A Mother-Daughter Debate

Educating a child involves more than the dedication of that child – it takes everyone’s help. This is way the Girls’ Project works hard to engage the parents – and especially the mothers of our girls – in the drive to educate girls. This year, I’ve had several meetings with female leaders in our partner villages to solicit their help in organizing mothers’ support for girls’ education in the villages. This month, we brought the mothers and their daughters together to discuss girls’ education.

7 Ways to Volunteer for Mali Rising Today

Generous folks like you are often curious about how to help our students out, so today I want to provide a round up of 7 current opprotunities. These volunteer openings are ready for you right now, and all can be done from anywhere around the US (and some from anywhere in the world). Read on to see if one of these is the right way for you to get involved….

Judge, Pediatrician, & More: Girls Dream Big

Sometimes, a little role modeling can go a long way! That’s why as part of our Girls’ Project we bring successful career women to talk with our participants each year. This year, five powerful women inspired our girls with dreams of futures where they can make a difference.

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.

Creativity + Business Acumen = Bright Future

Creating and wearing beautiful clothes is a passion that crosses the boundaries of every country. No matter where you go, you’ll find people who turn clothing into an art form with their sewing skill. Mali Rising Foundation alum Djeneba Samake is one such young woman with a passion for sewing that, with te help of Mali Rising’s donors, she is now turning into a career.

It's Our 20th Birthday!

By Merritt Frey, Executive Director

We don’t feel a day over sweet sixteen, but Mali Rising turns 20 this year! We can hardly believe it. What started as the vague but generous urge to “do some good” in the world among a small group of people is now a fully adult venture. Twenty-eight schools built, twenty-eight strong village partnerships fostered, and thousands of students sent out into the world with the toolbox of education.

For our 20th anniversary, Mali Rising is planning a year’s worth of celebration and fun. We will look back at what we’ve learned and dream big about the future. We’ll celebrate our amazing partners in the villages and give thanks to the supporters who have made the last 20 years possible.

Each month we will put a school or two in the spotlight and look at what that school has meant to Malians. Each quarter, we will host a free, online event to help you explore our work and Mali’s culture, and to get involved in our work yourself. Over the summer and fall, we’ll host several in-person events both in the US and in Mali to connect everyone and celebrate together.

And we have a few other fun tricks up our sleeves to make sure we do our 20th anniversary in style…so stay tuned. If you don’t follow us on Facebook or Instagram, please do so to celebrate with us. Also, sign up for our very first birthday event: Do Good: Ways to Volunteer with Mali Rising.