By Merritt Frey, Executive Director
One of our most popular projects for donors is the Inspiration Scholar Project. Inspiration Scholarships sponsored by donors allow our most outstanding graduates to go on to high school or vocational training such as nursing, farming, or construction. You too can sponsor an Inspiration Scholar!
Here’s a first person story from one of our current Inspiration Scholars, Mariama, who is studying nursing with the help of her scholarship:
My name is Mariama Konaté, I am 17 years old, I am currently a nursing student at the Benso School of Health in Sanankoroba . I have to do 6 months of classroom training and 6 months of practical training.
In this time of social distancing our Inspiration Scholars are sending selfies to go with their stories…apologies for the image quality!
I graduated from Sue Taylor Middle School in 2019. I am not married, which allows me to still study. I have a sister who studied until the 6th grade when her studies stopped because of marriage. I have a little brother and a little sister who are at school. My parents all live in the village of Diorila where I went to school.
In our health school, we study the following programs: medicine, anatomy, surgery, pharmacy, and obstetrics . Among these programs we spend more time in obstetrics than the other subjects; we have 12 hours of lessons per week in obstetrics. This s the subject I prefer over the others because it deals with the health problems of women and children and I like to help women.
The most difficult subject for me is anatomy because the names of the cells are often difficult for me to remember. I work with a professor in private lessons for myself to better understand this confusing subject! I generally like medicine because it is important
After my diploma, I would like to continue in medicine to deepen my knowledge and work in offices as a midwife.
When I have a lot of money, I will first support my parents then help the poor with the opening of large field hospitals.
When I am not going to school, I learn my lessons and then I help my aunt with the housework. In addition, often I go to my classmates to study together. I like talks in our village. I admire the President's wife who helps children and women.
In 10 years it will not be easy for Mali to advance because the Malians do not love each other, the leaders are cheating the population too often. But Africa will advance in 10 years because African scientists are doing some things that Malians can not do. In general, Africans found ways for Africa to move forward.
In 10 years I think the world will move forward because the richest will help the poorest to improve like the case of Mali Rising, which helps the poor to move forward. I thank the donors for giving me the opportunity to study health I love. I was originally assigned to a secretarial school for 3 years but I preferred to come to study health for a year because that can give me the opportunity to be quickly useful for my family!
