Tarbiyya Tatali

Our charter

Marie-Françoise — 2025-02-06T17:29:41Z

Acting together for self-development

Tarbiyya Tatali (Education Development in Hausa) is a collective of associations whose goal is to act together for the self-development of the Nigerien people by mobilizing national and international solidarity and promoting cultural exchanges.

The collective is currently composed of two Nigerien associations and oneFrench association:

In Niger RAEDD (Réseau d'Actions Éducatives pour un Développement Durable – Network for Educational Actions for Sustainable Development) and CulturePlus;
In France AECIN (Association d'Échanges Culturels Ille et Vilaine Niger – Ille-et-Vilaine Niger Cultural Exchange Association).

Common and Shared Values

The member associations of the collective share the values of freedom, equality, fraternity, work, progress, and solidarity. By signing this charter, they affirm their commitment to these fundamental values and their willingness to work in a spirit of mutual trust, prioritizing relationships based on transparency, mutual support, and respect for commitments made. This shared set of values serves as the foundation for cohesion among the member associations.

Founding Principles of the Partnership

The member associations of the Tarbiyya Tatali collective contribute independently to the collective's objectives. Each association freely defines its own projects, seeks funding, and takes initiatives while keeping the other member associations fully informed.
The associations strengthen their synergy by defining and implementing joint projects. The execution of projects in Niger is always entrusted to a Nigerien association within the collective.
The collective also develops common communication tools, such as a multilingual website, a presence on social media, and regular publication of updates about the collective's activities.

Commitments of the Collective's Members

The signatories of this charter recognize free, voluntary, and unpaid commitment as the driving force behind associative life.
Signatories commit to:

promoting respect for the principles of non-discrimination of people;
encouraging collective governance and participatory democracy;
facilitating the transfer of skills;
promoting equal participation of women and men in governance, ensuring balance between generations and sociocultural backgrounds in leadership roles.

Partnerships are built through listening, dialogue, and mutual respect for commitments, roles, and responsibilities. The signatories continuously develop their skills and improve their working methods through the design, implementation, and monitoring of their projects.

Areas of Action

The overall objective of the Tarbiyya Tatali collective is to contribute to quality education, the creation of economic, social, and cultural wealth in Niger, and the development of a sustainable and equitable model for progress.

The collective's projects are based on field surveys that identify the needs of the people concerned. These projects align with the Sustainable Development Goals and comply with the laws, regulations, and policies of the State of Niger. Local authorities are systematically informed before their implementation.

Women's empowerment and their role in sustainable development are at the heart of Tarbiyya Tatali's mission, whether in education, health, economic empowerment, or culture.

It is committed to working in the fields of food security, environment, education, health, and access to basic services (access to water, sanitation, and energy), particularly in rural areas.

It prioritizes awareness-raising, training, and the empowerment of beneficiaries for sustainable development. Regular monitoring is carried out during the action and maintained after its completion.

Culture is a fundamental driver of development. That is why Tarbiyya Tatali is dedicated to enhancing knowledge of Niger's history, languages, cultural traditions, social organization, and worldview. The collective promotes all forms of cultural expression to benefit the Nigerien population.

Members of the collective's associations also commit to raising awareness about Niger in the countries where they live and to participate in the education to citizenship and international solidarity education initiatives, especially among students and young people.

Link to the charter in .pdf format

Mahamadou Saïdou (1952-2016)

Marie-Françoise — 2016-09-05T07:16:00Z

Mahamadou Saidou, october 2015 (Photo by Abdoul Aziz Soumaïla)

Mahamadou Saidou was born ‘circa 1952' in Dogon-Doutchi, Niger, within the large Kwanana family. He had nineteen brothers and sisters, but not all ‘same father same mother' since his father was polygamous. After attending primary school in the Dogon-Doutchi ‘Mission School', he attended high school and graduated in mathematics and science. He went to the Science College in Niamey but did not complete his studies there and taught in middle school.

He got in touch with the Institute of Research in Mathematics Teaching (IREM) in Niamey, and in 1982 took part in the decentralized workshops organized by the IREM in Zinder, as a counsellor.

Mahamadou resumed his studies at the Teaching College; after graduating he taught in a middle-school in Niamey. He was also involved in the IREM and regularly joined training sessions in France, within the Rennes IREM (bilateral exchanges are funded). After his father's death, on December 22^nd 1986, he became head of the family, ‘mai-guida', and returned to Dogon-Doutchi to re-organize his family. That responsibility led him to pay for his numerous brothers and sisters' schooling fees. By then he had been married for several years to Philomène who was to be his only wife, they didn't have children but adopted several according to local custom.

Back in Niamey, he joined the Sovereign National Conference which re-instated democracy. He joined the civil society representatives, as president of the Nigerien Association of Mathematical Games. His commitment to PNDS (Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism) dated back from that time.

Mahamadou planned to complete his studies but couldn't find a suitable framework. A former director of the Rennes IREM, then director of IUFM (Teacher Training College) offered to host him. French friends financed the rest: flight, expenses. While he is training, his teacher salary is maintained in Niger, which enables him to support his family and even keep saving. He had his house built in Tallagué at that time.

Three years devoted to studying enabled him to pass a degree, Master and a diploma in Education Sciences, in Rennes 2 University. Meanwhile, thanks to the numerous friends he made everywhere, the Tarbiyya-Tatali project of a Franco-Nigerien network developed. Associations in Niger and in France work together for the Nigerien people's self-development. Their work is based on mutual respect, friendship and cultural exchanges.

Mahmadou then returned to Niger, where he was a teaching counsellor at INDRAP (National Institute of Resources, Research and Teaching Support) until he retired, aged 55. At that time he created RAEDD (Network of Educational Actions for a Sustained Development), which he coordinated until his death in 2016. In France, François Hébert founded AECIN (Ille-et-Vilaine Niger Association for Cultural Exchanges) which would later be presided by Yvon Logeat, Marie-Françoise Roy, Tifenn Leclercq, Michel Coste and Alice Belliot.

Tarbiyya Tatali's first project, buying primary school books to let out on loan, amounts to CFA 350 000,( about 500 euros), from AECIN's own funds. Since then, RAEDD has been expanding and has developed a great many partnerships with embassies, main NGO's …); its annual budget is presently around 250 000 euros.

Mahamadou also played a very active part in the PNDS, particularly during the presidential election campaign. President Mahamadou Issoufou's access to power in 2011 led to Mahamadou's promotion to the high responsibility of director of the office of the Minister of National Education, Literacy and National Languages Promotion.

His was a remarkable career, spanning three fields: administrative, political and NGO responsibilities.

But his many duties (Ministry Director, co-ordinator of RAEDD, political action) exhausted him. In November 2015 he attended Sarkin Arewa's funeral and collapsed, a stroke was mentioned. He was admitted to hospital, sent back home, twice flown to hospital in Morocco, taken back to hospital… According to Doctor Sieyeba, his sister: ‘No diagnosis was ever made'. He died in hospital in Niamey on August 6^th 2016.

Since then, Tarbiyya Tatali has received numerous messages of sympathy, expressing great sadness and loss. Many laudatory testimonies of Mahamadou Saïdou's indefatigable energy, his keen intelligence, his cheerfulness, his devotion, patience, listening skill. In France as well as in Niger, the members of Tarbiyya Tatali are more than ever devoted to pursue the works of that exceptional man.

Mahamadou Saidou, coordinateur de Tarbiyya Tatali au Niger (1952-2016)

News from Tarbiyya Tatali

Marie-Françoise — 2014-11-28T07:56:00Z

News from Tarbiyya Tatali

The Tarbiyya Tatali News 2025 (in French), downloadable below, addresses the following questions).

A still turbulent context
Difficulties that have stimulated us and helped us progress
Activities since November 2024
— The Tarbiyya Tatali Charter
— Priority actions and implementation of monitoring in January 2025
— Colonial crimes: what reparations? The case of the Central Africa Mission (Voulet-Chanoine column) in Niger
— In Niger, component-by-component monitoring
— Other activities implemented by RAEDD and CulturePlus
— The functioning of our associations
Prospects
— Adapting to difficulties and seizing opportunities
— The skies are clearing with the reopening of some public funding in Niger!
Tarbiyya Tatali News, November 14, 2025: download here.

News from Tarbiyya Tatali November 9, 2024

The Tarbiyya Tatali News 2024 (in French), downloadable below, addresses the following questions).

The context
Achievements and difficulties encountered since November 2023
— Food security
— Women's empowerment
— Education and culture
— Achievements funded by the 1% Oudin-Santini law
— The situation of our associations
How to continue?
Tarbiyya Tatali News, November 9, 2024: download here.

News from Tarbiyya Tatali November 15, 2023

Given the current crisis in Niger and the relations between Niger and France, writing a Tarbiyya Tatali Magazine for the Festisol (Festival of Solidarities) 2023 seemed impossible to us.

Instead, we decided to ask questions to the four associations in our collective, hoping that reading their answers would allow us to understand the current situation on the ground as closely as possible.

The downloadable document below addresses the following questions:

What are the main activities carried out by the member associations of the collective since the publication of the Tarbiyya Tatali Magazine on May 13?
Has this crisis in Niger, and between Niger and France, impacted your activities? Have any planned projects been canceled?
How do you see the future of activities in 2024?
Does your mode of operation need to be modified?

News from Tarbiyya Tatali: download here.

The Magazine of Tarbiyya Tatali 2014-2023

From November 2014 till May 2023, the Tarbiyya Tatali magazine was published (in French) twice a year, including:

an editorial
news about our associations,
challenges of Niger
keynote, an in-depth study
focus, on a specific activity
culture or lifestyle in Niger
the portrait of a prominent person

The Magazine number 18, May 13, 2023

Download here..

Summary

Editorial: The Saraouniya of Lougou, a source of inspiration for the women of Niger
News from our associations: RAEDD, AECIN, AESCD, Nouvel Espoir
Challenges of Niger: Gender inequalities in agriculture in Niger: women's access to land
Keynote: Girls' Rights and Health
Focus: Akwai Magana! Let's talk about it, season 2
Culture: Tarkama in Lougou
Portrait: Interview with Saraouniya Kambari

Le Magazine numéro 17 , 16 november 2022

Download here..

Summary

Editorial: Together we move the world forward • News from our associations: RAEDD, AECIN, AESCD, Nouvel Espoir
Culture: Babyshow 3^rd Edition
News from Niger: Projects for energy development
Keynote: Progress and Challenges for Access to Drinking Water in Dankassari
Focus: Dogondoutchi and Dankassari high schools
Portrait: Bandou Kaka, Mayor of Dankassari

The Magazine number 16, May 13, 2023

Dowload here.

Summary

Editorial: Akwai Magana! Let us talk about it
News from our associations: RAEDD, AECIN, AESCD
News from Niger: Gender Inequalities
Daily life: Tontine
Keynote: Girls' Rights and Health
Focus: Akwai Magana! Let us talk about it
- Portrait: Arice Siapi, director

The Magazine number 15, (…)

The Magazine number 15, November 15^th 2021.

Download here-

Summary
Editorial: Young People in Niger.
News from our associations: RAEDD, AECIN, AESCD, and young people's internships with Tarbiyya Tatali.
News from Niger: 2021 middle school exams, an unexpected low pass.
Culture: Bagagi Parade.
Focus: Local Development of Bagagi, problems, and solutions.
Keynote: Impact of decentralized cooperation: The case of Karki Malam Village.
Portrait: Bawa Kakade Riba, a committed cultural filmmaker.

The Magazine number 14, May 13^th, 2021

Download here-

Summary

Editorial: Women's voices/ Muryar Mata
Our associations' current events: RAEDD, AECIN, AESCD, and Tarbiyya Tatali's joint activities.
News from Niger: Nigerien women's civic involvement.
Culture: “Zinder”, a film by Aïcha Macky.
Keynote: Muryar Mata/ Women's voices.
Focus: A new training tool for birth control: pagivoltes
Portrait: Mrs Haoua Seïni Sabo, teacher at Abdou Moumouni University in Niamey.

The Magazine Number 13, November 5^th, 2020

Download here

Summary
Editorial: New Aspects of Cooperation
• Our associations' current events: RAEDD; AECIN, AESCD
• News from Niger: decentralization in Niger
• Focus: an application to visualize Tarbiyya Tatali's actions
• In a nutshell: trees for a better life in Dankassari
• Culture : Mamane and the Gondwana
• Portrait : Issoufou Kané, in charge of the Arewa Foootball Club organisation

The Magazine number 12, May 13^th, 2020

Download here
Summary

Editorial: Women First and Foremost
News from our associations: RAEDD, AECIN, AESCD, ANIRE.
News from Niger; Women in politics.
In a nutshell: The role of female monitors in birth control,
Focus: Girls' schooling: operations in the field,
Culture: Amina Abdoulaye Mamani, film producer of ' Following Mamani Abdoulaye',
Portrait of Mrs Hadiza Rougga, President of women's groups in the communes of Dankassari,

The Magazine Number 11, November 14^th, 2019

Download here
Summary

Editorial: 30 years of International Convention of Children's Rights.
News from our associations: RAEDD, AECIN, AESCD, ANIRE.
News from Niger: election agenda for 2020
In a nutshell: scarcity of doctors in rural communes of Niger.
Focus, Distribution of the film ‘Three Girls in Dankassari in Niger'
Portrait: Thierry Namata, President of RAEDD

The Magazine number 10, May 13^th 2019

Download here.

Summary:

Women Speaking
News from our associations: RAEDD, AECIN, AESCD, AENIRE.
News from Niger: evolution in early marriages in Niger.
In a nutshell: Girls' schooling.
Culture: Mariama Keita, a pioneer in journalism in Niger.
Focus, Marake Rogo's female market gardeners.
Portrait: Mrs Abdou Soli Ai, a micro-credit recipient.

The Magazine number 9, Special edition Tarbiyya Tatali's 20 years, November 24^th, 2018

Download here.

A 16-page special edition, with a file covering Tarbiyya Tatali's history since its creation 20 years ago.

Summary :

Editorial: Nigeriens' self-development
News from our associations: RAEDD, AECIN, AESCD, AENIRE
News from Niger: Human Development Index in Niger
In a nutshell: Tarbiyya Tatali's 20 years.

The Magazine, number 8, May 13^th 2018

Download here.

Contents:

Editorial: Education and training, for women's economic self-reliance.
News from our associations: RAEDD, AECIN, AESCD, and AENIRE.
News from Niger; how schoolgirls view their future.
Daily life: How family planning is viewed in villages.
Focus: My health and my rights as a teenager.
Culture: Three girls in Dankassari.
In a nutshell: Literacy and micro-credit.
Portrait of Amadou Sâadatou, trainer for the Hope Class. ‘Mahamadou Saïdou'

The Magazine, number 7, November 18^th 2017

Download here. For black and white printing, see here.

Contents:

Editorial: Local initiatives, international solidarity
News from our associations: RAEDD, AECIN, AESCD, ANIRE
Access to electricity in Niamey
Kokawa, traditional wrestling in Niger
Access to electricity in the rural area of Dankassari
Solar energy made in Africa
Portrait of Amos Soumana, entrepreneur and trainer

The Magazine, number 6, May 13^th, 2017

Download here. For black and white printing, click here.

Contents;

Editorial: Toward Women's fulfillment and economic self-reliance.
News from our associations: RAEDD, AECIN, AESCD, AENIRE
Life expectancy in Niger
Practicing physiotherapy in common wards in hospital
Improving women's economic self-reliance: testimonies from women in Dankassari
Portrait of Seivabatou Elh. Saïdou, RAEDD's national coordinator.

The Magazine, number 5, November 13^th 2016.

Download here. For black and white printing, see here.

Contents:

Editorial:
News from our associations: RAEDD, AECIN, AESCD, and AENIRE.
Climate change in Niger.
Anger in the Wind, a film by Amina Weira.
Mahamadou Saïdou (1952-2016).
Portrait of Mamane Chadaou, in charge of the Cesson-Dankassari decentralized cooperation.

The Magazine, number 4, May 13^th 2016

Download here. For black and white printing, see here

Contents

Editoral: May 13^th, Nigerien Woman's Day.
News from our associations: RAEDD, AECIN, AESCD, and ANIRE
In the government, what role for women?
The Fruitless Tree, Aicha Macky's latest film.
Mrs Maimouma Kadi, family planning counselor.
Going back to school to build a better life.

The Magazine, number 3, November 20^th 2015.

Download here. For black and white printing, see here.

Contents

Editorial: Self-development of Nigerien People
News from our associations: RAEDD, AECIN, AESCD, AENIRE
The Diffa area under the threat of Boko Haram
The Niamey fada
The accelerated schooling strategy: Gateway classes
Jean-Dominique Penel's devotion to the cause of Nigerien literature.
Abdoulaye Mamani.

The Magazine, number 2, May 13^th, 2015

Download here. For black and white printing, see here.

Contents

Editorial: May 13^th, the day of the Nigerien Woman
News from our associations: RAEDD, AECIN, AESCD, AENIRE
Family Planning in Niger
Women's independent saving groups
Girls' schooling in Niger
Aïcha Macky's film, Knowing How to Make a Bed
Geneviève Gourjan, Women's Promotion officer

The magazine, number 1, November 28^th, 2014

Download here. For black and white printing, see here.

Contents

Editorial: RAEDD and Gateway Classes
News from our associations: RAEDD, AECIN, AESD, AENIRE.
Economic perspectives of Niger
The properties of moringa
Decentralized Franco-Nigerien cooperation
The Kwanana Chronicle book, the elders' ancient lore
Assimou Abarchi, mayor of Dankassari

Arewa region

Marie-Françoise — 2008-04-10T22:34:58Z

Many activities of Tarbiyya Tatali take place in this region. This area where 400,000 inhabitants live is part of the Dosso region and is located in the South of Niger, close to the Nigerian border in the dry wash bed of Dallol Maouri. It comprises 10 rural districts (Dankassari, Dogon Doutchi, Dogon Keria, Doumega, Guéchémé, Kiéché, Matankari, Kore Mairoua, Soucoucoutan, Tibiri). In 2004 for the first time mayors and local councilors were elected.

Dogon Doutchi

Dogon Doutchi, a town of 30,000 inhabitants is the capital of Arewa, and the administrative center of the Dogon Doutchi department. Dogon Doutchi, meaning large stone in the Haoussa language, is the name of a mountain shaped like a giant termite mound which overhangs the countryside.

A land of farmers

Sedentary farmers are dominant in the region, they grow millet, sorghum beans and peanuts using hoes and there are a few Touaregs and Peuls raising cattle

A worrying trend.

Rain is scarce and arable lands are lacking for a growing population; the intensive farming drains the soils. The large utilization of wood for cooking increases desertification. A century and half ago, the German explorer Bart described the Arewa region as a dense forest with scattered fields. The elder inhabitants remember this dense forest with wild animals. Now the Arewa region is a dry bush with a few big trees. As a consequence many young men migrate temporarily or permanently to cities or to the coast to make their living

Very dynamic associations

Several associations are active in the area, for example associations taking care of the collection of rubbish, the cleaning-up of Dogon Doutchi and different projects such as reforestation or water recycling. as well as the numerous initiatives of Tarbiyya Tatali.

A rich past and culture

The dominant features in the Arewa are the resistance to oppression, tolerance, and some balance of power between men and women. Lougou, Saraouniya's residence is the historic center of the Arewa region.

Dogondoutchi la grande pierre

Contacts

2008-03-22T20:38:24Z

In Niger

Tarbiyya-Tatali RAEDD
c/o Seiyaba Elhadj Saidou
BP 2554 Niamey, NIGER
e-mail raedd@tarbiyya-tatali.org

CulturePlus
c/o Bawa Kadade
WhatsApp:+22796528636
Dosso, NIGER
mel: cultureplus@tarbiyya-tatali.org

In France

Tarbiyya-Tatali AECIN
Seat : AECIN c/o Marie-Thérèse Leforban
11 rue Pierre Bellesculée, 35700 Rennes
Treasurer : AECIN c/o Michel Coste
6A Mail de Bourchevreuil, 35510 Cesson-Sévigné
Tél. 02 99 83 30 98
Assistant treasurer : AECIN c/o Marie-Thérèse Leforban
11 rue Pierre Bellesculée, 35700 Rennes
mel : aecin@tarbiyya-tatali.org
e-mail: aecin@tarbiyya-tatali.org
Membership application/Donations 2026

Membership fees or donations to AECIN entitle tax-payers living in France to income tax deductions.

If you wish to give 10 euros, give 30 euros and you will get 20 euros' tax rebate in the following year.

Photo d'Alain Roux

Tarbiyya Tatali

Our charter

Acting together for self-development

Common and Shared Values

Founding Principles of the Partnership

Commitments of the Collective's Members

Areas of Action

Mahamadou Saïdou (1952-2016)

News from Tarbiyya Tatali

News from Tarbiyya Tatali

The Magazine number 15, November 15th 2021.

Arewa region

Dogon Doutchi

A land of farmers

A worrying trend.

Very dynamic associations

A rich past and culture

Contacts

In Niger

In France

The Magazine number 15, November 15^th 2021.