Real progressWith the support of Plan, children and adults inNiger are working together to develop theircommunities and claim their right to a betterfuture. And real progress is being made. Last year, our work included:

• Supporting immunisation campaigns,with 4,624 children completing all theirbasic vaccinations

• Distributing over 10,000 insecticide-treated mosquito nets to help combat malaria in all programme areas

• Supporting a drama road-show highlighting the importance of goodnutrition for toddlers. The road-show reached around 40,000 people

• Creating community schools in the areas where we work and helping train 52 community health workers, 56 birth attendants and 84 otherhealth workers.

Plan’s greatest successes come from a joint effortcombining the hard work and determination ofcommunities, children, volunteers, staff, and partnerorganisations. The ongoing support of our sponsors isa vital ingredient, too. It’s their generosity andcommitment that allows us to continue to help childrenin 49 of the poorest countries in the world.

So on behalf of the children and communities we work with, thank you to all our sponsors!

Plan UK Registered Charity No: 276035

NER

Fighting malnutrition: children raise awarenessthrough theatre

p

Challenge and change in Niger2007 has been a challenging year in Niger. Although Plan’s work has continued tomake good progress, the country still faces deep economic problems and most peoplestill cannot meet their basic needs.

Niger is the poorest country in the world, and still recovering from the severe foodcrisis that hit the whole country in 2005. The crisis stemmed from low soil fertility,frequent droughts and limited levels of know-how when it comes to farming andlooking after livestock.

Famari Barro, Plan’s Country Director, comments: “The needs of Niger remain huge, but we will continue to help meet them.”

In this Country Progress Report, we look at one successful projectamong many that we have carriedout this year.

Niger country factsPopulation: 12 million

Capital: Niamey

UN Human Development Indexranking: 177th (of 177 countries)

Children aged 5-14 involved in childlabour: 67%

Secondary-aged boys in school: 38%

Children under-five who are severelyunderweight: 14%

(Sources: the UN, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office) Country ProgressReport 2007

Niger

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Client name:File name:

Date:Size:

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0407100647PLAN0407_Niger03.12.07210x443.5mm FOLD TO A51 Client proof: 1

Any enquiries please contact:Nick Burton. e: nick@bright-uk.comm: 07884 367567. d: 020 7620 8150

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Plan is providing school supplies to help make lessons meaningfuland effective

p

Real progressWith the support of Plan, children and adults inNicaragua are working together to develop theircommunities and claim their right to a betterfuture. And real progress is being made. Last year, our work included:

• Helping to get over 40,000 children’sbirths registered in the north of thecountry. Birth registration is vital toproving children’s rights to education,healthcare and more

• Training 1,215 health workers to work in 126 communities

• Promoting equality of opportunity and school attendance at 232 schools

• Working with 1,700 families to help them organise and diversify their crop production.

Plan’s greatest successes come from a joint effortcombining the hard work and determination ofcommunities, children, volunteers, staff, and partnerorganisations. The ongoing support of our sponsors is a vital ingredient, too. It’s their generosity andcommitment that allows us to continue to help childrenin 49 of the poorest countries in the world.

So on behalf of the children and communities we work with, thank you to all our sponsors!

Plan UK Registered Charity No: 276035

NIC

Plan is training health workers to look after the needsof poor rural families

p

Challenge and change in NicaraguaIt’s been an exciting year for Plan Nicaragua. As well as continuing our work in areaslike children’s health, education and families’ livelihoods, we have strengthenedimportant relationships with the National Police and others in positions of power.

We’re helping to combat violence against children and have made further efforts tobuild and strengthen the country’s ability to prevent and respond to disaster. We havealso made great progress with our universal birth registration campaign.

Mariella Greco, Plan’s Country Director, comments: “Our goal is to register 100,000children so that they cease to be invisible and can enjoy their right to having a nameand a nationality, which will help them enjoy all their other rights.”

In this Country Progress Report, we look in detail at the impact of our work to improve the livelihoodsof poor rural families, and so givetheir children a happier, healthierupbringing.

Nicaragua country factsPopulation: 5.1 million

Capital: Managua

UN Human Development Indexranking: 112th (of 177 countries)

Children aged 5-14 in child labour: 15%

People in rural areas withoutadequate sanitation: 66%

Children aged under five mortalityrate: 37%

(Sources: the UN, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office) Country ProgressReport 2007

Nicaragua

Admagic No:Bright No:

Client name:File name:

Date:Size:

Studio proof:

0407100647PLAN0407_Nicaragua05.12.07210x443.5mm FOLD TO A52 Client proof: 1

Any enquiries please contact:Nick Burton. e: nick@bright-uk.comm: 07884 367567. d: 020 7620 8150

Size (Prod) Colours(Prod) Art (A/D) Copy (C/W) Content (Acc.)

146.5mm FLAP 148.5mm BACK 148.5mm FRONT

Birth registration: the process in actionp

growing new crops like corn, raisingchickens and growing vegetables and fruit.

Plan helped him to install drip irrigation– a system of piping water which givesthe soil a steady supply of moisture –which dramatically increased theamount of land they could use forvegetable growing.

Working togetherNow the whole family works together tomake their land as productive aspossible, and each person has their ownresponsibility, including the children.Victor is in charge of cultivation, Lauralooks after the house, vegetable garden,fruit trees and cattle, and the childrenhelp to harvest the vegetables. Theyhave also improved their water supplywith a well and a small aqueduct system.

The family now have enough to eat, andthe quality of their diet is muchimproved. Victor and Laura make surethat the children get the best of what isproduced. Their diet is based on whatthey produce themselves: corn and rice,fruit and vegetables (such as tomatoesand aubergines), eggs, milk, cheese andbutter. They buy beans and meat. They

store rice and corn in silos, so they canbe eaten all year round.

Increasing the productivity of thefarmland hasn’t just improved thefamily’s nutrition, it has also helpedtheir financial situation. Now they growpaprika, and that’s their main source ofincome, but they also sell corn, rice and milk.

Enthusiasm andcommitmentThe success of the Talave family showshow, with just a little external help anda lot of hard work, poor peoplethemselves can change their lives andthe lives of their children for the better.Plan will continue to make sure thatmore families get the chance to do just that.

With just a little external helpand a lot of hard work, poorpeople themselves can changetheir lives.

We offer training in managing smallbusinesses, like the course that Victorattended, and provide small savings andloans schemes so families can invest intheir businesses. We help families to

148.5mm INSIDE 148.5mm INSIDE 146.5mm INSIDE

Four years ago, like the 2.5 millionother Nicaraguans living in absolutepoverty, they were struggling to makeends meet and to feed and clothe theirchildren. Victor worked on hisneighbours’ farms as a labourer, andwhen he wasn’t doing that, he grew riceon less than an acre of borrowed land.

His earnings were low and the familyoften didn’t have enough to eat, andwhat they were able to put on thetable was often poor nutritionally. Theycouldn’t afford basic medicines, andwhile the children did go to school, theyfound lessons difficult because theydidn’t have the right school supplies likebooks and pencils or school uniforms.

Now, with help from Plan, the family’ssituation has changed dramatically andthe children can look forward to abrighter future. They’ve gainedknowledge and developed skills thathave enabled them to improve theirlives. Now they have more money, theirchildren’s health and nutritional status

are good, and all three kids are doingbetter in school.

The family’s situation haschanged dramatically and thechildren can look forward to abrighter future.

Plan helped by giving Victor the chanceto attend a course on small businessmanagement and administration, andfarming in particular. With thatknowledge, he was able to develop newactivities, and the family started

learn about new farming techniques,crop and livestock management, how tostore food, and how to produce cropsfor selling.

It’s vital work in a country where almosthalf the population lives in extremepoverty, often in a cycle of deprivationthat continues from one generation tothe next, with a childhood spent in

poverty leading to an adult life that isequally poor. But with the kind ofenthusiasm and commitment shown by the Talave family, more and moreNicaraguan families are breaking thatcycle and building new hope for the future.

Some names have been changed for privacy and childprotection reasons.

The Talave familyp

One family’s successVictor and Laura Talave live in Chinandega, north-western Nicaragua, withtheir three children aged 11, nine and five.

Victor and Laura are now able to grow a wider range of saleable cropsp

growing new crops like corn, raisingchickens and growing vegetables and fruit.

Plan helped him to install drip irrigation– a system of piping water which givesthe soil a steady supply of moisture –which dramatically increased theamount of land they could use forvegetable growing.

Working togetherNow the whole family works together tomake their land as productive aspossible, and each person has their ownresponsibility, including the children.Victor is in charge of cultivation, Lauralooks after the house, vegetable garden,fruit trees and cattle, and the childrenhelp to harvest the vegetables. Theyhave also improved their water supplywith a well and a small aqueduct system.

The family now have enough to eat, andthe quality of their diet is muchimproved. Victor and Laura make surethat the children get the best of what isproduced. Their diet is based on whatthey produce themselves: corn and rice,fruit and vegetables (such as tomatoesand aubergines), eggs, milk, cheese andbutter. They buy beans and meat. They

store rice and corn in silos, so they canbe eaten all year round.

Increasing the productivity of thefarmland hasn’t just improved thefamily’s nutrition, it has also helpedtheir financial situation. Now they growpaprika, and that’s their main source ofincome, but they also sell corn, rice and milk.

Enthusiasm andcommitmentThe success of the Talave family showshow, with just a little external help anda lot of hard work, poor peoplethemselves can change their lives andthe lives of their children for the better.Plan will continue to make sure thatmore families get the chance to do just that.

With just a little external helpand a lot of hard work, poorpeople themselves can changetheir lives.

We offer training in managing smallbusinesses, like the course that Victorattended, and provide small savings andloans schemes so families can invest intheir businesses. We help families to

148.5mm INSIDE 148.5mm INSIDE 146.5mm INSIDE

Four years ago, like the 2.5 millionother Nicaraguans living in absolutepoverty, they were struggling to makeends meet and to feed and clothe theirchildren. Victor worked on hisneighbours’ farms as a labourer, andwhen he wasn’t doing that, he grew riceon less than an acre of borrowed land.

His earnings were low and the familyoften didn’t have enough to eat, andwhat they were able to put on thetable was often poor nutritionally. Theycouldn’t afford basic medicines, andwhile the children did go to school, theyfound lessons difficult because theydidn’t have the right school supplies likebooks and pencils or school uniforms.

Now, with help from Plan, the family’ssituation has changed dramatically andthe children can look forward to abrighter future. They’ve gainedknowledge and developed skills thathave enabled them to improve theirlives. Now they have more money, theirchildren’s health and nutritional status

are good, and all three kids are doingbetter in school.

The family’s situation haschanged dramatically and thechildren can look forward to abrighter future.

Plan helped by giving Victor the chanceto attend a course on small businessmanagement and administration, andfarming in particular. With thatknowledge, he was able to develop newactivities, and the family started

learn about new farming techniques,crop and livestock management, how tostore food, and how to produce cropsfor selling.

It’s vital work in a country where almosthalf the population lives in extremepoverty, often in a cycle of deprivationthat continues from one generation tothe next, with a childhood spent in

poverty leading to an adult life that isequally poor. But with the kind ofenthusiasm and commitment shown by the Talave family, more and moreNicaraguan families are breaking thatcycle and building new hope for the future.

Some names have been changed for privacy and childprotection reasons.

The Talave familyp

One family’s successVictor and Laura Talave live in Chinandega, north-western Nicaragua, withtheir three children aged 11, nine and five.

Victor and Laura are now able to grow a wider range of saleable cropsp

growing new crops like corn, raisingchickens and growing vegetables and fruit.

Plan helped him to install drip irrigation– a system of piping water which givesthe soil a steady supply of moisture –which dramatically increased theamount of land they could use forvegetable growing.

Working togetherNow the whole family works together tomake their land as productive aspossible, and each person has their ownresponsibility, including the children.Victor is in charge of cultivation, Lauralooks after the house, vegetable garden,fruit trees and cattle, and the childrenhelp to harvest the vegetables. Theyhave also improved their water supplywith a well and a small aqueduct system.

The family now have enough to eat, andthe quality of their diet is muchimproved. Victor and Laura make surethat the children get the best of what isproduced. Their diet is based on whatthey produce themselves: corn and rice,fruit and vegetables (such as tomatoesand aubergines), eggs, milk, cheese andbutter. They buy beans and meat. They

store rice and corn in silos, so they canbe eaten all year round.

Increasing the productivity of thefarmland hasn’t just improved thefamily’s nutrition, it has also helpedtheir financial situation. Now they growpaprika, and that’s their main source ofincome, but they also sell corn, rice and milk.

Enthusiasm andcommitmentThe success of the Talave family showshow, with just a little external help anda lot of hard work, poor peoplethemselves can change their lives andthe lives of their children for the better.Plan will continue to make sure thatmore families get the chance to do just that.

With just a little external helpand a lot of hard work, poorpeople themselves can changetheir lives.

We offer training in managing smallbusinesses, like the course that Victorattended, and provide small savings andloans schemes so families can invest intheir businesses. We help families to

148.5mm INSIDE 148.5mm INSIDE 146.5mm INSIDE

Four years ago, like the 2.5 millionother Nicaraguans living in absolutepoverty, they were struggling to makeends meet and to feed and clothe theirchildren. Victor worked on hisneighbours’ farms as a labourer, andwhen he wasn’t doing that, he grew riceon less than an acre of borrowed land.

His earnings were low and the familyoften didn’t have enough to eat, andwhat they were able to put on thetable was often poor nutritionally. Theycouldn’t afford basic medicines, andwhile the children did go to school, theyfound lessons difficult because theydidn’t have the right school supplies likebooks and pencils or school uniforms.

Now, with help from Plan, the family’ssituation has changed dramatically andthe children can look forward to abrighter future. They’ve gainedknowledge and developed skills thathave enabled them to improve theirlives. Now they have more money, theirchildren’s health and nutritional status

are good, and all three kids are doingbetter in school.

The family’s situation haschanged dramatically and thechildren can look forward to abrighter future.

Plan helped by giving Victor the chanceto attend a course on small businessmanagement and administration, andfarming in particular. With thatknowledge, he was able to develop newactivities, and the family started

learn about new farming techniques,crop and livestock management, how tostore food, and how to produce cropsfor selling.

It’s vital work in a country where almosthalf the population lives in extremepoverty, often in a cycle of deprivationthat continues from one generation tothe next, with a childhood spent in

poverty leading to an adult life that isequally poor. But with the kind ofenthusiasm and commitment shown by the Talave family, more and moreNicaraguan families are breaking thatcycle and building new hope for the future.

Some names have been changed for privacy and childprotection reasons.

The Talave familyp

One family’s successVictor and Laura Talave live in Chinandega, north-western Nicaragua, withtheir three children aged 11, nine and five.

Victor and Laura are now able to grow a wider range of saleable cropsp

Real progressWith the support of Plan, children and adults inNicaragua are working together to develop theircommunities and claim their right to a betterfuture. And real progress is being made. Last year, our work included:

• Helping to get over 40,000 children’sbirths registered in the north of thecountry. Birth registration is vital toproving children’s rights to education,healthcare and more

• Training 1,215 health workers to work in 126 communities

• Promoting equality of opportunity and school attendance at 232 schools

• Working with 1,700 families to help them organise and diversify their crop production.

Plan’s greatest successes come from a joint effortcombining the hard work and determination ofcommunities, children, volunteers, staff, and partnerorganisations. The ongoing support of our sponsors is a vital ingredient, too. It’s their generosity andcommitment that allows us to continue to help childrenin 49 of the poorest countries in the world.

So on behalf of the children and communities we work with, thank you to all our sponsors!

Plan UK Registered Charity No: 276035

NIC

Plan is training health workers to look after the needsof poor rural families

p

Challenge and change in NicaraguaIt’s been an exciting year for Plan Nicaragua. As well as continuing our work in areaslike children’s health, education and families’ livelihoods, we have strengthenedimportant relationships with the National Police and others in positions of power.

We’re helping to combat violence against children and have made further efforts tobuild and strengthen the country’s ability to prevent and respond to disaster. We havealso made great progress with our universal birth registration campaign.

Mariella Greco, Plan’s Country Director, comments: “Our goal is to register 100,000children so that they cease to be invisible and can enjoy their right to having a nameand a nationality, which will help them enjoy all their other rights.”

In this Country Progress Report, we look in detail at the impact of our work to improve the livelihoodsof poor rural families, and so givetheir children a happier, healthierupbringing.

Nicaragua country factsPopulation: 5.1 million

Capital: Managua

UN Human Development Indexranking: 112th (of 177 countries)

Children aged 5-14 in child labour: 15%

People in rural areas withoutadequate sanitation: 66%

Children aged under five mortalityrate: 37%

(Sources: the UN, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office) Country ProgressReport 2007

Nicaragua

Admagic No:Bright No:

Client name:File name:

Date:Size:

Studio proof:

0407100647PLAN0407_Nicaragua05.12.07210x443.5mm FOLD TO A52 Client proof: 1

Any enquiries please contact:Nick Burton. e: nick@bright-uk.comm: 07884 367567. d: 020 7620 8150

Size (Prod) Colours(Prod) Art (A/D) Copy (C/W) Content (Acc.)

146.5mm FLAP 148.5mm BACK 148.5mm FRONT

Birth registration: the process in actionp