TINY SCHOOLS CHANGE THE WORLD

MALI RISING

The middle is the sweet spot for the children of Mali. It is all about middle school education, a key but weak link in their opportunities to build better lives and communities.

That’s because most children in Mali, living in rural villages, do not live within walking distance of middle schools.

Mali Rising Foundation’s mission is to empower the children of Mali by expanding and improving educational opportunities for them within their own villages.

Since 2004, Mali Rising has partnered with the people of Mali to provide access to a quality education for more than 21,000 children in their own villages.

They also build schools, train teachers, provide textbooks, and develop educational materials.

The ultimate impact of education is empowered individuals building a strong future for themselves and their country.

Mariam Sadio Traoré is just one example of how Mali Rising has made an incredible difference.

Mariam grew up in Kassela, a small village in southeastern Mali. Her elder brothers and sisters  used to travel 20 kilometers round trip to the school in Baguineda. Many of her sisters couldn’t handle the journey each day and dropped out.

But just as Mariam was, herself, ready to attend middle school, Mali Rising came to build one right in her village.

Mariam and the rest of the kids in Kassela finally had the chance to continue their education in classrooms near their parents. It gave them a new chance for success.

“Because of that, I became a secretary,” explains Mariam. “If it were not for this school, we were not going to finish school...”

Today, at 25, Mariam can provide a living wage to support her own children. And it allows Mariam to give back to the people of Baguineda and greater Mali.

Mali Rising has partnered with Denik to build a new school in the Mali village of Sebela. Denik, founded by Utah State University students, makes notebooks, sketchbooks, & journals featuring artwork on their covers created by artists around the world.

A portion of all sales proceeds goes directly to fund the construction of new schools as well as to support the artists.

You can add your beautiful activism to the effort and help build a school by donating here.

Read more about Beautiful Activist all this week on BeautifulNow.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: Courtesy of Mali Rising Foundation. Girls at new Mali village middle school learning to change their world.
2. Image: Courtesy of Mali Rising Foundation. “A student studies during recess at Mali Rising's Sue Taylor Middle School. We have some very serious students!”
3. Image: Courtesy of Mali Rising Foundation. Students eager to learn at their new Mali village school built by Mali Rising Foundation.
4. Image: Courtesy of Mali Rising Foundation. Happy students! Happy to be in school!
5. Image: Courtesy of Mali Rising Foundation. Let’s empower education now!
6. Image: by Nick Onken for Pencils of Promise. Children happy with their new school. Courtesy of Denik.
7. Image: Courtesy of Mali Rising Foundation. “A girl happy to be learning at our Jackie Trujillo Middle School in N'Tentou Mali.”
8. Image: Courtesy of Mali Rising Foundation. Children in rural Mali waiting to attend a local school built by Mali Rising Foundation.
9. Image: Courtesy of Mali Rising Foundation. Mali mother and baby. Thanks to Mali Rising Foundation, this child can look forward to attending school.
10. Image: Courtesy of Denik. Student studying at new school built by Mali Rising Foundation in partnership with Denik.
11. Image: Courtesy of Denik. Denik Notebook. Moments of Beauty. Proceeds help fund new schools in Mali, Laos, & Guatemala.
12. Image: Courtesy of Denik. “Add some color to your life.”
13. Image: Courtesy of Mali Rising Foundation. Mali students thank Mali Rising Foundation donors and supporters for their new school.
14. Image: Courtesy of Mali Rising Foundation. Mali student attending new school built by Mali Rising Foundation.
15. Image: by BN App - Download now!
16. Image: Courtesy of Mali Rising Foundation. Mali student attending new school built by Mali Rising Foundation.