school access

Lakanan's Dream of Becoming a Police Officer

Earlier this month I traveled to the Sikasso region, where a group of our most far-flung schools needed our attention. I traveled there to do a big training with the local teachers; my colleague Hindaty went to do some work with the schools’ girls. While I was there, I had the chance to talk with some students about their time in school. Today, I would like to share the story of Lakanan, who attends the Eagle Environmental Academy, and dreams of becoming a police officer.

What a New School Means II

Over the school break this summer, Mali Rising has been busy building two new schools for the children of Mali. I took the lead in overseeing construction at one of those schools. This middle school is in the village of Sondougouba Coro. Over the summer I visited many times so that I could check up on the quality of construction and make sure we built a safe school. On my visits, I met Kadia D., a young woman who attended primary school in the village but had to make a long walk to another village for middle school once she started seventh grade. Kadia told me about her experience…

What a New School Means

Over this summer break, Mali Rising Foundation was busy building two new schools that will help more than 300 children change their lives through education. I helped coordinate construction of one of the schools in the village of Kainsiga. During my visits to check up on construction, I often got to chat with future students and their parents. One child I spoke with was 13-year-old Aboubacar.

The Difference a School Makes

It has been 17 years since Mali Rising Foundation built our very first school — The Trujillo Family Middle School was in N'Tentou Kouroulamini. Today its graduates are out in the world and dreaming big. Let’s meet one of those alumni — Mamadou.

Independence, Sustainability, & Safe Schools

Are you a skilled DIYer? What if you had to do the repairs at your kid’s school….would your skills hold up for that DIY job? Maybe not, but if you had a little help maybe you could feel good about contributing back to the school. That’s what our school maintenance trainings do for parents on our partner schools’ School Management Committeees.

Meet the Principal of our Newest School!

With schools in Mali opening in Mali this month, many principals are busy setting up old and new students in classrooms. At the brand-new Harman Family Middle School, Drissa Coulibaly is the new principal. I met with him just one week into his leadership of the new school.

A Long, Long Walk to School

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.