Our destination was a nomadic settlement school in the Niger Republic, West Africa. As the settlement wasn't easily accessible by vehicle, the best way to get there was the same way the locals do—by camel. So off we went, with the school supplies and food supplements tied securely to each saddle. To make the trip across the open desert without getting knocked out of the saddle by the 55ºC (130ºF) heat, we adopted the local turban, or cheche.
This was the last stretch of our three-day trip from our base in Lagos, Nigeria, to the entirely mud-brick city of Agadez in order to complete an educational aid program within several nomadic settlement schools. The small country of Niger (not to be confused with Nigeria to the south) is very poor, but has its own notable place on the map because of the ancient trans-Saharan camel route that was once responsible for the transportation of gold, silver, and slaves across Saharan Africa. The camel route is still very much in operation today, and camel trains consisting of hundreds of camels are still a common sight.
When we arrived, the camels happily wandered off amongst the thorn bushes as we carried the supplies up to the school. We distributed notebooks, pens, biscuits, and more to the children and teachers. The grateful response we received was overwhelming and made the trip more than worth it!
We received the same gratitude from all the school officials, students and the families that we visited as part of this program. Every item was treasured and greatly appreciated. These people are very poor, but they lead peaceful, simple lives and derive great joy in the little things that come their way. They are rich in life, family, and faith in God.