By Fatoumata Kone, Operations Coordinator

The power of education is that it gives people freedom and choice -- the freedom to dream big and the choice of how to build a better life. Some people will use their education to go to medical school, while some will use it go to college and become a teacher. And here in Mali – where agriculture is the largest part of our economy – many will use their education to learn the skills to launch an agricultural business.

This is the path chosen by Mali Rising graduate, Bakary Koné.

Bakary attended Mali Rising’s Eagle Environmental Academy in the village of Lofine. After he graduated, we provided him with an Inspiration Scholarship to attend Kadiolo Agricultural School.

Bakary is currently in his third (of four) years in the agricultural program. ”The scholarship helped me a lot,” Bakary told me. “It paid my tuition, and I was able to buy food. I also bought my school supplies, such as notebooks and school clothes.”

“In our school we do theory and practice, for me though it is through practice that I understand our lessons better,” said Bakary. “Thanks to education and the Mali Rising scholarship, I learned the right way to do modern agriculture. In the future I'd like to build an orchard in my village, growing oranges, lemons, papayas and mint.”

Bakary’s plans for his future also spill over to his advice to younger students coming up behind him. “The Sikasso region of Mali is the most fertile and well-watered in this Sahelian country, and therefore the most prosperous in terms of agricultural production. I encourage [younger students] to study agriculture to develop our country and our villages.”

We thank Eagle Environmental and all of our donors for investing in Bakary. As you can see, your investment is paying off as Bakary prepares to start his own career investing in the future of his home village and Mali as a whole!