The Mali Rising Foundation has introduced a new initiative, the Hope Grant, aimed at empowering its former students to create their own businesses and avoid unemployment. This scholarship will help many individuals turn their dreams into reality through small micro-grants for alumni with a great business idea. This year, we are piloting the Hope Grants with 10 deserving alumni. One particularly joyful recipient is Tenin Doumbia, a young woman from Diorila. Tenin attended Mali Rising’s Sue Taylor Middle School in Diorila.
Turning An Education Into An Orchard
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.
Scholarship Student Makes Agriculture a Career
By Fatoumata Kone, Operations Coordinator
Students may sometimes question why they should stick with school…why do they need math or science ? We work hard to help our students connect their education to their dreams for the future…whatever those dreams are ! I want to share the story of one of our graduates – and Inspiration Schoalrship reciepient – who has a passion for agriculture and livestock farming.
Here is his story in his own words :
“ My name is Chieck Oumar Samake and I'm from a village called Zambougou. I graduated from Mali Rising’s Denik Middle School in Zambougou. After graduation, I enrolled at the Djitoumou Agro-pastoral school in Ouélessebougou and I'm in my 4th year. I was lucky enough to benefit from a Mali Rising Inspiration Scholarship to fund these studies.
Chiiek literally overseeing his young chickens at his internship during this, his last year of an agricultural program as a Mali Rising Inspiration Scholar.
Before graduating, I had some difficulties. At the time Zambougou didn't have a middle school, so I went to [the bigger town of] Ouélessebougou to continue my studies. Unfortuntaely I couldn't find accommodation and I didn't have the financial means, nor did my parents, to continue my studies.
Then Mali Rising Foundation built Denik Middle School in Zambougou, so I went back to Zambougou to do middle school. After graduation, I got the scholarship from Mali Rising too ! This scholarship helped me a lot, and with this money I was able to study in the best possible conditions.
The agro-pastoral school was my dream since I was in middle school. I've always been passionate about livestock and agriculture in general, and I love this profession.
At school we do both theory and practic. We practiced raising broiler chickens three times in our school and we succeeded. This was our first experience.
Right now I'm doing an internship on a big farm in Kita, where I'm raising laying chickens. Every morning I wake up very early to take care of the hens, then I give them food and water. I also monitor their vaccinations from day 1 to day 29. From day 1 I give them a live vaccine, after day 5 I give them an injectable vaccine, and from days 7, 14, 17 and 29 I give them a live vaccine which I put in the water and give them to drink. Laying hens live 18 months, but around 4 months they start laying eggs. Raising laying hens is a profitable business for farmers. Eggs produced by laying hens are in great demand on the local and regional markets.
When I go to visit my village, I'm the one who injects their animals - cows, sheep and chickens. After my studies, I'd like to become a great livestock breeder in Mali, and if I succeed, I'll build a big farm in my village, build roads and renovate the soccer pitch.”
We are so proud of Chieck’s hard work in school and feel confident he will achieve his vision for the future. Livestock farming is a key driver of sustainable agricultural development, contributing to food security, nutrition, poverty reduction and economic growth. In this way Chieck’s dream will improve his life but also improve life for so many Malians !
