Meet Issa Diarra, a 24-year-old from Tanima and a proud graduate of Mali Rising’s Little Heroes Academy II. Issa is a young electrician, filled with passion and determination for his craft, and his journey embodies the power of resilience and the impact of opportunity.

The role of a principal is essential for a school's success, especially in Mali. Our principals are not only the leaders within the school walls, but they also bridge communication with local communities and address school-related issues. They work hand-in-hand with school management committees, making their roles pivotal in shaping our schools' futures. We recently had the pleasure of talking with Abdoulaye Sagara, the principal of Little Heroes Academy II, at our latest principal peer meeting.

When school closes down for the summer, it is a great time to rest and reflect. Just as school was wrapping up, I asked a few teachers, parents, and students to share their impression of Mali Rising’s Girls’ Project during the 23/24 school here. Here’s a sampling of their thoughts...

Mali Rising offers scholarships to our most outstanding graduates to help them continue their education in high school or vocational school. We call these Inspiration Scholarships, because they not only help the individual students who receive them but also inspire students still in school to study hard to pursue a scholarship themselves. I recently had the chance to talk to one of our Inspiration Scholars about what the scholarship meant for her.

Being a middle school principal is a hard job no matter where you are. But being one in Mali is particularly tough! Mali Rising principals are in remote places, far from their families or professional support. They manage young teachers and parents who are often unfamiliar with the education system. Many have classes with 100+ students in them. Sometimes, a principal needs a little support and maybe just a little fun when they face this reality day to day!

A Mali Rising donor wanted to find a way to give just that to our principals this year — an experience that would make them feel like someone saw just how hard they worked. So with that donor’s support we set up a year-end party for the principals. We gathered 19 principals at a national park outside of Bamako for a day of relaxing, good food, games, and awards. Read on to hear what one principal thought of the experience…

Everyone can agree: sometimes it is your friends who get you through the touch stuff….and middle school is REALLY tough stuff. Two girls in the Girls’ Project demonstrate this truth perfectly! Fatoumata and Tenin have been inseparable friends since primary school. Today, both girls are 13 years old and attend the 8th grade in Little Heroes Academy I school in Mana.