Meet Souley and Mr Bones.
Souley is 16 years old and trying to survive on the streets of Niamey. Everyday he comes to SEJUP - a centre where street kids can get support and learn literacy and vocational skills. It's also provided Souley with the opportunity for having contact with a mentor such as Mr Bones.
Mr Bones runs a local workshop producing goods from leather and buffalo bones.
Souley is wary of sleeping in the city and lives in a small hut fashioned from reeds in a shanty town near the airport. Let me just say it's dark out there of a night.
Mr Bones is keen for Souley to save up for his own tools and commence an apprenticeship in his workshop. With the right skills he would have the potential to produce leather goods and handicrafts for sale.
With a little negotiation, Souley agreed to make something for me and thus I became his first paying customer for a hand carved bone letter opener.
It's a small start but Souley struck me as a fellow who is motivated and has the support of a caring mentor in Mr Bones.