Way back in the early days of the pandemic, we — like everyone else — were scrambling to find ways to keep our kids connected to school as things shut down. School closures in Mali were total…there is no online learning in our remote, rural villages! One tool we decided to test was incredibly simple, but turned out to also be incredibly engaging. That tool is a set of simple, photocopied workbooks we distributed in our villages.
Konimba: Working Hard Even During A Pandemic
During this uncertain pandemic time, Mali Rising is working in five of our partner villages to test take home workbook as a tool for keeping students learning when schools are closed due to the pandemic. One of the villages where we have done this work is Sebela. We recently visited with the high scoring workbook student of Sebela, Konimba, and her father.
Keeping Students Connected to Learning
Just like everyone else around the world, Mali Rising staff and students have had to make a lot of “pivots” over the last year. Although that term may be over-used these days, it remains a central part of our new reality. Flexibility has become our new core skill, as closed schools and other problems challenge attempts to keep children learning. As part of our pivoting, we have developed and distributed take-home workbooks that allow our students to stay connected with learning and language during their extended break.
Safety First at Judge Memorial Middle School!
Mr. Touré is a Math teacher at Judge Memorial Middle School of Sankama. He is 34 years old and, according to him, married to a beautiful wife. Mr. Touré does not live with his wife in Sankama where he teaches because it is a small and remote village. He misses his wife incredibly while teaching in village. He gets to see his wife about every two months when he visits her in Bamako, the capital city of Mali, which is about 100 km from the village where he teaches. Mr. Touré has been very concerned about student health in his school since the outbreak of COVID-19. Because of his concern, he volunteered to coach the Mali Rising Health Club at Judge Memorial Middle
Girls Groups Meet Under the Mango Trees
By Hindaty Traore, Girls Project Manager
In October, I was very happy to finally head back to the villages to meet with the girls from the Girls' Project after a long time because of the pandemic. Although I stayed in touch with the girls via the phone and radio, nothing is as much fun and as satisfying as laughing in person with the girls!
The meetings with our girls will be different this year because of the pandemic. To continue to do our activities safely with the girls, instead of meeting in the classrooms we spread out mats under a tree in the schoolyard. Each of the girls wears her mask, provided by Mali Rising. Everyone must disinfect their hands before the meeting and were made with gestures, rather than hugs.
Although I wondered how the rules would work, the girls sat down respecting the distancing measures and were just happy to be together. They were enthusiastic because it is a first time for them to return to our discussions and fun.
In fact, I noticed they were more relaxed, participatory, and focused as we met under the trees. One girl from Zambougou, Doussouba Samaké , said she loves meeting outside - she feels is in a palace on her mat under the trees and she is the queen so it feels good to take outdoor lessons. She wishes that all subjects could be taught like this! She said she would be the top of the class if she could learn under the trees (laughs).
Safety First at Ross and Marilou Moser Middle School
Ross and Marilou Moser Middle School has been changed by the Covid-19 pandemic just like all schools in Mali. Parents and students have been very worried about their village’s future in terms of education and health. School have been closed for months and students were concerned and depressed. When the government decided to reopen schools, the whole village was thrilled to see their kids back in school even though the pandemic was not still over. We are working to help students feel and be safe by setting up a health club so students are more aware of the virus and how to protect themselves and their families.
COVID-19 Changes the Feel of Village Visits
Keeping Girls in School During Covid-19: A Video Chat
By Merritt Frey, Executive Director
Join us on Sunday, October 25 to learn about our work to get girls into school and keep them there, even during COVID-19 times. Hindaty Traore will share stories from her work on the theme of “Keeping Girls In School in Mali During the COVID-19 Pandemic” and answer your questions about the work.
This informal discussion will cover the challenges of keeping girls in Mali safe and in school during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how Hindaty is leading our strategies to keep them there. We promise beautiful photos, engaging stories, and inspiring details about how your support makes a difference in Mali. We’ll devote plenty of time to answering your questions too — feel free to ask about Mali culture, programming, Hindaty’s stories from the field or anything you are curious about.
In addition, we will share a few ways you can get more involved as a volunteer.
RSVP for the video link call here. We use Zoom, which most of you are familiar with by now!
Note that the call is Sunday, October 25 at Noon pacific/1 pm mountain/2pm central/3 pm eastern. The chat will last an about hour, but we will stay on the line a longer if you all have many questions.
Keeping Girls Both Safe From Covid & Learning
This year I can't wait to resume our twice monthly meetings with the girls in our Girls Project villages! These meetings will be a little different because of COVID-19, but in some ways I think they may be even better. For more health protection, we will hold these meetings under the trees in the school yards, rather than in the classrooms…
Be Part of Keeping Kids Healthy & Learning
A few weeks back, we launched our Back-to-School Safe Campaign for our kids in Mali. With your help, we will raise $3,000 to provide the tools and training our kids and teachers need to stay safe in Mali, where online learning just is not an option. We are 20% of the way to our goal but there’s still a long way to go! We are grateful to everyone who has donated so far, and hope more of you will be able to get involved. We know times are tough for many of us, but for those who can give you can really make a difference for some great kids with as little as $25.
