Background on Niger

Hi everybody! I'm getting ready to leave for the plane and will not have access to the internet or phone for at least 6 weeks! For those of you who are curious about where I'm headed, here's some quick info. Enjoy!

Niger Quick Facts

* Islam is practiced by 90% of Nigeriens and came to the country in the 12th century

* Niger is a former French colony and gained its independence in 1960

* Niger ranks 177 out of 177 on the 2005 United Nations Development Index, making it one of the poorest countries in the world with an average annual GDP of $185

* Twenty seven percent of adults over age 15 are literate

* Forty six percent of families have access to potable water

* Millet is the stable food source and is pounded into a flour before being made into food; sorghum and rice are also staples in certain regions of the country

* Niger is twice the size of Texas with the northern two thirds in the Sahara and the southern third in the Sahel region; the climate throughout is dry and arid

* Niamey is the capital city with 1 million residents; it is also home to the country's Peace Corps headquarters

Peace Corps Departure

Dear Friends and Family,

"Well my bags are packed, I'm ready to go..." sings Joan Baez, and the time is now upon me to say goodbye, shed some more tears and head off to Niger. It was so wonderful to see so many of you at the bon voyage party. Having to bid farewell to so many people has definitely made the past few weeks hard, but I will carry all your thoughts, prayers and well wishes with me. I am told that I will not have email access for the first two months, so my next post will not be for a while. By then, I will surely have more information and stories to share!

For those of you who have asked for my address, please send letters to:

Kelly McNicholas
Corps de la Paix
B. P. 10537
Niamey, Niger

My address may change when I receive my final assignment in three months. I'll keep you posted! Any items should be shipped in padded envelopes rather than boxes as the customs charges will generally be less for me to pay.

Please take care, and thank you again for all your support! Love, Kelly