marking a celebration of African Children's Day in collaboration with and thanks to financial support from Unicef.
This year's topic was: "handicapped children's rights, the duty to protect, respect, promote and realize". Worth mentioning that the ceremony was chaired by Niger's First Lady, Doctor Malika Issoufou and the presentation along with a number of sketches, poems and songs were realized by the children who are cared for by Fraternite Notre Dame. June 9th - 16th 2012, Fraternité Notre-Dame participated in several demonstrations organized by CONIDE within the framework of Niger Children's Week, and this year's chosen topic was: "mobilizing obligations' holders", including:
On August 16th, Fraternite Notre Dame participated in a meeting on the migration organized by the ECOWAS (Economic Community of the Western African States).
Since November, Fraternite Notre Dame has been participating in the meetings organized by the Department of Population, the Promotion of Women and Protection of Children, and Unicef for the forum on the Protection of Children. This forum planned for April, 2012, then November, 2012, was postponed to a later date. But Fraternité Notre Dame is required to prepare a panel on her activities, that she will present at the forum. Again, the children taken care of by Fraternite Notre Dame will perform songs and poems.
On December 10th, 2012 Fraternite Notre Dame participated in the celebration of the 64th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, organized by the Department of Justice. On December 27th and 28th , 2012, Fraternite Notre Dame participated in a workshop of validation for a collection of texts on children's rights. In addition to the activities taking place within the framework of CONIDE, Fraternite Notre Dame, that has been active in Niger for 16 years, intervenes in the following sectors:
Regarding support to children experiencing family and social difficulties, Fraternite Notre Dame welcomes orphaned children or those in a difficult family situation (children of minor single mothers or intellectually deficient mothers). The children welcomed are essentially newborn or less than 6 month-old babies. Currently, 41 children benefit from such assistance.
Besides these children, Fraternite Notre Dame welcomes for a short time children in social difficulties such as children victims of trafficking, or children fleeing their family. Following investigations, Fraternité Notre Dame organizes the return of these children to their family in partnership with the Justice Department's Social Services.
In keeping with the Convention relative to children's rights, and wishing that the family bond be always maintained between a child and his (her) family, Fraternite Notre Dame assists 200 children orphaned or in living in very destitute families, in their specific nutritional, clothing, or sanitary needs. In 2012, Fraternite Notre Dame took care of the medical needs of a 8-year-old girl affected with a malignant brain tumor. Certain handicapped children benefitted from adapted wheelchairs.
When it comes to helping families, and in the spirit of His Excellency Bishop Jean Marie's commitment to relieve world poverty and poverty in Niger, Fraternite Notre Dame was able to aid 135 families with food supplies, thanks to a food donation received from Niger's Prime Minister's Services. The aid was part of the fight against the food crisis that has stricken Niger in 2012, and in particular, help to the victims of floods for 2012 rainy season. Others to benefit such assistance were the lepers community.
Young single mothers also benefit from some support : with food, clothing, medicine and personal hygiene essentials, to help them keep their child and prevent infanticide which is still common in Niger. Whenever needed, Fraternite Notre Dame refers them to the proper judicial social services to allow them to receive the help needed.
Most Reverend Bishop Jean Marie has always insisted on the importance of education and especially the education of little girls. This will becomes a reality in Niger where, since 2002, Fraternite Notre Dame has been running a kindergarden, a primary school and a middle school, welcoming a total of 702 students 2-14 years of age. Among the children in attendance, some pupils are orphans or from poor families. In a country where schooling represents a challenge, the creation of schools is instrumental in the country's development and falls in line with the Convention relative to Children's Rights, which stipulates that every child has a right to education. The particularity of Fraternite Notre Dame is to give special attention to children with learning difficulties and help them to develop their potential, thus leading them to success. It is noteworthy that the examination success rate at Fraternite Notre Dame' schools in Niger is 100 %.
Another field where Most Reverend Bishop Jean Marie's compassion extends to those who suffer is: health care. Settled in a popular district of Niamey, Fraternite Notre Dame manages a private clinic which offers quality medical care to all without any distinction. The patients benefit from general consultations in medicine, gynecology, pediatrics, ultrasounds and antenatal consultations, but also immunization, laboratory blood tests, nursing, minor surgery and hospitalization. Those who cannot afford to pay can benefit from free coverage. In 2011, the number of patients served was: 24,855.
While at the moment, Fraternite Notre Dame in located in Niamey, she intervenes also in the rural district of Banibangou (200 kilometers North of Niamey), by donating clothes, medicine, medical equipment and hygiene or school supplies. Finally, we hope we can increase our activities in the few coming months, with the construction of a maternity and the expansion of the services we currently offer.