By Adama Kone, Teacher Project Coordinator

Modibo and Karim are both 7th graders in Jade and Gabe Mellor Middle School in Seguesona. Karim is 13 whereas Modibo is 14. I spoke with them last week and they both shared some of their interests and stories with me.

Both Modibo and Karim have many siblings — both brothers and sisters. Modibo is the youngest of six and Karim is the fourth of five siblings. They are excited to have a middle school in their own village, because it saves them from walking miles every day.

Modibo says he likes school because he wants to become a lawyer and punish criminals in the future. He also wants to be a rich man and help his community. He dreams of building a new house for his whole family and buying a fancy car for himself. He likes his parents who are both alive and love him too. Every morning his mother wakes him up so he can take a bath, brush his teeth, and have the breakfast before heading to school. Modibo is very excited to be back to school after a long break because of COVID-19 pandemic. Although the school was closed, he did not completely forget his schoolwork. In fact, he continued to review his notebooks because he did not want his classmates to make fun of him once he gets back to school after COVID-19.

For Karim, he also likes school. He particularly enjoys having Jade and Gabe Mellor Middle School of Seguesona — more than anyone else in school — because he thinks he lives the closest to the school, therefore, he doesn’t have to wake up as early as Modibo! Karim dreams of becoming a doctor even though his favorite subject is French instead of science. He thinks his community needs to be healthy before being wealthy. He would like to build a big house for his parents and a hospital for his community. He likes all his teachers especially his female French teacher who usually has them work in pairs or groups.

Karim and Modibo enjoy working in a pair pretty much whenever the French teacher asks students to share textbooks and read. Modibo, the taller one, tries to give Karim a hand while reading texts. They both enjoy working in their pair, although sometimes they argue. But they always ended up understanding each other perfectly.

Modibo and Karim both like French because although they want to become doctor and lawyer, French is a chance for them to get together in classroom and share ideas. So, they like the French teacher because she offers them that chance very often. They are also grateful to Mali Rising Foundation for the Jade and Gabe Mellor Middle School of Seguessona which has been a blessing to their village.