When Mali Rising’s donors sponsor a scholarship, they really do change lives. It is a cliché, but a $500 donation to one of our graduates can turn dreams into reality for a hard working student. Take the case of Mariam Sylla as a case in point.
A Young Girl's Plan for A Better Future
An Alumnus Heads to Law School
You never know what gifts a young student will find in a classroom They may find a love of literature or a passion for science. They may discover a vision of becoming a doctor, or a dream of being a famous artist. For Hamidou Marico, a graduate of Mali Rising’s Lareen Mellor Middle School, he found a love of the law and of his country.
Welcome Board Member Cole Smith
I’ve been remiss in welcoming a member to our board of directors — Cole Smith. Cole actually joined the board more than a year ago, and has quickly become a central part of our work. In fact, in January Cole was elected as Mali Rising’s Treasurer. We are grateful to have someone with Cole’s skills and eye for detail in this key role. Although we are late, we want to take a minute to have our supporters get to know Cole. I asked Cole a few questions about his board service and background. Read on for more from Cole…
Can a School Really Change a Life?
A Mali Rising Graduate Gives Back
Kanouya Keeps a Career In Sight
To help students dream about what they want to do in the future, connect their dreams to education, and create a plan for what they need to do to achieve their dreams, we at Mali Rising Foundation recently hosted a Career Day at one of our schools. I personally saw one student – Kanouya – who really made it clear just how inspiring the Career Day was to the students. I spoke with her after the event, and this is what she told me….
First-Ever Career Day a Success!
Sticking with school is really hard for many students in Mali — they face pressure to drop out to help support their families, to take care of siblings, or even to get married. That’s why Mali Rising tries to provide inspiring opportunities for students to see why their education matters and how it can change their lives. This month, we piloted a new idea to inspire students to stay in school — a Career Day.
Kadia's Scholarship Keeps Her Fed & Shod
Mali Rising’s Inspiration Scholars sponsors are changing lives. By donating a modest scholarship, these donors help our most outstanding middle school graduates go on to vocation school or high school. The scholarships help the specific recipients of course, but the gift ripples out even farther. Other students are inspired to study hard in the hopes of a future scholarship. Parents see their earlier investment in education paying off and enroll young siblings. And Scholars return to their home villages with skills and an income that helps their whole family. We recently caught up with one Inspiration Scholar, Kadia Traore.
Studying Agriculture To Drive Food Self-Sufficiency
Being a student in Mali is a tough job. Because so much of the population lives in extreme poverty, young people are under serious pressure to drop out of school to help their families survive by going to work. Even if the family can spare a child to school, there are often no extra resources to help with tuition or other costs associated with education. This creates a cycle where even smart, motivated youth cannot live up to their potential — there are just no resources to help them get ahead. That’s where Mali Rising’s Inspiration Scholar supporters come in. By underwriting a modest scholarship, these donors help our most outstanding middle school graduates go on to vocation school or high school. We recently caught up with one Inspiration Scholar, Barou Kone.
