Niger

Getting to Niger almost didn’t happen. Relations between Niger and the United States had become increasingly strained, making visas difficult to obtain. Through an extreme travelers Facebook group, I connected with a local fixer named Abdoul, who, after weeks of trying, was finally able to help me secure one.

During my time in Niamey, the capital, temperatures hovered around 110 degrees. But despite the scorching temperatures, Abdoul still did his very best to show me around. We wandered through bustling markets, took a boat ride along the Niger River where we spotted hippos in the distance, and visited a nearby village filled with traditional mud-brick homes and donkeys. While I appreciated my time in Niger, it quickly became clear that the highlight of my visit wasn’t going to be the country. It was getting to know Abdoul.

One afternoon, Abdoul took me to American Corner, a community center supported by the U.S. Embassy where he volunteered his time leading English conversation classes. English opens doors to opportunities that many young Nigeriens would otherwise never have, and Abdoul spent countless hours helping students practice, entirely for free. Despite having limited means himself, he also supported a local orphanage and was constantly looking for ways to help those around him. Out of the 170 countries I had visited at that point, Abdoul struck me as one of the most genuinely selfless people I had ever met.

During my visit, one of Abdoul’s close friends was seriously ill and receiving treatment at a public hospital. Abdoul had already been helping support his friend’s family, and one afternoon he wanted to visit him. Walking through the hospital was heartbreaking. Many of the patients appeared to be suffering from illnesses that would likely have been treatable elsewhere, yet the lack of resources was impossible to ignore. Wanting to help in some small way, I gave some money to Abdoul’s friend’s family.

On the motorbike ride back to my hotel, Abdoul suddenly pulled over to the side of the road and broke down in tears. He told me he couldn’t believe that someone he had only recently met would care enough to give money to one of his friends. Before long, I found myself crying too. It was clear that we shared many of the same values and cared deeply about helping others. Together on the side of the road, both of us in tears, we shared a moment that words can’t fully explain. It remains one of the most meaningful memories from my journey around the world.