Regional/Cultural Day
Journee de l'Enfant
The day honoring children, and the celebration includes school events, games, and the tradition of giving the children a treat : usually a bowl of fura with extra sugar. Niger has the highest child mortality rate in the world (1 in 10 children die before age five), and the day is both celebration and demand. The signs say: "Vaccinate your children," "Send your daughters to school," and "No to child marriage." In the villages, the day is marked by a communal meal, and the children are given the best portions : a rare indulgence in a country where food is scarce.