Rain for the Sahel and Sahara (RAIN) is an international non profit based in the Seacoast region of New Hampshire. RAIN's mission is to work with nomadic peoples of West Africa to improve their lives through education, water security, agriculture, and income-producing activities. These locally rooted programs promote literacy and empowerment while sustaining nomadic traditions throughout the Sahel and Sahara.

One such program is our Girls Scholarship and Mentoring Program. Less than 15% of people in Niger are literate, and girls especially face challenges to get an education. RAIN provides girls with scholarships for school tuition. Women in the community volunteer as mentors to guide, teach and advocate for the girls. In addition to their studies, they are taught traditional skills, life lessons and HIV/AIDs awareness. The program has been a great success, and RAIN needs help continuing our current programs and expanding to new communities! For stories about girls and their mentors, go to: http://www.rain4sahara.org/documents/newslettersummer09.p...

The group will meet once a month in a social setting such as a local restaurant or coffee house (Portsmouth, Durham, Newmarket, etc.). Socializing and meeting new people will be part of brainstorming for fun activities to raise money for the scholarship program. There are many events members are welcome to participate in to help out.

To view "From a Deep Well," a video about the story of RAIN and our programs, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ejVvN0AysU

All are welcome!