Mali
Mali is a landlocked West African country located in the Sahel, the region bordering the Sahara Desert. The northern third of the country lies within the Sahara. Mali was a center of culture, knowledge and wealth centuries ago (it’s home to the historic city of Timbuktu). Today, there is an ongoing armed conflict happening in the northern part of the country.
Stories in Mali
Where Kadidiatou grew up, this was the type of misinformation girls were often given about their periods. Because talking openly about menstruation was taboo.
Her personal experience led Kadidiatou to become an advocate for sexual and reproductive health rights. She started at just 15 years old, leading debates with her classmates on topics like contraception, unwanted pregnancies and harmful traditional practices.
“I decided to break the taboo,” explains Kadidiatou. “I started with my friends because I used to see them suffer during their period — either because of pain or the humiliation they experienced if they stained their clothing. Many of them did not come to school when they had their period.”
Kadidiatou has partnered with Plan International to raise awareness of sexual and reproductive health rights and build the capacity of other educators. Their approach: letting young people lead the way.
“The collaboration with Plan has been a great opening,” Kadidiatou says. “They hand over the decision-making and leadership to young people. With Plan, we conduct the process, we do it the way we want to, with young people at the forefront."
She escaped her marriage, but when she returned home, she realized that things weren’t the same as before. Schools had been closed down. Fear of violence had taken over.
And then the attack happened.
“When the armed men stormed my village, they demanded that any women and girls who were not married had to marry one of them,” Awa said. “I had just come out of a forced marriage and I did not want the same thing to happen again.”
Awa turned down a proposal from one of the attackers. He threatened her, saying either she had to marry him or leave the village. Awa decided to leave.
She found her way to a camp for internally displaced people, where thousands of other girls like her have sought refuge. Plan International is there too, running child-friendly safe spaces and helping girls stay healthy and educated.
Awa’s sisters joined her at the camp. She’s uncertain about her future, but wants to make sure her family stays together. “I want to set up my own business to help my sisters [and] support our family,” she says.
*Awa’s name has been changed for her protection.
Maman was trained by Plan on online activism, so she can now use platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook to engage with other young people during the pandemic. She was also trained on COVID-19 prevention methods so she can effectively educate her peers on how to stay healthy and safe.
“Even though COVID-19 threatens us daily, I can’t stop my fight,” she explains. “It’s true that it’s not like before, but I have a duty to my peers.”
Plan International has been working to improve children’s lives in Mali since 1976.
:03 (OPENING SLATE) MEET SALIF, A PLAN INTERNATIONAL SPONSORED CHILD FROM MALI WHERE YOUR SPONSORED CHILD LIVES. <br /> WE GAVE HIM A CAMERA TO SHOW US A DAY IN HIS LIFE. <br /> :10 My name is Salif. I’m 9 years old. I have been a sponsored child with Plan International for 3 years. <br /> :16 This is my family, welcome! <br /> :20 This is my younger brother. <br /> :24 Here is my bed. <br /> :26 This is our kitchen. <br /> :30 When I wake up in the morning, I take a bath and eat breakfast. Then I go to school. <br /> :37 My father is a farmer. If I don’t have classes, I help him at the farm. <br /> :52 This is our school. <br /> :57 At school, my favourite subject is dictation. <br /> 1:00 - Repeat. This is the flag of Mali. <br /> 1:02 - This is the national flag of Mali! <br /> 1:05 Green, yellow and red. <br /> 1:10 (TEXT) HALF OF THE POPULATION IN MALI CAN NOT READ OR WRITE. <br /> 1:15 There are many children who do not attend school. They work. <br /> 1:19 (TEXT) PLAN INTERNATIONAL IS ACTIVELY WORKING TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATION SITUATION IN MALI. <br /> 1:25 (TEXT) ONE WAY IS TO PROVIDE FREE SCHOOL MEALS. 1:29 This is our new canteen. <br /> 1:39 This is our Health Centre. <br /> 1:42 I would like to become a doctor when I grow up. <br /> 1:46 I would like to ask you how you became a doctor? <br /> 1:50 I studied a lot. I studied and obtained a degree. <br /> 1:58 I like shepherding goats and sheep when I’m not at school. <br /> 2:06 Today is a great day, I am happy to be a sponsored child with Plan International. Good bye!
Plan stats in Mali
Office & operations
Plan Mali’s country office is in Bamako, with program offices in Baroueli, Kangaba, Kati, Kita and Timbuktu.
Technical areas
Health, Skills and Work, Education
Number of sponsored children
As of June 2020, people like you sponsor 28,702 children in Mali through Plan International.
When you sponsor a child through through Plan, you form an incredible friendship.
But that’s just the beginning. With Plan, you also have the unique opportunity to:
Send her birthday gifts and cards.
Give her special holiday presents called Little Treasures.
Subscribe her to Plan’s educational kids’ magazine, Sunny Days.
— Visit her (when travel restrictions are lifted), with individual travel assistance from us.
Each gift offering is safely hand-delivered by us, and given to your child with personalized cards from you. It’s likely that the child you sponsor will have never seen anything like these gifts, and they’re available year-round to make the bond between you and your sponsored child even stronger.
Meet a child to sponsor