Project Report
| Aug 10, 2021
Teens Making an Impact in Mali
By Lucy Tian | GAIA VF Intern
In Mali, teenagers are leading the campaign to raise awareness and combat misinformation about COVID-19. Meet Fatoumata, a 15-year old who hosts a radio show in Mopti, located in central Mali. Fatoumata is testimony that educating our youth leads them on a passionate and effective path in society. As a 14-year old, Fatoumata attended training programmes hosted by UNICEF and other organizations. With the skills, knowledge, and encouragement Fatoumata and the other students received from mentors, they were empowered to become voices within their communities. The Teen Peer Education program at GAIA VF also actively recruits the next generation of Malians. Focused on teen health education, the Teen Peer Education programs trains 14 to 18-year-old adolescents and young adults through an engaging and inspiring teen health curriculum that aims to address health issues faced by youth in Mali. About 113 teens are reached per month, all commissioned to be voices and leaders within their community. Donate today to empower and encourage young community health leaders!
Jul 19, 2021
The Need for Continued Education
By Lucy Tian | GAIA VF Intern
Education in Mali is free and compulsory up to ninth grade, or age 16. This is theoretically nine years of continuous, free education. However, the average expected years of schooling is only 7.5 years. About 70% of primary school-aged children are enrolled in school, and that percentage drops to 36% when it comes to secondary school-aged children enrolled in school. Barriers like transportation costs, supplies costs, and school funding restrict the number of school-aged children who actually enroll and attend school. Within the population of children itself, girls lag behind boys by nearly 10%. Home duty expectations along with childhood marriage dramatically decrease the amount of education a girl receives in Mali. A quarter of girls are married by age 15, and a third are married by age 18. More than 9 out of 10 girls in Mali are illiterate. Much of the consequences are part of decisions made without the child’s input, making them powerless to pursue education. The Teen Peer Education Program provides opportunities for girls to take charge of their narrative again. Not only does it serve to educate young girls, it mentors them to become community educators themselves.
Donate today to continue providing education for youth in Mali!
Jul 1, 2021
Empowering Community Care for Young Women
By Lucy Tian | GAIA VF Intern
Globally, an estimated 15 percent of young women give birth before age 18. Early childbearing and delivery during youth derail healthy development into adulthood. UNICEF reports that as of May 2021, among girls aged 15-19 globally, maternal conditions are among the top four causes of mortality and disabled life. Among the other top choices are communicable health and mental health conditions that have negative impacts on the health and education of girls. Socially, pregnant girls are pressured or forcibly dropped out of school, impacting their career prospects, quality of life, and that of their child. Social stigma surrounding early pregnancy also brings severe mental health consequences as the girls can lose their support system in their family, friends, and peers. The Teen Peer Education Program actively recruits the next generation of Malians into a peer mentoring program. 14 to 18-year-old adolescents and young adults are trained through an engaging, teen health education program that aims to address health issues faced by youth in Mali. They also aim to reduce stigmatization through community conversation.
The Chez Rosalie program at the GAIA Vaccine Foundation revealed that most of the new HIV infections in Bamako, Mali being reported were for teen mothers. Not only were teenagers at risk of unplanned pregnancy, but they were also at risk of acquiring HIV infection with their first pregnancy. The Teen Peer Education Program sparks conversation among youth to raise awareness about preventative sexual healthcare and the resources available.
Donate today to support this life changing work at GAIA Vaccine Foundation. Support the next generation of bright Malians!