By Merritt Frey, Executive Director

We don’t feel a day over sweet sixteen, but Mali Rising turns 20 this year! We can hardly believe it. What started as the vague but generous urge to “do some good” in the world among a small group of people is now a fully adult venture. Twenty-eight schools built, twenty-eight strong village partnerships fostered, and thousands of students sent out into the world with the toolbox of education.

For our 20th anniversary, Mali Rising is planning a year’s worth of celebration and fun. We will look back at what we’ve learned and dream big about the future. We’ll celebrate our amazing partners in the villages and give thanks to the supporters who have made the last 20 years possible.

Each month we will put a school or two in the spotlight and look at what that school has meant to Malians. Each quarter, we will host a free, online event to help you explore our work and Mali’s culture, and to get involved in our work yourself. Over the summer and fall, we’ll host several in-person events both in the US and in Mali to connect everyone and celebrate together.

And we have a few other fun tricks up our sleeves to make sure we do our 20th anniversary in style…so stay tuned. If you don’t follow us on Facebook or Instagram, please do so to celebrate with us. Also, sign up for our very first birthday event: Do Good: Ways to Volunteer with Mali Rising.