Support Mali's Vulnerable Children

What a wonderful spring and start of summer for ACFA and the ACFA children!  The highlight of the spring was the inauguration of the Zorokoro Children’s Complex community library and computer lab which took place during the visit to Mali of ACFA’s CEO and Board Chair. 

Construction of the two-story community library and computer lab was financed by B2Gold, a Canadian mining company.  The interior commodities – books in French, English and Bambara, tables and chairs, computers, printers, musical instruments, bookcases and more were financed through a grant from USAID ASHA (American Schools and Hospitals Abroad).   ACFA is grateful for the support of B2Gold and USAID ASHA.  Over 100 officials attended the inauguration.  All ACFA children and children from the surrounding villages that attend ACFA’s school were at the ceremony, and they especially enjoyed the performance by a magician.  Following the ceremony was the official ribbon-cutting, and then all attendees toured the library and computer lab and the rest of the Zorokoro Children’s Complex including the school, the dorm, and the vegetable garden.  The vegetable garden continues to produce nutritious food for the children and to be an opportunity for the children to learn about the environment and sustainability.

 This was a very special day for ACFA!  The community library and computer lab is a wonderful resource for the students at the ACFA’s school and for the people from the surrounding villages.  Our provided services include access to a library for the first time for so many people, a cultural corner for events from different cultures including music, dance, art and storytelling, literacy classes, and training on computers and computer programming.

 ACFA incorporated music sessions at the library towards the end of the academic year! The children are learning to play drums and balafon and love to dance.  Volunteer musicians, parents and teachers, all join in to teach the basics of the balafon, jenbe (drum), tamani, keyboard, and more. These musical sessions provide the children with a wonderful opportunity to express their feelings and showcase their talents through music.

 During their visit to Bamako, Kadiatou and Lisa spent time at the ACFA Zorokoro Children's Complex school attended by 100 students ages 3 to 7 years old.  One of the young boys proudly stood up and counted to 100, showcasing his newly acquired knowledge.  The children also showcased the new library and computer lab.

 ACFA also celebrated the accomplishments of our older children.  Fousseyni, who has been with ACFA for over 10 years, is now working at Bamako’s upscale restaurant Le Loft after graduating from culinary school.  Teens Diakassan and Bily won medals at a fencing competition.  Hard to believe these children were living on the street before coming to ACFA.

 ACFA’s first generation of children live in the founder’s father’s house where she grew up.  Every few years, the house needs some loving care.  Thanks to individual donations and volunteers’ efforts, the house in Bamako was recently repainted. 

 In July, 36 ACFA’s 1^st and 2^nd graders engaged in an intensive robotics training program. This initiative was the first step to introduce ACFA children to the fascinating fields of computer science, robotics, and artificial intelligence. The training was designed to develop their problem-solving skills, creativity, and teamwork while sparking a lasting interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

 A Child for All is grateful to all its supporters! We are proud of what we have accomplished so far and look forward to continuing our holistic approach to 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, education and opportunity.

 Thank you.

Links:

• Website

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.

Links:

• Website