By Hindaty Traore, Girls’ Project Manager
This school year we’re doing something new in Mali Rising’s Girls’ Project – incorporating primary school girls into our programing. We’re doing this in two different partner villages in different ways, and the results are already wonderful.
First, at Sue Taylor Middle School in Diorila, we noticed that many girls drop out of school in primary school…never even reaching our programing! For example, Adama Diarra – Principal of the primary school in Diorila -- told us the story of Noumousso Touré. A very smart and bright young girl who was forced to drop out of school due to lack of ability to pay school fees last year. This year, Mali Rising paid her school fees and she was able to return to school in the fourth grade. Noumoussou said, “I am very happy and determined to continue school now.”
Noumousso Touré is 11 years old and lives with her parents, her 6 brothers, and her 5 sisters in Diorila. Last year, her parents took her and her brother out of school when they were in 4th grade because of non-payment of school fees. Before this catastrophe, Noumousso worked hard in class and she was at the top of her class.
Noumousso told me, “The day I was taken out of school until now, I cried and cried because seeing the other children on the way to school hurt a lot.” Her wish is to be able to lead a life different from that of her parents, who are poor and illiterate. She thinks that education is the key to her success and that will give her everything she will need in life.
Noumousso's father is a very sick former farmer who can no longer work. He simply could not pay 4500 CFA (about $7) per year for his daughter's school fees.
Poverty in Mali leaves thousands of children out of school in the villages. Like many girls, when forced to drop out Noumousso did the housework at home and sold fruit for her mother, who is a housewife.
“I left school when I was in 4th grade last year. I like to study but my parents took me and my brother out of school when I didn't want to leave. They kicked us out of school because of school fees. I am very grateful to the people of good will who paid for my studies and I will do my best not to waste their money. I will challenge myself to always be among the top three in class,” Noumousso said confidently. “Thanks to your Girls’ Project, I will be able to introduce myself in French, quote the days of the week, the months of the year and even read the messages on the phones, which makes me very proud and important. I would like to do major studies to be Minister of National Education of my country or ateacher. This will allow me to ensure the studies of children from poor families in Diorila and its neighboring villages."
During her first term back at school this year, Noumousso is already living up to her promises – she achieved an average of almost 90% during the first evaluations!
Telling me her story, Noumousso had tears of joy in her eyes because of the emotion of going back to school. You could feel that her only hope was the Girls’ Project to be able to go back to school. She was able to go back to school with her heads held high.
