Against all odds: clearing the way for girls in Mali to learn
Mali is the one of the toughest places in the world for girls to get their education. Read about three girls defying the odds – and how.
Education is a lifeline for many girls around the world. It means more than just maths, literacy or science lessons. It means a chance for girls to shape their own futures, beyond the classroom.
Yet shockingly, 129 million girls worldwide are missing out on going to school altogether. And 40% of girls don’t get to finish secondary school. [1] Holding girls back from their potential.
Mali is the one of the toughest places in the world for girls get their education. Only half of all girls who should be in school are. [2] And while almost 3 in 4 girls are enrolled in primary education, this drops to just 1 in 6 for secondary. [3]
Barriers such as discrimination, hunger and conflict force girls out of the classroom and often along a path they did not choose. But with the right support, the outcome can be very different.
This is the story of how three girls from Mali have stayed in school, against all odds.
Against discrimination: Diatou’s story
“When my brothers went to school and left me alone at home, I was not happy at all. Sometimes I followed them to school and spied on them from outside,” says 11-year-old Diatou.
Discrimination means girls like Diatou are often unable to attend school even when they’re eager to. Unfair gender norms and expectations can be deep-rooted in communities in Mali. Instead of learning, girls are expected to perform household chores such as cleaning, cooking and caring for family members.
For Diatou’s family, resources were scarce too, which meant her brothers’ education was prioritised above her own.
"I have seven children, five of whom are girls,” shares Diatou’s mother who is raising her children alone. “Some have been to school, including my first boy who was able to go up to 9th grade. We do not have the means to send all the children to school. To support the children I make charcoal, I do farm work and I sometimes work for other people.”
But all girls have a right to learn. That’s where ‘speed’ schools can help. These are accelerated learning centres for out-of-school children. The intensive lessons help girls catchup enough to enter the formal school system.
Diatou was supported by Plan International to go to a ‘speed’ school and now, she’s top of her class.
“I love studying and I really enjoy French. I'm happy to be among the best in my class. I would like to continue my studies and become a doctor,” says Diatou.
“Diatou is one of the best students in my 5th grade class,” adds Yaya, a teacher at Diatou’s school. “For a girl who has never been to school, it’s extraordinary.”
For Diatou’s mother it’s an opportunity to give all of her children the same chance in life:
“Everyone tells me that Diatou is very smart at school and that makes me proud. I want my children to move forward in life and be able to fend for themselves.”
Against hunger: Aminata’s story
Elsewhere in Mali, hunger keeps girls from their studies. A combination of ongoing conflict, high food prices and the climate crisis means that 1.3 million people face acute food insecurity. [4] This is when people struggle to find and afford the food they need to survive.
When food is scarce, girls are also often the first to be pulled from school to help at home instead – such as by looking after young siblings while parents work or look for food. Hunger itself has a marked impact on children's education, affecting their concentration and ability to learn.
To keep children learning, communities supported by Plan International are providing nutritious school meals. This includes in Aminata’s school through a new canteen.
“The food is really delicious, the canteen is clean and the cooks are also fun. I like coming to school more now because I can get food there,” says Aminata.
Aminata’s mother Fatoumata is a midwife and fully supports her daughters’ education. But even for her, resources are scarce. The canteen provides much-needed peace of mind:
“Nowadays, everyone knows how difficult the economic situation is, especially here where the cost of living is high. The money we used to use to buy groceries is no longer enough, and it's hard for us to earn money.
“Being able to have a meal at school is extremely beneficial. Not only does this make it easier for children to learn, but it also eases the financial burden at home.
“I firmly believe in the importance of girls' education. If a girl receives an education, she can take on many responsibilities without depending on anyone. She can support herself and her children, family and parents without having to ask anyone for anything. Education can also protect her from many problems such as theft or prostitution, and help prevent early marriage and family conflict.”
Aminata shares her mother’s ambitions: “When I finish my studies, I want to become an air force pilot. I love seeing planes in the sky and would love to fly them myself. Thanks to the school I will be independent one day.”
Against conflict: Moussou’s story
“We were forced to leave our village due to the crisis there,” says Maimouna, mother to 10-year-old Moussou in Mali.
Ongoing conflict and violence in Mali has left around 7 million people in need of humanitarian aid. Half of them are children. Nearly 355,000 people have been displaced, including Maimouna and her family. [5]
Maimouna shares: “We moved here in order to allow our children to continue their education, because it was impossible to do so in our previous situation. Our decision to come here was motivated by the desire to guarantee an educational future for our children, because staying there would have jeopardised their educational prospects.
“Although we encountered many difficulties during this process, it was imperative not to put our children in danger. [Now] unfortunately, our household faces many problems. We suffer from food shortages, but thanks to the school canteen, our child always comes back full.”
Maimouna’s daughter Moussou attends the same school as Aminata – so is also feeling the benefits of the new canteen.
“Before the opening of the canteen, we couldn't find anything to eat and were often hungry,” shares Moussou. “But now we eat well at school. I come home with a full stomach.
“Before, I didn't understand anything because I was constantly hungry, but now I understand very well. I study better. We eat well.
“When I grow up, I want to become a soldier to protect people, fight against banditry and defend my country against enemies who could attack it.”
A community effort to keep girls in school
From the canteen to the speed school, these interventions help clear the way for girls like Diatou, Aminata and Moussou to keep learning. Creating limitless possibilities for their future.
But they rely on committed communities and individuals who recognise the value of girls’ education.
Just like Mamah, a member of the School Management Committee at Aminata and Moussou’s school:
“Girls should not be treated as they were in the past, they should have access to education. We must train the whole population of the village on the importance of schooling for girls.
“I have enrolled all my daughters in school and they will be educated. If I don't fail, they will go all the way, because the education of girls is of paramount importance.”
And just like supporters like you.
How you can change the odds for girls
This winter, you can help girls in Mali and around the world take a seat in the classroom – and stay there.
With your donations, we can make it more affordable for families to send girls to class. Like with the promise of a hot school meal. Or extra learning materials and supplies.
And we can provide second chances for girls forced to drop out of school early. From temporary learning spaces in conflict, to catch-up classes helping children return to education
Together, we can clear the way for girls to learn. Because nothing changes the odds for a girl like an education does.
Sources:
1. UNESCO
2. Malala Fund
3. UNICEF