Today, October 5, is National Walk to School Day here in the United States, which is great. But for kids in Mali, every day is walk to school day. While here in the US walking to school is rightly encouraged as a good thing, in Mali it can be a huge problem. In fact, the distance kids face on that walk is often the most powerful factor driving them to drop out of school.
Could You Learn in a Classroom with 100 Students?
Imagine a classroom crammed with 100 or more teenagers. Really picture it in your mind. Three or four students sit at desks designed to hold two kids. The room created to hold 20 or 25 desks holds 30 or 35. There are not enough textbooks to go around. Students near the back can’t see the board over the heads of all the other students. The noise level, even when the students are calm, is disruptive…and when the kids get loud – well, no one is learning.
This is a typical situation in Mali’s schools and is the current situation in Mali Rising’s Leon W. Pete Harman Middle School in Tentoubougou. Until everything is changed thanks to a new Mali Rising village school.
Mrs. Kone: A Mother Making a Difference for Girls
n Mali as in other African countries, historically few women went to school. Instead, many women were married at an early age and men did not consider women them when making certain core decisions in the society. But today this trend is changing in many regions of Mali and elsewhere. For our work at Mali Rising, we see this change happening in our school committees — the group of local people in charge of managing each school in Mali. I recently met a woman who exemplifies this change — Aicha Kone. Ms. Kone is a female leader who joined the school management committee of the Neways Academy in the village of Touban to champion the cause of girls.
What a Difference a School Makes
At Mali Rising, our Girls’ Project does a lot to get girls into school and help them succeed there – from tutoring to soccer matches to school fee subsidies. However, sometimes we are reminded that even the basic act of building a school literally opens doors to girls in search of an education. I was reminded of this recently during a discussion with a mother of one of our students.
Sustainability is Key to School Maintenance
Building and opening a new school is one of the most exciting activities at Mali Rising Foundation. However, once the school is complete we turn the building over to the local village to own and manage. This is a big responsibility, and maintenance requires skills. That’s why one of the ways we work with our partner villages is on-going maintenance trainings. To keep the schools safe and comfortable, we train School Management Committees – which are kind of like the PTAs in the U.S. – in various skills. I recently trained the Committee at both Lareen Mellor Middle School and Gary Hudson Elementary School.
Quick Update On Our Newest School
A New School Rises
Is there anything more exciting than seeing a new school take shape? I’m a little bit biased, but I say no. That’s why I’m so pleased to share a short update from our school #26. This school is located in the town of Tentoubougou, quite near another of our schools which is currently over-crowded. We are hoping this school will relieve crowding at the existing Leon W. Peter Harman Middle School.
School Number 26 is Underway!
You're Invited! Free, Online Tour of Mali School + Celebration
Usually each fall we gather with you -- our great supporters -- to celebrate the successes you made possible and kick off a new school year. This year we can't gather physically, but we still want to celebrate with you! Join us Sunday, November 14 for an online, free gathering celebrating the end of our Gift of Education Giving Challenge.
My First Visit to a Mali Rising School
In late October, I had my first chance to visit a Mali Rising partner school. As a brand new staff person, I was so excited to finally see first-hand what we do and meet the great teachers and kids we work with. For my first trip, I went to the village of Sebela, which is home to Tim Gibson Middle School.
