Mali Rising's first-ever virtual walking challenge -- Miles for Mali -- is in the books! This May, thirty-three volunteers walked more than 2,400 miles to raise $2,100 to build a new school for the kids of Sankama, Mali. We had a great time with our volunteer walkers, and everyone did a great job. However, one walker really stood out -- Phoebe Mathew from Holland, Pennsylvania. Why did she stand out you ask?
On the Road from Zela to Beneko
Just 10 days remain for participants in our Miles to Mali challenge! So far, walkers have covered 1,223 miles and raised more than $1,600 to raise funds for our next school. Why do they do it? To help girls like those our staff meet up with on the road to school last week. We found two groups of girls making their way from the small hamlet of Zela to the village of Beneko, home to our Cliff and Nita Bailey Middle School. Each day, the girls traverse more than 4 miles each way with the goal of improving their lives at school.
Why You Walk -- The Long Road to School
As all our Miles for Mali walkers start their journey this month, I thought this would be a good time to share a story from students in Mali about their own daily journey to school. Recently, our staff in Mali passed a group of girls on their way to school. They stopped to ask the girls about their trip. The girls were in the midst of their daily 8 kilometer (5 mile) one-way walk to school…
Alumnus Younissa Uses His Education to Educate Others
Younissa Samake is one of our very earliest graduates. Way back in 2007, he graduated from Frances W. Burton Middle School in the village of Tamala – the third school we ever built.
Looking back on those days, Younissa remembers his favorite subjects were history, geography, and French. Learn more about where Younissa’s love for education took him…
Walk With Me...Miles for Mali
Starting one week from today, I've got a lot of ground to cover. Literally. As part of Mali Rising's Miles for Mali walking challenge, I've pledged to walk 160 miles in May. Gulp. Why?
Can You Build a School With Your Feet? Here's How...
This May, people around the U.S. will take a walk – forty miles worth of a walk – with Miles for Mali. With each step, they’ll help a child in Mali improve their life through the power of education. Miles for Mali is a new virtual walking challenge, which allows participants to walk whenever it is convenient throughout the month of May. Funds raised will build a new school for the kids of Sankama, Mali!
Momentum behind a school for Sankama's kids...
Judge Memorial High Students Amaze Us!
We couldn't be more proud of or more thankful to the great students at Judge Memorial Catholic High School. They raised $4,381.01 during Catholic Schools Week to help build our next school in Sankama, Mali!
Celebrating A New School & A New Future
On November 14, we did one of the most amazing and most overwhelming things you can do -- we officially opened a new Mali Rising school. The celebratory opening in the tiny village of Sebela was simply incredible, with hundreds of excited children, wonderful dancers, dozens of dignitaries, and much more.
On To The Next School...
One of the most exciting things we do at Mali Rising is build a new school in a new village. Seeing a school where before there was nothing but a weedy field is inspiring. Seeing kids walk into new classrooms where before they had no hope of an education is enough to make you cry. And talking with the parents about their pride in the village's new school and in their children's futures is truly life-changing.Here at Mali Rising, we've had this incredible experience 21 times now. And we're about to head into the 22nd beautiful journey.
