Fundraiser for CSP Les Nounours in Niamey, Niger

My mother Francoise Douka spent her entire life working with children. In 2008, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and began her 8 year battle. While she was sick, she continued to relentlessly pursue her dreams, and opened a primary school in Niamey, Niger, named CSP Les Nounours, (the Teddybears) Her goal was to expand from a daycare, to an elementary school and eventually high school. While she was alive, she was able to see the school go from a small house she rented near my grandmother's home, to a private school complex located in an up and coming region in Niamey. She lost her battle with cancer in 2016, but what she left behind was much bigger than her. Being able to realize her dream of expanding education in Niamey allowed her to transition peacefully.

Today, my uncle, Frederic Modi has been the director of the school since 2016, and oversees its day to day operations along with my grandmother. The school has been operating at full capacity for the past few years and is ranked 3rd in private schools within the city.

During the summer of 2022, several West African countries, including Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad experienced military coups which overthrew elected officials including the president. Democracy has always been a touchy subject in this part of the world and although these coups are not uncommon, they do have a drastic impact on the civilians living their day to day lives. It has been roughly 7 months since this event and the school has been affected negatively in numerous ways. This fundraiser is to aid with expenses such as teacher salaries, school lunch, basic repairs and scholarship programs.