Sharjah-based organisation sets up AED 2 million sustainable village in Niger

A Sharjah-based organisation is donating AED 2 million to build a sustainable village in the West African nation of Niger.

Announcing the launch, the Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) said it will be named after the late Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi.

The project is being implemented in partnership with Sharjah Charity International.

Scheduled for completion in 2022, the sustainable village will feature 20 houses for disadvantaged families, including unemployed people and widowers.

The project aims to help them to achieve financial security by generating activities such as agriculture, livestock-rearing and traditional crafts.

The village will be equipped with sustainable access to clean water and power. Drinking water will be provided through a distribution system connected to a huge water tank. 

A school and medical clinic are also being built.

TBHF’s humanitarian intervention strategy is in response to the ongoing conflict in Niger.

The United Nations says 7,000 civilians, including 1,000 refugees, have been forced to leave their homes in search of safety.

The country also faced the worst floods in its history this year, upending the lives of more than two million people.

According to UNICEF, 63 per cent of Niger’s population live below the poverty line.

Commenting on the new project, Mariam Al Hammadi, Director of TBHF, said "Through this sustainable village project, our goal is to support global efforts in offering effective, long-term solutions to low-income communities that face exceptional hardship. Once inhabited and fully operational, we look forward to seeing this village thrive socially and economically."