Ngourkosso Area Program

More than 230,000 people call the community of Ngourkosso home. Children make up a significant number of the residents here and account nearly half of the population. One-third of the residents are women. The 241 villages in this region are each led by a respected chief. Christian and Islamic leaders also play a role in the everyday life of the community. Most of the population belongs to one of the two faiths.

Many families in Ngourkosso rely on farming to earn an income and provide for their children, however residents face many challenges. Climate change and population growth have affected the river and the forests in the area, leading to fewer plants, wildlife and fish — valuable resources for the residents of this community. Land disputes can become violent conflicts among neighbours. This puts women and children in danger as they have fewer rights and are often left unprotected.

Health
Good health is one of the biggest challenges for families in Ngourkosso. There are only 18 health centres and not enough medical professionals to service the population. Existing centres lack necessary equipment and supplies. During the rainy season, clinics can be hard to reach as roads become flooded.

Less than half of pregnant women receive prenatal care. Most give birth at home which can be dangerous for mom and baby. Children often go unvaccinated. Many residents also self-medicate, turning to untrained locals for advice and medicine when they're sick since there is a shortage of professionals.

Poor access to clean drinking water worsens existing health concerns. With just 2 per cent of the population having access to safe water, many children are exposed to waterborne diseases such as diarrhea. Open water sources contribute to an excess of mosquitos and malaria is a common illness in the region.

Education
Most children do not attend school with enrollment rates at only 37 per cent. Boys are educated twice as often as girls. In higher grades, academic performance is low, with many children receiving failing grades and struggling with literacy and math skills.

Most teachers lack the training they need to be effective. A shortage of educational materials, along with a high student to teacher ratio of 456 to one and a very short school year of 5-6 months contribute additional challenges. Parents often need their children to help contribute financially. As a result, children—especially girls—leave school and delay their education to work alongside their parents.

Child Protection & Participation
In Ngourkosso, the community still holds tightly to traditional, patriarchal beliefs that leave little to no room for children or women to have a voice in discussions that affect their daily lives. In fact, many community members know little about children's rights in general. From infancy, children who aren't registered for birth certificates are made vulnerable. Their lack of civil status makes it harder for government policies to protect them and enforce their rights.

It's also common in Ngourkosso for children to help their parents farm, fish and raise livestock instead of attending school. Many parents can't afford tools and resources to improve their productivity and instead, must resort to a family-fueled workforce. Alcoholism is another community-wide issue that causes parents to squander existing income and puts children at risk of abuse and neglect.