By Fatoumata Kone, Operations Coordinator
Mali Rising offers scholarships to our most outstanding graduates to help them continue their education in high school or vocational school. We call these Inspiration Scholarships, because they not only help the individual students who receive them but also inspire students still in school to study hard to pursue a scholarship themselves. I recently had the chance to talk to one of our Inspiration Scholars about what the scholarship meant for her.
Awa strikes a pose in the hallway of her high school in Bamako. She is there thanks in part to Mali Rising Inspiration Scholarship donors….and in part thanks to her own hard work!
Awa Kamate graduated from our Little Heroes Academy I in the village of Mana. She said she knew she had been nominated for the Inspiration Scholarship by her principal, but she didn't expect to receive it. She was worried about how she could possibly get her school for high school, but to her great surprise she was told she had been awarded the scholarship, and she jumped for joy.
As a result of the Inspiration Scholarship, Awa moved to Bamako to continue her studies. She's in grade 10 at Lycée Mamadou N'bodj in Sébénikoro. High schools are fairly rare institutions in Mali, so children often have to move far from home to attend, adding to the cost of their education.
“With this scholarship I bought my school supplies, clothes and I bought everything I needed. So I didn't have any difficulties and I studied in the best conditions, “ Awa explained. “I'm studying the common courses in 10th grade at high school.”
Awa and I discussed why she felt education is important. She had several answers to that question. “The education of a girl is very important. If a girl is educated it allows them to learn many things, she could maintain and take good hygiene. Moreover she will be autonomous and independent. When I get married I can take care of my children…and help other people”
Awa continued, “After my studies, I'd like to become a great doctor so I can look after the people in my community and my parents.” As we chatted, I learned that her dream is to earn enough money that she can help her parents out of their difficulties, and build a health center in her village to treat women and children in difficulty.
At the end of our chat Awa shared her gratitude, “I'd like to thank the Mali Rising Foundation for helping us to get the best education, and I'm very happy because without their help our parents wouldn't have the means to pay all these expenses.”
