…"Someday, I would love to lead an organization that helps young people in Francophone West Africa have better access to education." It was an answer that had been in my heart for years, shaped by my experiences working in the region and witnessing firsthand how transformative education can be. Little did I know, "someday" would be less than three months away.
Beyond the Textbook: How Group Learning is Making French Fun and Effective
At Mali Rising Foundation, we believe that learning should be engaging, interactive, and, most importantly, fun. One of the most effective and enjoyable ways for middle school students to learn is through group work. By working together in small groups, students can exchange ideas, collaborate on tasks, and reinforce their understanding in a supportive environment.
Creating Change, One Clean-Up at a Time: Alumni Inspire School Pride
A strong community is built on shared responsibility, and the former students of Seguessona are leading by example. With the support of the Mali Rising Foundation, the alumni network organizes activities each year to encourage and motivate current students to stay in school. This month, they launched a clean-up day to create a cleaner, healthier learning environment for all.
Kandia’s New Dream: How Career Guidance and Role Models Inspire Young Women
Every girl deserves the opportunity to dream big and build a future that excites her. Through the Girls Project at Mali Rising, we are committed to keeping girls in school and helping them explore career paths that align with their passions and aspirations. One of the ways we do this is by bringing accomplished women from various professions into classrooms to share their journeys and inspire young minds.
Welcome Our New Executive Director!
Inspiration Scholarship Creates a Future Leader
For Bourama, even something as simple as getting to school was a challenge. His high school is three kilometers away from his home, and his mother worked tirelessly to grow and sell peanuts to buy him a bicycle. However, after selling her crops, she couldn’t raise enough money for the bicycle and was left feeling anxious about how Bourama would continue his education. A scholarship from the Mali Rising Foundation allowed him to pay his school fees and continue his education.
Meet Kadidiatou Samaké: A Brave Girl With the Audacity to Stand Against Early Marriage
Building Hope: A New School Takes Shape in Heremakono, Mali
Building Hope: A New School Takes Shape in Heremakono, Mali
As many of us in the United States gear up for the holiday season, there's a different kind of hustle and bustle happening in the village of Heremakono, Mali. Crews are working around the clock to build a new school that promises to change the lives of children in this rural community. And the progress? It's truly inspiring.
Construction began on November 4th, and just six weeks later, the building is already more than 70% complete! Iron bars are now in place on the roof, and by December 20th, the team was planning to install the sheets of iron. The doors and windows have arrived, and the classroom doors are already in position. Meanwhile, work on the toilets has begun, and half of the interior and exterior wall plastering has been completed including the Principal’s office.
Drissa Doumbia: A Determined Student's Journey
Drissa Doumbia had to wake up at 5am every day and walk to school. Often, he went without eating in order to make it to class on time. Drissa was struggling financially which made it very difficult to attend school. But with the help of Mali Rising’s Inspiration Scholarship, Drissa was able to buy a school uniform, a backpack, and notebooks. Now, he can eat at school, live in better conditions, and focus on doing well academically. Drissa is currently in his final year at El Niama High School in Niamakoro.
Drissa strongly believes in Nelson Mandela’s words:
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Goodbye from the Director
After 10 years at Mali Rising Foundation, I am moving on to new challenges. This has been an incredible decade of service….a truly indescribable time. I feel lucky to have worked with the people of Mali, and with our donors from the U.S. and beyond. While I’m sad to go, I am certain that whoever replaces me will take Mali Rising to the next level.
