Build much needed classrooms in Niamana, Mali

Although there are three schools in Niamana Bambara; two small primary schools and one small secondary school, there is still around 80 to 100 students per class and many students miss out all together simply because there isn't enough room.

Most students come from other villages in the nearby and stay during the day in Niamana Bambara as they come from a distance. Some children walk 6 or 7 km every day to go to school and do the same thing to come back home. There is a health care centre, one borehole and a pond in the village.

The climate is Sahelian characterized by very low and irregular rainfalls. The main activity of the area is agriculture which depends on rainfalls. A few farmers have some cattle and quite a few people do small business by selling goods in weekly markets. After the rainy season and harvest, most youth migrate in big cities in order to make some money because there is no other income generating activity in villages.

Being a rural area where 80% of parents are not educated, girls schooling is not a priority in Niamana like in many other parts of Mali. Parents prefer keeping girls home to help their mothers in house works. Gender issue is still a big problem in Niamana although changes can be seen in many parts. For instance, women seat now in management bodies of the village council and the community health centre board which did not exist before.

There is a great need to upgrade the schools in Niamana because there are not enough class rooms and equipment. There reason why there are not enough facilities for education keeps girls home. If there were enough class rooms or more schools in the area this will give a chance to more children to attend school especially girls. If more girls are educated, they are likely to take responsibility, leading roles and bring about changes.

The Mali Initiative needs funds to build two classrooms that would allow more children to go to school.