By Ousmane Coulibaly, Operations Coordinator

Djeneba Samake is very ambitious and always dreams big. She graduated in 2019 from Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s Learn for Life Academy. Since she was in the middle school, Djeneba dreamed of becoming a tailor, but she wondered how she could achieve this as she comes from a very poor family.

Luckily, after graduation Mali Rising donors granted Djeneba an Inspiration Scholarship. This scholarship allowed her to enroll in the Centre Ahawani in Ouelessebougou, a three-year professional tailor program. At the beginning of each school year, Mali Rising pays her tuition and also gives her a stipend to support herself during her studies.

Thanks to this financial support from Mali Rising, Djeneba's dream came true. At her tailor school, theory and practice are combined. This type of program helps students become more successful in practice. Every day, students learn how to use the sewing machine and they also learn how to cut clothes and create a sewing pattern. This training  has been very useful for Djeneba because it will help her find a job or start her own tailoring shop.

Djeneba says, "Today, thanks to this scholarship my dreams are coming true. For example, I have mastered the sewing machine and I can sew clothes for myself. I can sew many types/patterns of clothes. One of the great benefits of this program is that I can now sew clothes for everyone in our family; like clothes for my mother, dresses for my sisters and friends. Sometimes I earn a lot of money. I am becoming more independent. Every day, people call me and give me their clothes to sew.”

Djeneba is succeeding in her life and is eager to see what comes next for her future. Her mother and father are very proud of her because she doesn’t depend on them anymore.

Our scholarship programs help dozens of our graduates go on to pursue their dreams. Many have started a professional career and are supporting their parents with family expenses, as well as their younger siblings who are still in primary and secondary school. This is the true value of education – it empowers our graduates to build better lives for themselves, their families, and their communities!