Azzel, Niger: Mobile Open Air Cinema Brings Entertainment and Education to the Villages

After a long drive through northern Niger's arid landscape, a minivan pulls into the remote desert oasis of Azzel — bringing not supplies, but entertainment and education through the “cinema on wheels.” The Cinéma Numérique Ambulant (CNA, French for “Mobile Digital Cinema”) is supported by UNICEF and NGOs across Niger, Benin, and Mali. Five mobile projection vans travel to remote villages presenting popular African feature films, preceded by short UNICEF informational films on HIV/AIDS prevention, child marriage, malaria, and water and sanitation. Since 2001, the CNA has reached 1.5 million people.

Movies under the stars

In Azzel, Tuareg villagers and nomads arrive by camel, on foot, and in packed pickup trucks. “Tonight we're going to learn about all these diseases which we don't know about and learn how to avoid them,” said Nola, who came with her husband and seven children. After each screening, CNA staff lead a health discussion; the 100 most active participants receive insecticide-treated bednets to guard against malaria.

Reaching nomads

UNICEF uses CNA projections at six large desert festivals near Agadez each year, reaching nomadic populations that are otherwise constantly on the move. “This is the only time they regroup so we're really able to reach everyone,” said Hassane Sanda Maiga of UNICEF Agadez. UNICEF is adding a new film on safe nutritional practices to the CNA program to address the region's ongoing nutrition crisis.

Originally published on UNICEF.org.