Kadidiatou Samaké’s father sent her to be married off to a cousin at age 15-year-old but she was determined to pursue her education. She fought to stay in school and remain a part of Mali Rising’s Girls Project. Her audacity is a true inspiration.
Supporting Girls' Education: Nantenin's Journey
At Mali Rising Foundation, we know that removing barriers to education changes lives. In Sankama, one of our partner villages, the impact of our Girls’ Project is clear. By covering school fees for girls, we’ve enabled parents to send their daughters to school — a life-changing opportunity for families who would otherwise struggle to afford education. Nantenin’s story makes that crystal clear.
Going to the Source: Feedback on the Girls' Project
Making Sure Girls Have Options
Young people in Mali face many challenges, particularly if they are female. Education helps girls (and boys!) by providing them options for their future, but sometimes the traditional route to unemployment is barred. That’s why the Girls’ Project encourages young women to think creatively about their career options.
A Mother-Daughter Debate
Educating a child involves more than the dedication of that child – it takes everyone’s help. This is way the Girls’ Project works hard to engage the parents – and especially the mothers of our girls – in the drive to educate girls. This year, I’ve had several meetings with female leaders in our partner villages to solicit their help in organizing mothers’ support for girls’ education in the villages. This month, we brought the mothers and their daughters together to discuss girls’ education.
Reading Opens Doors for Girls
Mali Rising’s Girls’ Project is focused on helping girls get into school and succeed there. One key to success in school? Reading abilities! That’s where our Great Girls Read sessions come into play. Great Girls Read reading sessions are designed to help the girls improve their reading skills and find real pleasure in reading.
Celebrating Girls' Education in the Villages
It’s a hard slog for a girl in Mali to get through the school year. That’s why at the end of each year the Girls’ Project celebrates girls’ achievements with our girls and their entire villages! These Feasts (as we call them) are fun, but also are a great way to engage parents and the whole community in a discussion about the importance of girls’ education. Read on…
Fanta the Future Firefighter
As the school year comes to an end in Mali, I’ve been talking with a lot of the girls who are part of the Girls’ Project. Their stories are so compelling that I want to share some of them with Mali Rising’s supporters. Today, I wanted to share the words of Fanta, a student at Judge Memorial Middle School in the little village of Sankama.
A Hero Who Keeps Going: Korotoumou
In the rural villages of Mali, girls face many difficulties in order to be able to study. Some live very far away from school, and others face family problems. Through my interviews this month I have met girls who each have a unique story, but each was able to overcome these difficulties despite their young age. Because of their determination, they were able to continue to go to school and build a better life for themselves, and for their families. I wanted to share just a few of the stories that most moved me with you all. I’ll start with the story of Korotoumou, told in her own words.
Discussing Gender Violence: Boys & Girls
As we work to help girls succeed in school, we know a good relationship between girls and boys is very important for the success of girls. In Mali, school-based violence is a large-scale problem with harmful consequences for girls, but also for society as a whole. The violence suffered by girls affects their learning, their physical and mental health, their personality and their future. That’s why February’s theme for the Girls’ Project meetings was Stopping School-based Violence.
