This activity report brings together reports from the three provinces where we work: N’Djamena, Bahr el Gazel and Ouaddaï.
Each province has specific needs, so our activities are different depending on the context. But education and development remain our two pillars, according to the vision of the association:
“Reaching and transforming communities using education and development.”
We thank all those who have contributed through their efforts to the advancement of our common goals.
Table of Contents
“Markas al Nour” Culture and Training Centre – N’Djamena
“Kurutini Centre” Education and Development Centre – Bahr el Gazel
2022 has been a stable year for the association. Activities in each of the three provinces have advanced and been refined to better serve the local populations.
In N’Djamena, as in the Bahr el Gazel, several hundred people were able to take advantage of educational courses. In the Ouaddai as in the Bahr el Gazel, several communities have benefited from better access to drinking water. In both the Bahr el Gazel and in N’Djamena, dozens of people have been equipped with training to improve health care.
Through our various activities, the association remains faithful to its vision:
“Reaching and transforming communities using education and development.”
The opening ceremony for the new center took place on Wednesday October 5, 2022 in the presence of the local authorities as well as the Coordinator of the association.
The history of the association in general and the work in the Bahr el Gazel in particular was shared during the ceremony:
The video is in French only.
The new center is called “Centre Kurutini”. The name is a combination of French and Goran words. A Center is an establishment for courses and learning. The center is a place for the library, reading and for meetings. ‘Kurutini’ means development in the Goran language and means to put things forward. We want the “Centre Kurutini” to fulfill the aspirations of our association but also those of the community to advance the development of the city and the province.
There is a proverb in Goran that says
Tefaruma kijai, giju-ma tussu.
The proverb says that saying something is easy, but doing it is hard. It is easy to share the ambitions of the association through this new center. The achievement will depend on the work that happens afterwards: the courses given, the relationships forged and the actions carried out. The realization will also depend on the authorities of the province and the city which can facilitate our work; the implementation will depend on our partners, the NGOs on site in Moussoro; the realization will depend on the civil society as well as the youth of the city. And without forgetting, the realization will depend on the help of God who will be able to do “infinitely more than all that we ask or imagine”.
The ceremony finished with a family photo:
Our thanks in particular go to the local authorities who officially declared the center to be open.
This year-end report is a combination of updates from each of our projects. Together, they show the diversity of our activities as well as our desire to achieve our common vision:
“Reaching and transforming communities using education and development.”
The slogan of our association
We would like to thank all those who contributed during the past year to our common objectives.
Map of the primary locations where we work
The places where we worked in 2021
Report sections
The different sections of the year-end report can be downloaded below.
“There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1
2021 saw a new start for Markas al Nour in N’Djamena with the appointment of a new director in August. Classes and other activities were less in the Bahr el Gazel in 2021 compared to 2020. Water and community-led total sanitation continued in the Ouaddai with the same rhythm as before.
The transformation we would like to see in coming, but has not yet been achieved, so we will continue to work hard in the coming years. In the meantime, we hope that you appreciate reading the report about what we’ve accomplished in 2021.
This is the history of Markas al Nour, an education center in N’Djamena whose name means the “Center of Light.”
The entry to Markas al Nour, circa 2005
The association Service au Sahel was started in 2002 by a group of volunteers. The association is non-profit and non-political, working primarily in education and development. The association received its Autorisation de Fonctionner from the Chadian government in 2003. The board of directors is composed of three to seven people and is led by a Coordinator.
The association’s first venture was the education center named “Markas al Nour” on the 30m road in N’Djamena. Markas al Nour opened its doors in January 2003.
Initially the center was equipped with donated books and computers and had two classrooms. Two Chadians were hired full-time: a secretary and a librarian.
In 2005 the French embassy gave a grant to help equip the center with more than 600 books, a third classroom, a new generator, and updated computers. The updates were finished in 2006, and a ceremony was held with representatives from the French embassy and from the neighborhood. A 50% increase in students was seen in 2006 because of these upgrades.
Growth and Challenges (2007-2011)
Significant upgrades were made to the center starting in 2007. Computer teachers gained such good instruction at Markas al Nour that they went on to find good positions working in IT. It became necessary to recruit more teachers for computer classes.
In 2010, the center had major problems with the electrical generator resulting in costly repairs. In 2011 a new 22 kVA electrical generator was donated to the center.
Autonomy and financial pressure (2012-2019)
During this period, French classes grew from on average 130 students per year to almost 500 students per year. Night classes (7-9pm) were added in 2015 and that brought in more students who didn’t have time to study in the afternoons. Morning classes also became more regular at the center with a peak of 25 morning classes during 2017.
However, the increase in French language classes was offset by the decrease in computer classes: computer classes dropped below 100 students per year in 2016 for the first time and have remained low, although MaN received a gift of updated computers in 2016.
In 2018, the center opened a Maternelle, but failed to attract enough children to pay for the teacher. The nursery school was not continued in 2019.
Financial pressure increased as Chad’s economy contracted in 2017 and 2018 due to plunging oil prices. Increased competition from other education centers put pressure on MaN to reduce the price of French classes.
Reorganisation (2020-2021)
Markas al Nour officially closed in July 2020 due to this financial pressure along with the added strain of covid restrictions. However, by November 2020 the center reopened, and classes restarted.
The history of Markas al Nour has been full of growth and change. The years to come will bring more change with one constant: high quality education classes for the northern neighborhoods of N’Djamena.
Markas al Nour Statistics (2004-2020)
English was the most popular class from 2005 to 2008 powered in part by an active English club.
Computer classes were the most popular from 2009 to 2012, including classes on maintenance, networking, and website creation.
French classes have been the most popular from 2013 until today.
2016 was the biggest year when more than 1000 students attended classes. 2020 was the smallest year due to the center closing and reorganizing.
2020 had plenty of success and challenges. The biggest challenge was the financial crisis which forced the closure of our Markas al Nour education center. Nonetheless, the center reopened its doors in order to keep offering high quality instruction. Our activities in Moussoro and Hadjer Hadid were slowed down by covid-19, but were still able to adapt and continue. We will continue working together on our common objectives in education and development in 2021.
Here are the number of beneficiaries from our activities in 2020:
Project
Beneficiaries
Markas al Nour – N’Djamena
288
Education classes – Moussoro
203
Animal health videos – Moussoro
120
Water, health, and mapping – Hadjer Hadid
3800
Sewing and distributing masks – Hadjer Hadid
800
Health and cultural videos – Hadjer Hadid
100
Total
5311
We would like to thank all those who helped us continue advancing our goals.
2019 was a difficult year for the association. Even with many successes, the general financial climate in Chad slowed down several of our projects. Nonetheless, our work in education and development impacted thousands of people:
Projet
Bénéficiaires
Markas al Nour
818
Cours décentralisés
49
Markaz Attafahum
13
Projets de Développement – Hadjer Hadid
516
Projets de Développement – Moussoro
1075
Total
2471
We would like to thank all those who helped us continue advancing our goals.
