Give a Home to 100 Vulnerable Toddlers in Mali

What a wonderful start to 2024!

Although Mali is going through difficult times, the ACFA children are continuing to learn and thrive, and the Zorokoro Children’s Complex is entering a new phase. This is despite ongoing electricity outages and extreme heat of up to 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) during some of the first quarter of 2024.

By January, the Zorokoro Children’s Complex (“Complex”) community library and computer lab was finally finished, and books and other materials were transferred from the temporary library and computer lab to the beautiful two-story new building. The work of setting policies and procedures in place and cataloging of the books began in earnest. A soft opening is set for the first week of May and the official inauguration will be the end of May.

The garden and agricultural projects at the Complex are really coming along. ACFA now has lots of vegetables including tomatoes, onions and cucumbers and even an arboretum with fruit trees such as mango and guava blossoms! Teachers at the ACFA Complex school are incorporating environmental lessons into the curriculum daily. The children enjoy caring for the vegetable beds and watering the plants. This project also expands the potential opportunities the ACFA children may have in future agricultural vocations.

In its’ strategy of diversification and improved opportunities for Mali’s vulnerable children, ACFA has now implemented an arts program. ACFA hosted its first new artistic event: mud cloth painting, known in the Bambara language in Mali as “bogolan,” meaning “made with the earth.” Bogolan is Mali’s renowned dyeing technique of cotton material, made with natural dyes. This event was made possible thanks to the pro bono support of Korka Kassogue, a renowned Malian artist designer, comedian, and photographer. After introduction to the concept of bogolan, the tools, cloth, paintbrush etc., and observation of Korka’s execution of a sample, the children were each given their own canvas to paint on their own. Art is a good way of expression for children and can help educators to detect talents and provide guidance for vocational training.

Continuing with art projects, ACFA teenager Alassane and students from the American International School Bamako (“AISB”) painted a mural on the wall of the dormitory at the Complex. The mural includes maps of Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, Mauritania and Ghana, all linked by the national colors of Mali. The toddlers of the Complex joined in and put their handprints with paint on the mural.

On March 8th, 2024, ACFA celebrated International Women's Day in several ways. ACFA staff at the Complex discussed with the children the concept of social inequalities and justice, while one of the teachers explained the importance of equal opportunities in education for everyone and gave examples of female ministers in the Malian government.

Malian musicians performed a mini concert in the new ACFA community library and computer lab with national songs praising women. The children enjoyed the music and dancing, and will be taking lessons on how to play instruments. ACFA plans for more humanitarian artist visits soon.

The older children continue to play sports and work towards independence. Diakassan won another gold medal in fencing.

A Child for All is grateful to all its supporters and is proud of what ACFA has accomplished so far in its’ journey and looks forward to continuing its holistic approach supporting Mali’s vulnerable children. We cannot do this without the generous support of our donors. There is much more planned – please help us.

Please consider donating to ACFA today to support our continued growth and enable more vulnerable children to receive what all kids deserve: care, a safe and loving home, nutritious food, an education and opportunity.

Thank you.

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