Meet Fousseyni Diakité, a 22-year-old from Sebela. Fousseyni graduated from Tim Gibson Middle School in Sebela and now attends the IPR Agricultural School in Katibougou, Koulikoro region, where he is studying animal production. Thanks to a new Hope Grant from Mali Rising Foundation’s donors, he is already starting his livestock business.
New Hope Grants Make Change
Mohamed Makes the Most of His Scholarship
At Mali Rising, we believe in the power of education to open doors and change lives. One example of this belief in action is the story of Mohamed Samake, a young man from Mali Rising’s Trujillo Family School who received an Inspiration Scholarship to continue his education after graduating. With his scholarship, Mohamed decided to pursue a degree in electromechanics at the ESTB Vocational School in Bougouni. For Mohamed, this scholarship has been a lifeline.
Turning An Education Into An Orchard
The power of education is that it gives people freedom and choice -- the freedom to dream big and the choice of how to build a better life. Some people will use their education to go to medical school, while some will use it go to college and become a teacher. And here in Mali – where agriculture is the largest part of our economy – many will use their education to learn the skills to launch an agricultural business. This is the path chosen by Mali Rising graduate, Bakary Koné.
Alumni Paying it Forward
One of my favorite parts of my job is coordinating a newish project for Mali Rising Foundation — our Alumni Networks. These networks bring together graduates from our schools and support them as the work to help their school and inspire current students to stay in school and study hard. This was my first year with the Alumni Networks, and I had a great wrap up discussion with one participant — Pratric Samake, who graduated from Denik Middle School in Zambougou.
A Future Nurse, Thanks to Our Supporters
It is sad to see here in Mali, but all to often early (or even child) marriage prevents many girls from continuing their education. However, times are changing in Mali. Some families wait longer for marriage, and even when marriage does occur it doesn’t always have to mean that a young women’s education is over. An example of this change comes from Salimata Sissao, a Mali Rising alumni. Here is her story in her own words…
The Difference a School Makes
Mali Rising Graduate Heads to University
Just like young people here in the U.S., Mali Rising students have big dreams for their future. I recently met a Mali Rising alumni – Moussa Doumbia -- with a very specific dream and he is well on his way to making it real. He is reaching for the stars, with a vision of becoming a diplomat in Mali’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Tenetie Lights Up a New Career
Alumni Network Makes A School Shine
By Ousmane Coulibaly, Operations Coordinator
On a Friday this November, the Alumni Network of Seguessona’s Jade & Gabe Mellor Middle School organized a maintenance day at their school. This network is made up of young men and women who graduated from the school. While some of them are already working in companies and organizations, others are still in high school and in vocational schools and universities.
With the support of Mali Rising Foundation, more than thirty former highly motivated students, h came to school with brooms, wheelbarrows rakes, soap and other small materials. In addition, some former student volunteers rented a wheelbarrow, bought buckets, and also rented a three-wheeled motorcycle as support equipment during the cleanup day. Some volunteer students from 7th, 8th and 9th grades also came to join the elders to help them clean up the school.
Proud and happy Alumni Network volunteers take a break from making their school shine!
They were well organized in different groups. While the girls and women swept with brooms, the men carried the trash away with wheelbarrows. Together they managed to sweep the whole schoolyard, the inside of the classrooms and they also cleaned all the latrines.
They then chased away all the birds that were in the principal's office. The principal's office was in bad shape because of the birds' nests and poop. The Principal of the school, Mr. Bakary Koné, was also present and was very satisfied with the work done by the alumni.
Principal Koné said, "I am very happy and satisfied with this work. These young people cleaned the school very well today. They also washed my office, and all the latrines. Otherwise, the latrines in the school were unusable. Nobody liked to use them because of the waste. But now all the latrines are operational. Also, they managed to chase away all the birds and clean their poop.”
This Alumni Network is one of two Networks Mali Rising has launched this year to test the idea. Our hope is that the alumni groups can grow and take concrete actions such as inspiring students to stay in school or maintaining their school in the future for themselves. If these first two Networks are successful, we hope to grow the idea to other schools.
