Our supporters who follow international news may have heard some disturbing updates out of Mali over the last week or so. I wanted to provide a snapshot of the situation, and assure you that our students and staff are currently safe.
History & Culture of One Mali Ethnic Group: the Soninké
In Mali, your ethnic group is a point of pride and connection. In our schools, we see students from a wide range of ethnic groups learning side-by-side – embracing their own history and culture while also enjoying the diversity of Mali. Today, I want to share the history of my ethnic group and a little of its culture, because I come from a very large Soninké family from Mali in the Kayes region.
A Child Should Be In School; Not In A Mine
In recent decades in Mali, the increasing rate of global warming has caused continuous climatic change characterized by drastic reduction in rainfall. Before, farming was the dominant way to make a living but this unexpected situation (poor rainfall) has hugely impacted on rural farmers’ incomes. Uncertainties, famine and extreme poverty have reached many families in southern Mali. Some people have lost hope. In order to deal with drought issue and meet their household’s needs, many local farmers migrate to the artisanal gold mines. Artisanal mining has become an alternative way of survival strategies for local farmers. Some parents encourage their children to give up schools and join them in mine and work in order to contribute to household finances
Remembering Mali Independence Day
How Aminata Spends Her Summer Vacation
Online Book Discussion: The Moment of Lift
We want to talk with YOU about big ideas for changing the world. Some of our supporters were really inspired by Melinda Gates' book, The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World. We decided it would be fun to have a book group-like discussion and connect some of the themes from the book with Mali Rising's work and your support. Please join us!
When Mud Stands Between You & Your Education
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.
Do You Miss International Travel? Boy, I Do.
In preparation for our May 13 Get to Know Mali Volunteer Evening, I’ve been digging around into information about Mali that might be of interest to those of us in North America or Europe. As a side-effect of that research, I’m positively itching to be able to travel again and missing the sights, sounds, and smells of Mali! I figured some of you might be laboring under the same problem so thought I would share a snippet here about 5 places in Mali I wish I was exploring today:
Bogolan: Traditional Fabric of Mali
Village Life: Where Old Men Gather
Mali is home to many traditions, especially in rural areas. Some of the traditions are disappearing in bigger towns but they live on in villages. Visiting a village in Mali allows people from other countries to learn many of these traditions, but even Malians who have lived in big towns for long time may be reminded of many traditions. For example, it is very common to see large, rustic public benches in villages while visiting.
