As we wrote about a week or so ago, COVID-19 was slow to be confirmed in Mali. However, Mali reported their first 2 confirmed cases of COVID-19 last Wednesday, and today (Monday) the WHO places the total number of confirmed cases at 18. We are heartbroken and worried for everyone in Mali. Like you, we are all figuring out the best ways to move through this new reality. Our first concern is for our students, their families, and our dedicated Malian staff. Although we took early steps to make sure we limited the risk of spreading the virus into our partner villages, we are thinking fast on our feet about how we can still best serve our students and villages over the long haul. As you might imagine, online learning is not an option in rural Malian villages! The government closed schools for 3 weeks, and we expect it to be longer by the time all is said and done, so we need to get creative….fast.
Resources for Learning While Staying Home
Like you, I am adjusting to our new reality here at Mali Rising’s U.S. office (read: my house). Because we want to contribute in our own small way, we are working on a web page with fun learning resources for both adults and children wanting to use our time at home to learn and grow. It will take a few days to get that resource list up and running, so we thought we would share some initial stay-at-home resources here to keep you going
Advisers Needed! We're Looking For A Few Special Volunteers
Mali Rising is a small organization that does a whole lot. How can we do it? A lot of it comes down to great, dedicated volunteers. Currently, we are looking for a few very specific volunteers to help us by serving as Advisers in key areas.
Join Us At the Underwear Party March 12!
When We Talk About School, We Talk About Teachers!
When we talk about school, we talk about teachers! And when we talk about teachers, we are also talking about students! This is because a well-trained, dedicated teacher makes good students. Mr Mama Diallo is one of our brave teachers. He is a French teacher at Lareen Mellor Middle School in the village of Kassela. He is very devoted to his job.
Travelogue: Day 7 -- A Trip to the Market, and to Two schools
Day 7 of traveling was a very full Friday indeed. In the morning, we visited the Sue Taylor Middle School of Diorila, which is about one and a half hours down a bumpy dirt road. We returned to Ouelessebougou for lunch and a trip to the big Friday market, before zipping down the road to visit our Sue Chung Chiu Middle School in Simidiji.
Travelogue: Day 6 -- Visiting the Ks, Kafara & Kolimba
On this Thursday morning we woke in the big city of Bamako, but immediately headed south to the “big” town of Ouelessebougou. Ouelessebougou is home to our own kind of “home-away-from-home” hotel for me, the staff, and Tim, but it was a new experience for Courtney. As hotels go, it is pretty basic — no hot water, no sheets, no towels, etc. BUT it does have a wonderful mango tree in a little courtyard that serves us quite well as an office and living room. Before making ourselves at home at the hotel though, we had to get some work done. First, we visited the village of Kafara and then we headed on the long drive to Kolimba.
Travelogue...Day 5: Soccer, soccer, and soccer...plus some work
Day 5 of our travels found us at full-strength as a team — the Mali Rising staff, Tim Gibson (Mali Rising supporter), Courtney Colter (Mali Rising board member), and two great translator — Mady & Hawa. This was a long day with visits to two schools — Little Heroes Academy II in Tanima and Tim Gibson Middle School in Sebela.
Travelogue Day 4: Meeting the Mayor and Mana
Day four of our trip was a relatively short one, because we had to head north from the little town of Ouelessebougou back to the capitol, Bamako, to pick up a fellow traveler arriving at 2:30 pm. Still, we managed to get a lot done for Mali Rising with an early start and a lot of driving, from meeting the mayor, to visiting Mana, and more.
