By Ousmane Coulibaly, Operations Coordinator
Like hundreds of other Mali Rising Foundation graduates, Mariam Bamba is continuing to pursue her education after leaving our schools. Driven by a dream of a successful future, she is studying with great courage and conviction at college.
"Only through studies can a person achieve her dreams in life, especially for students from poor families. That's why, as a female, I gathered a lot of courage to push through my studies. I graduated in 2018 from the Eagle Environmental Middle School in Lofine. I was then sent to a high school, the Lycée de la Fraternité in Kadiolo, where I obtained my baccalaureate in 2021 in social sciences,” Mariam explained. “Currently I am studying history and geogrpahy at the University of Bamako. I am very proud of myself and my mother is proud too.”
“I chose geography because I was greatly inspired by a friend named Adama Coulibaly, who was also originally from Lofine. Just after graduating from the geography program, he was recruited by an international aid organization,” said Mariam. “And today, he has managed to get married and build a house, and he helps his parents a lot.”
Mariam continued, “I will continue to study until I get my bachelor’s degree and I will not get married now. In our village, there are many girls who were forced to leave school because their parents gave them away in early marriage. But thanks to God, I went to university and escaped from forced marriage. I would like to become a project manager after my studies.”
Mariam’s story is a powerful example of how Mali Rising students turn a middle school into so much more. Mariam leveraged her time in our schools into a high school graduation and now into a college degree. With time, I know Mariam will turn those educational opportunities into an amazing life that allows her to be safe and prosperous, while also helping to build a better Mali.
