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!

We’ve been interviewing some of this year’s Inspiration Scholars, so today I will share the story, in her own words, of Matènè:

My name is Matènè Ouonogo , I am 18 years old now, I come from Mamarssao where I did all my fundamental studies, and I graduated from Mali Rising’s Mt. Logan Middle School in June 2019.

Thanks to my Inspiration Scholarship, I am now attending at the Lycée Binta Diaby of Sikasso in the 10th grade. I am focused on the common sciences track, but our school program is a bit diverse. There are French, English, Math, history, geography, economics, and more. The subject that is difficult for me is economics and math, because the teachers speak faster and their French is stronger than mine, but with time I think I will understand well.I prefer economics because it is interesting, we have not done enough lessons because of the teachers' strike, I also prefer geography because we talk a little about economics in this subject.

After my studies, I would like to be a teacher because I like to pass on my knowledge to other people who want to understand things

I used to live in my family with my parents but because my high school studies are in the city of Sikasso far from home, I went to stay with my uncle. In my family, I have two big sisters who are married elsewhere and two little sisters who are at school, I also have three big brothers who help my father to cultivate the field. 

We study Monday for 6 hours, Tuesday, 7 hours, Wednesday 4 hours, Thursday 4 hours Friday 8 hours….so almost 29 hours a week. When I am not at school I like to help my aunt to do the housework because I have to learn this so that one day when I will be at my husband's house, that I will be able to do it. After housework I like to chat with my friends.

I admire the great singer and balafon player Neba Solo because he sings well and he earns a lot of money. He even travels everywhere thanks to that!