These days, when we hear about Mali in the news it tends to be a bit of a downer. We read about jihadist attacks or military coups, or perhaps a sad story about someone who has been displaced and is deeply struggling to get by. These stories are true, but it is important to remember that Mali is still a place of culture, beauty, and good people. If you need a quick hit of that more positive angle, explore Discover Malian Culture: The 4 Marvelous Ms by Google.
Boys Speak Out for Girls
Girls’ education is a challenging subject everywhere in Mali. But it is especially problematic in rural areas, like those where our schools are located. Many parents in Mali do not think that a girl’s education is as valuable as a boy’s. Parents’ attitudes towards girls’ education are also passed down to their sons. As a step toward breaking that cycle, we host discussions with boys at our schools about girls’ education as a human right and as an issue that improves everyone’s future — boys, girls, families, and communities.
Mother Teaching Assistants Make a Difference
Fatoumata Helps The Mali Office Run Smoothly
Chatting Around a Dish With the Girls' Project Girls
As part of the Girls’ Project work, each spring we organize a session on eating and cooking healthy, local foods. This session includes preparation of a group meal with the girls. But the session is not only about food – cooking and eating together gives us a great, informal way to talk and share. While we wait for the meal to cook, we share stories around the table. Each girl tells a story that marked her, and shares her dreams and her goals. This is a very important activity that allows girls to confide and share their experiences.
Discussing Gender Violence: Boys & Girls
As we work to help girls succeed in school, we know a good relationship between girls and boys is very important for the success of girls. In Mali, school-based violence is a large-scale problem with harmful consequences for girls, but also for society as a whole. The violence suffered by girls affects their learning, their physical and mental health, their personality and their future. That’s why February’s theme for the Girls’ Project meetings was Stopping School-based Violence.
Why Chalkboard Art Matters
As we start to get closer to the end of the school year, I’ve been talking with our teachers about the Chalkboard Art Contest. This is a chance for teachers to show off how they use the primary teaching tool in a Mali classroom — the chalkboard. Our teachers create beautiful maps, diagrams, and more to help students learn. I asked one of our teachers, Mr. Mariko, to share his thoughts on the contest and the value of chalkboard art.
Sad Goodbye; Bright Future
Explore the Music of Mali!
One of the things Mali is most famous for is its music. Whether you are listening to the sounds of the traditional instruments or tuning into more modern musicians, Mali’s music is distinctive and world renowned. We’ve come up with a great way to introduce you to the range of Mali’s music — sign up for our e-newsletter and we’ll provide you with a curated streaming playlist.
One Teacher Dives In On Peer Meetings
Earlier this month, Mali Rising hosted one of our Teacher Peer Meetings – gatherings of 7 or 8 teachers from different schools who learn from each other for the day. Teachers volunteer to present a sample lesson and their peers critique their work – providing both positive and constructively negative feedback. After this most recent Peer Meeting, I talked with one of the participating teachers, and recorded his thoughts on the peer meeting and his work…
