As part of our successful Girls Project, Mali Rising sets up girls soccer teams and coordinates competitions between schools. Sports participation has been shown to increase enrollment and retention in school, which are both key goals of the Girls Project. In addition, soccer is just plain fun and helps our girls build their leadership and team skills! In this blog post, a girl from Kolimba’s team shares her experiences from a soccer game against the girls of Sebela. This match was held earlier this year, before COVID-19 shut down schools and group events like soccer matches. Fatoumata Doumbia is 15 years old and in 8th grade in Nièta Kalanso Middle School in Kolimba. She talks about their experience related to their soccer game in with girls from Tim Gibson Middle School in Sebela….
Better Late Than Never -- Back to School for 9th Grade
Sebela is a small but prosperous village outside of Bamako and it is home to Tim Gibson Middle School. Just like anywhere in Mali, the people of Sebela have been very concerned about their children’s future because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the outbreak of the virus in Mali in mid-March, the school has been closed. Many students were worried about the school year and were almost hopeless. Recently, the government decided to reopen school only for students in the 9th grade, so that these students can prepare for their graduation exams this summer. The schools re-opened on June 2. Mamadou Sidibe is one of those students who are thrilled to be back in school for a few months. He thinks it is late in the year, but students need to learn all the time no matter when. So better late than never! Mamadou is determined to hit his goal for the year, which is to pass his DEF (national exam).
An Inspiration Scholar With Skills in Livestock Breeding, Hair Styles, & Soccer...
As the school year ends, our Field Director Alou is checking in with our Inspiration Scholarship students to see how they are progressing. Inspiration Scholars are outstanding Mali Rising graduates who receive scholarships to continue their education at high school or in vocational programs. Alou spoke with one Scholar, Cheick Oumar Samake, who shared what his first year at agricultural school has been like.
Saving Hours of Walking a Day = More Learning
Right now, a group of dedicated supporters is walking in our Miles for Mali event to raise funds to build a new school for the kids of a little village called N’Goko. (You could join us!) A new school means new hope for hundreds of students…just ask Seydou, a young man benefiting from a school we built in his village in 2018…
Walking Barefoot to Be Part of the Girls Project
In the Girls Project, we host Girls Group meetings twice a month with our girls. The meetings are very beneficial and fulfilling for the girls. It is a way for the girls to learn many things different from what they are used to learning in class, for example the girls discuss their menstrual cycle, hear talks from career women, or develop their leadership skills. The girls love these meetings! As an example, here is a story from one of our Girls Project participants about the lengths she will go to attend the Girls Group meetings…
Mariama Studies Hard at Health School
Here’s a first person story from one of our current Inspiration Scholars, Mariama, who is studying nursing with the help of her scholarship: My name is Mariama Konaté, I am 17 years old, I am currently a nursing student at the Benso School of Health in Sanankoroba . I have to do 6 months of classroom training and 6 months of practical training.
Matènè from Mamarraso is a Scholar on the Go
Adama, Inspiration Scholar & Future Member of Parliament
One of our most popular projects for donors is the Inspiration Scholar Project. Inspiration Scholarships sponsored by donors allow our most outstanding graduates to go on to high school or vocational training such as nursing, farming, or construction. Here’s a first person story from one of our current Inspiration Scholars, Adama Sangaré…
Natogoma Rises to the Challenge
Way back in 2017, a generous donor sponsored Inspiration Scholarships for two young women from the tiny village of Lofine, at our Eagle Environmental Academy. We wanted to check in on those young women to see how they are doing as they begin their third and last year of nursing school in the “big” town of Kadiolo, Mali. We found they are both enthusiastic, proud, and very happy to see their dream becoming true by making them health workers. First, I spoke with Natogoma…
