Written by: Adama Koné
For the past three years, Mali Rising Foundation has been making a quiet but powerful difference in the lives of 7th-grade students across its partner schools by offering extra French classes. These sessions are designed to help students strengthen their spoken and written French, improving both language mastery and overall academic success.
One of the students who has thrived in this program is Ousmane Samaké, a determined and courageous 7th grader at Judge Memorial Middle School. Every day, Ousmane walks more than four kilometers to reach his school, a journey that speaks volumes about his commitment to learning. Admired by his teachers and especially fond of his French teacher, who also serves as the school principal, Ousmane has been an enthusiastic participant in the extra classes.
To recognize the hard work and dedication of students like Ousmane, Mali Rising recently awarded certificates of completion to those who fully participated in the program. For Ousmane, this certificate is more than just a piece of paper; it is a symbol of growth, determination, and newfound confidence.
“I’m thirteen years old, and I like school a lot,” Ousmane shared. “I’m glad I took part in the French classes because they helped me improve my spoken and written French. I was excited to come to class each time because my French teacher was so determined to help us speak and understand the language.”
Ousmane attended classes on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings, where he had the chance to read texts multiple times and engage with his teacher’s questions. While many of his classmates were initially too shy to speak up, Ousmane found the encouragement he needed.
“At first, I was ashamed and shy because I did not want my classmates to laugh at my answers or how I read sentences,” he explained. “But by the end of the course, I had overcome that shyness. Now, I feel much more confident in class, and the way I read texts and answer questions has really improved.”
Ousmane credits both the teacher’s encouragement and Mali Rising’s support for transforming his learning experience. His French teacher often reminded the students that mastering French was essential to understanding other subjects as well, making the extra lessons even more valuable.
Looking ahead, Ousmane hopes that these extra classes will continue for his younger siblings and peers. “These extra classes have been such a great blessing to me,” he said with gratitude.
The story of Ousmane and his classmates is a reminder that even a few extra hours of focused instruction can make a big difference in a student’s life. Thanks to the dedicated teachers and the support of Mali Rising Foundation, students like Ousmane are not only improving their language skills but also building confidence, resilience, and a stronger foundation for the future.
