Essayists are encouraged to learn more about Mali, international development, and the connections between education and poverty. We've provided a few resources here to get essayists started. Winning essays usually demonstrate a solid understand of the power of education to change lives and whole countries.

• Watch this short video about what Mali Rising does and why we do it.

• You may want to sign up for our e-newsletter (see form below) or like us on Facebook for updates from Mali.

• Read our pages on Why Mali? and Why Middle School? for information on why Mali Rising focuses on the work we do.

• Check out our Student Spotlights for real-life stories of what education means to students in Mali.

• Learn more about Mali's people, economy, history, food, and more at Our Africa.

• Explore what the U.S. Agency for International Development has to say about education as a driver for development and poverty reduction.

• Want to learn more about human rights? Read the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights (hint: check out Article 26 on education!) and/or explore the Research Guide on Universal Declaration of Human Rights for Children and Youth.

• Really into numbers? Check out the Education Policy and Data Center's Mali page.

• Prefer big picture ideas to numbers? Consider this TED talk on the evolution of compassion or this TED talk on the power of education to change lives.