Help Send 900 Girls to School in Ouelessebougou!

Judy Hut, our Executive Director, recently got back from her trip to Ouelessebougou, accompanied by members of our board and Alliance volunteers. During the trip, members of the expedition were able to officially "break ground" on the new Neneko School. 

It was an all-day affair. The mayor was present, as was a member of the Malian Senate, hundreds of villagers and our board chair, Paul Olson, who had the honor of cutting the ribbon to officially commemorate the new school. Many villagers and kids were excited about the school. Parents were optimistic for the brightened futures of their kids, and the children were excited because they no longer had to walk so far to go to class at a nearby village. This means that they now have more time to help around the house and do their homework. Their chances of dropping out have also significantly lessened.

One thing became clear to all who were a part of the Ouelessebougou Alliance's expedition: education is important in Ouelessebougou. There are many children who have a great desire to learn. The residents of the villages are hungry to learn; they are ambitious and their average age is school-aged, meaning that we are changing the education demographics in Mali. This will not happen overnight, but it certainly could not happen without your support.

What most stood out to those who went on the trip was the participation of girls in the Alliance schools as opposed to other schools in Mali. The Neneko School has an approximate 20% higher enrollment rate of girls when compared with the national average. This is not just a statistic. This is evident on the face of every girl in Neneko who knows that their future is brighter because of your donation. Thank you for giving to sustainability. Thank you for giving to education. Thank you for believing in the children of Ouelessebougou.

Iniche!