By Hindaty Traore, Girls’ Project Manager

Encouraging and recognizing  good work done is an effective way to develop a taste for learning. Indeed, reward is an extrinsic motivator that prompts the student to improve certain behaviors, providing conditions that facilitate their motivation and learning.

It is in this context that the Girls’ Project gave gifts to 15 most outstanding girl students from last school year in the five villages of Girls’ Project -- Zambougou, Sebela,  Dorila, Tamala  and N'Tentou. This was done both to reward the girls for their hard  work and to create competition among all the girls to study hard. The girls received school supplies and a brand new backpack for school!

One of our young women was determined not to give up her space in the top three girls. This is the second year in a row that Nana Samaké  of  Zambougou  won the prize for being the number one ranked girl at the school. Nana is super smart and wants to become a secretary after her studies.  She is 17 years old and is the 9th grade  this year. After receiving  her new backpack and school supplies as an award, Nana handed over her old bag she won last year to her happy little sister.  

In order not to discourage those who cannot celebrated among  the top three girls, we will later take all those who will have an average grade of at least 12 (out of 20)  on an excursion to Bamako to the National Museum and the zoological park. This will not only allow girls to discover new things and learn more, but also will motivate them to work well if they want to come and visit Bamako.

Another of the participations of the Girls’ Project is of Adjaratou  Touré. She is 12 years old, and just started middle school in the 7th grade at Sue Taylor Middle School of Diorila. She is  very happy to be in the second cycle.

“I would like to stay in school to succeed because my family is counting on me. My father is a shopkeeper, and my mother is a housewife. They are very poor,” explains Adjaratou. “Already when I was in 6th grade I wanted to be among the girls of Girls’ Project. I was excited to play football which is my passion, to participate in the different meetings and to learn more.”

“School is very important because it ensures a future. After my studies, I would like to be a teacher to teach other people and thus contribute to the development of the country," says Adjaratou.

Adjaratou is inspired watching the top girls receive their prizes. “Today, seeing the presentation of gifts to the best girls, I wanted to be in their place,” says Adjaratou.  “I will redouble my efforts to be the first this year. I have never been to Bamako. If I work well in class I would have the opportunity to go there and see new things because that's what Girls’  Project has  offered us.”   

I love that we can provide just a little bit of inspiration to our hard-working young women. I find that these reward systems make students more motivated to learn, especially those in difficulty situation or those who really struggle to learn.