Provide Food for Mali's Vulnerable Children

Sustainability and Nutrition

A Child for All prioritizes sustainability in many ways, not only as a mindset guiding our operations, but as a value that we bestow upon the vulnerable children in our care. At our Zorokoro Children’s Complex, solar panels provide energy security, and a fresh water well supplies fresh water to the whole complex, as well as the greater community. Our vegetable garden is expanding!  Thanks to a new grant focusing on a garden and environmental initiative, ACFA has retained a consultant gardener and teacher who focuses on conservation, environmental education and ecological issues as well as pollution by use of plastic and other topics.  The grant has also allowed ACFA to expand its vegetable garden adding more vegetables including lettuce, celery, eggplant and more. The children continue to learn how to take care of the garden, as well as the fifteen sheep that cohabit in the Complex.

This spring, we were able to harvest a lot of veggies from the garden, one prominent harvest being that of our cucumber crop. Dozens of juicy green cucumbers were reaped and enjoyed in meals cooked on-site. In this way, our garden is both a learning experience and an opportunity to grow our own food.

 Access to Opportunity for Vulnerable Children

In addition to the learning opportunities available in our garden, ACFA provides access to education for the children who live with us full time, and over 100 children from the greater community. In total, 135 students attend the school at the Zorokoro Children’s Complex. This includes three kindergarten classes, and grades one through three.  By providing adequate access to education for Mali’s vulnerable children, we are helping to set them up for long-term success.

The subjects being taught include reading, math, spelling, environmental science, music and more. In addition to their education, the children who attend school at our Complex receive three meals a day and participate in sports. We recognize that socialization and play are vital to a child's development, along with traditional learning. We work to incorporate play, education and practical skill-building activities into our curriculum for students and schedules for children living at the Zorokoro Children’s Complex.  ACFA continues its music classes in the library's cultural lounge.  The school children continue to take their weekly one-hour computer lessons.

In May, as part of the ongoing partnering with the American International School of Bamako (AISB) ACFA children were invited to put on a performance for Africa Day at the AISB. Seven ACFA children participated with dance to the song by Malian artist Habib Koïta and included playing instruments, including the Tam-Tam.

 Helping vulnerable children beyond the children in ACFA’s care

Providing basic resources for Mali’s vulnerable children, including food, education, and safe shelter, is at the heart of our work.   We are able to help vulnerable children in the surrounding villages through the school at the Complex as well as the Community Library and Computer Lab.  We ensure that all the children who attend the school have food to eat and basic healthcare.  In addition to the library being a wonderful resource for our students to develop their reading skills, we continue to welcome community members for training at the Computer Lab which is facilitated by a volunteer from one of the surrounding villages, with over 30 people from the surrounding villages gaining basic computer skills.

 Help ACFA Continue to Provide Holistic Care for Mali’s Vulnerable Children

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, education and many other opportunities.

 Thank you.

Links:

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