Nieguekoro

What Keeps a Teacher Going

by Adama Kone, Teacher Project Manager

Mahamadou Doumbia is a dedicated educator with over a decade of experience teaching biology in rural Mali. Mr . Doumbia has served in various village schools, and for the past six years, he’s been a pillar at Ross and Marilou Moser Middle School. His commitment and passion for education led to his appointment as the principal in 2022, a role that has deepened his connection to the village of Nieguekoro and its families.

When asked about his favorite part of the job, Mr. Doumbia shared his love for connecting with the parents and community members of Nieguekoro. “One of the things I enjoy most is meeting with the parents,” he says. “They are so supportive, and they encourage their children to focus on their studies. Our meetings are filled with laughter, and sometimes, the stories they share are unforgettable.”

Mr. Doumbia recalls one story in particular that left a lasting impression: “Once, during a meeting with the school management committee, an elder stood up and told us about a time they were in the peanut fields. Out of nowhere, a man with a machete approached them, talking to himself and munching on peanuts. He looked disheveled, with torn clothes, and everyone was terrified. To keep him calm, they quickly offered him more peanuts, hoping he’d leave without incident. When he finally did, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.”

These interactions, filled with humor and local stories, are one of the reasons Mr. Doumbia loves his role in the community. “I even tell jokes to my students sometimes. It helps them stay engaged, and they often come to class excited, knowing we’ll share a few laughs.”

For Mr. Doumbia, teaching is not just about academics; it’s about building a supportive community where laughter and learning go hand in hand. Learn more about the Teacher Project.

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Helping Mothers Help Daughters

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At Mali Rising, we are continually inspired by the stories of women in our communities who have found new opportunities to help their daughters through the Mothers' Loan Fund. One such woman is Fatoumata Doumbia, a mother from the village of Nieguenkoro, who has seen her life transformed thanks to this initiative.

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Back to School Threatened by Floods in Mali

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As the rainy season sweeps across Mali, the Ministry of National Education has announced that the school year will begin on October 1. However, with continuous torrential rains and the destruction of schools in some areas, there is growing concern about whether classes will actually resume on this date.

Making Sure Girls Have Options

Young people in Mali face many challenges, particularly if  they are female. Education helps girls (and boys!) by providing them options for their future, but sometimes the traditional route to unemployment is barred. That’s why the Girls’ Project encourages young women to think creatively about their career options.

Something as Simple as a Flashcard

Students in Mali often struggle with something most US students don’t need to worry about: language. School is taught in French, but most children speak local languages at home. If they fall behind in learning French, every other subject suffers. That’s where Mali Rising’s FLIP campaign comes in — it aims to help incoming 7th graders jumpstart their French skills for middle school.

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Chatting Around a Dish With the Girls' Project Girls

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As part of the Girls’ Project work, each spring we organize a session on eating and cooking healthy, local foods. This session includes preparation of a group meal with the girls. But the session is not only about food – cooking and eating together gives us a great, informal way to talk and share. While we wait for the meal to cook, we share stories around the table. Each girl tells a story that marked her, and shares her dreams and her goals. This is a very important activity that allows girls to confide and share their experiences.

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Boys as Allies to Girls

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One of Mali Rising’s main goals is to make sure girls have the same chance at education as boys. My co-worker Hindaty leads our very successful Girls’ Project, which implements many strategies to get girls into school and help them succeed there. As part of that work though, we realized that we can’t ignore the role boys could play in helping their sisters — that’s where I come in!

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Kicking Off a New Year of the Girls' Project in Style

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They say first impressions matter. If that’s true, we really started things off right with our first meeting of the new school year for the Girls’ Project! All the girls in the Project’s five new villages (Diorlia, Sankama, Mana, Nieguenkoro, and Manabougou) enjoyed our first Girls’ Group meetings immensely.

New Villages for a New Year of the Girls' project

Mali Rising’s Girls’ Project strives to get more girls into school and help them succeed and thrive once they are there. In the past six years, we’ve helped girls in eight different villages get into school and stay there. This summer, we are selecting five new villages for intensive work via the Project. We are excited to announce those new villages today.

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When Mud Stands Between You & Your Education

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When it rains, it pours. This old saying is especially true in Mali, and it presents a special challenge to children walking to school. It is common for many kids in rural areas in Mali to walk several miles to school and some children may walk four to five miles each way. The time and energy required each day is one of the most common reasons students drop out of school, especially when it comes to girls. This is why building schools is a core part of our education work — by bringing the school closer to the kids, we can make a big difference! This is never more true than during the rainy season. In the picture below, you see the road to one of the Mali Rising partner villages, Nieguekoro, which is home to Ross and Marilou Moser Middle School. This scene is typical during the rainy season.

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