Guéréda The doors are wide open for entry to work with the people of the Guéréda region. Potential fields of work include medical work, teaching French, English or computing skills, agricultural development, tree planting, youth activities, translation and literacy, training mechanics. Many of these activities are underway now on a small scale. The Tama are the main people group of this region.
The town.
At 1000 metres of altitude Guéréda has a cooler climate than that of the surrounding area. Approximately 60% of the population of the 4000 or so people is Tama and most of those born and raised in Guéréda speak Tama even if they belong to another people group. Chadian Arabic is also widely spoken in town. The other main groups are Zaghawa, Goran and Chad Arab. The town has a hospital, a clinic, a primary school, a lower high school, an airstrip and a market two days a week. Local authorities include the Tama sultan, a Prefet and a Sous-Prefet. A water tower delivering water to a number of public taps around town should soon be completed. There is no town electricity, post office or telephone. Many United Nations and other aid organizations have staff living in Guéréda and working among the Sudanese refugees who live in camps 20kms from Guéréda. They also provide medical cover for the local population. The average annual rainfall is 9″ (230mm) with about 8-20 storms during a 3 month period when millet is grown. Tomatoes, onions and garlic are grown using hand-dug wells by the wadis during the dry season.
