Support Mali's Vulnerable Children

ACFA-Mali's year is progressing well.  The farm that we cultivate to feed the children is much promising this year.  As opposed to last year where the Sahel drought affected our return on investment, this year looks much better.  Our project provides not just food for the children but also sustainable option to ACFA and providing jobs for the community where our farm is, Samanko 2.   The children all finished their academic year with outstanding grades of 7 out of 10 and above.  Despite the difficulties associated with the social, political and economic turmoil created by a military coup in Mar 2012, and rebels and Islamic Extremists taking over 2/3rd of the country, ACFA is thriving and the children are all passing to the next grade in their respective schools. 

To avoid missed classes as experienced this year, we have plans to enroll the children into private schools next academic year.  This summer the children are keeping engaged with drama and plastic arts classes at the Institute National Des Arts of Bamako.  On Jun 23rd, two significant events occurred:  Saleh Sinayoko passed to the yellow belt in Karate, and ACFA-Mali celebrated its 2nd anniversary.  Indeed it was on 23 Jun 2010 that the first children arrived at ACFA-Mali.  Now, more than ever, in the war torn country of Mali, the need for services to vulnerable children is increasing.  ACFA-Mali has reached the full capacity of the current location.  We need assistance in financing our new building which can take up to 100 vulnerable children.

Links:

• Our web site

Friday 25 May is Africa Day!  We’d like to give you an update on Mali’s unrest.  After a brief relief from the Sunday's accord between the Junta and ECOWAS to maintain the civilian president for a one year transition, things headed up again in Bamako.

The president was attacked and the presidential palace was vandalized on Monday.  The country is trying to stick to following the constitution and the international community is supporting such a determination.  In addition to the political and social unrest, the problem is that half of the country still remains in the hands of rebels/Islamist extremists.  Over 150,000 people have been displaced, schools disturbed, and children are being recruited by the Islamist extremists in the north of the country. 

On a bright side, the continent is celebrating the Africa Day this Friday on 25 May 2012.  Despite the turmoil in the country, thanks to your support, ACFA-Mali’s children are doing OK, and continue their schools and sports.  We would like to encourage you to consider donating to the cause of Mali’s vulnerable children.  Thank you for all the support to ACFA.

Links:

• Our website