Construction Complete at New School!

By Merritt Frey, Executive Director

Thanks to Mali Rising's generous supporters, the kids of the tiny village of Sebela in southern Mali now have a middle school. Construction is complete (see photos below) and all that remains is to fill the classrooms with student desks...and then students in October!

Sebela's parents and leaders took a rare and impressive step when they decided to build their own middle school. They were able to fund and coordinate nearly half of the school's construction before running out of resources. In Mali Rising's 12 years of working with Mali villages, this is a unique example of extraordinary investment grounded in the way the parents of Sebela value education for their children

We partnered with the village and notebook manufacturer Denik to find a way to finish the school for the children of Sebela. Denik donated half of the necessary funds, and people like you donated the rest!

All that remains to fund is a set of desks for our students. Can you help before our deadline of September 1st? Just $30 provides one student with a desk, and if you can donate $100 or more you will be entered to win naming rights for the school. Right now, your odds are GREAT at 1 in 25! (Each increment of $100 donated = 1 entry in drawing.)

The completed school...just waiting for desks and, of course, students!

Putting the finishing touches on one of two banks of latrines.

A view down the shady veranda connecting the three classrooms. Doors and windows are made of metal slated panels to encourage airflow. 

A peek inside a finished classroom. 

Construction sites everywhere attract curious kids.

A peek inside a finished classroom. Note the built-in chalkboards -- a large one for lessons and a small one for posting the daily attendance. The classrooms are designed to use natural light and encourage air flow...a relief in Mali's hot climate.

The proud chairman of the local school committee looks over the new school.

This young man stopped by the site to thank us for bringing a school to his village. He recently graduated the 9th grade, but had to walk several miles to school each day because Sebela had no middle school.