Help Build a Future for IDP Women & Children

As a NGO working globally, we are always sensitive to shifting geo-political tides. This has been especially true working in Mali this past year. Mali has experienced 2 coups and is now under an embargo by ECOWAS. For the past dozen years terrorist groups have been operating in the Northern and Central part of the country. They have been fought by a contingent of French troops. However, these troops are leaving and Russian mercenaries are now operating in Northern Mali. Unfortunately, the terrorists are now beginning to carry out raids in Southern Mali close to Bamako.

Our effort to relocate the Faladje IDPs has concentrated on the acquisition of land outside Mali. Any land that would be affordable to us is located at least 60 km away from Bamako. This would remove the IDPs from the relative safety of Bamako and put them at potential risk of attack. Therefore we have put relocation plans on hold and are concentrating our efforts on improving the lives of the people within the Faladje camp.

In addition to the medical services that we have been providing, we are launching 2 new programs. One of the major issues at the camp is food insecurity. Neither the government or any organization has committed to providing food assistance on a reliable schedule. ATEG has committed to providing food on a weekly basis for a minimum of one year. We will be challenging other large NGOs working in the area to match our commitment.

ATEG will also be launching a Skills Training program. We will start with a simple skills program that teaches the women the basics of sewing.  This would be a step- by- step approach that hopefully would evolve into a larger program.  After the initial training, the next step would be to move forward with more advanced skills that might evolve into developing a product they could sell, or a skill they could market (sewing mudcloth, or other items for example), and/or creating a cooperative.  Those that are excelling can hopefully serve as mentors for the others.  

The idea of sewing skills was developed through discussions with the Ministry of Women's Promotion as well as through focus groups of camp residents. The organization that we will be working with has run Skills Training programs for many NGOs, including UNESCO, Save The Children, Terre des Hommes (a French NGO), AJDM and the department of Social Development. The women that were previously trained in sewing are creating material including tablecloths, mats and pillows for hotels. They have been organized into coops by the department of women promotion. The main focus of the program is women empowerment.