Sponsor an IDP Child

February 2026: Sponsor an IDP Child in the 

Faladje Camp, Bamako, Mali

The children’s program started a little late this Fall because of a gas shortage in the Bamako area, but after a short delay, school opened as usual.  We had 21 students ready to begin 2nd and 3rd grades.  Unfortunately, one of our children died while visiting family in Central Mali.  Two other children moved to another area,  but we have been told they are continuing their education in another school which we are very happy about.   We now have 18 children in school.   At this time, all are passing and attendance has been good.   There are still times when a child is required to stay home because the mother must be gone and needs someone to watch the younger siblings.  

Here is a success story from one of the children:

“My name is Handia.  I am 11 years old and I am attending 3rd grade.   I have not repeated any class.   My parents wanted to leave the Faladje site and relocate to the surrounding area of Bamako where they said they can live in tranquility,  avoiding daily controls, stress, and pressure of the police in the camp.   I told my parents that I am now feeling good with my friends, my teachers, and my school.  What will happen to my schooling and  my education if we move?  Having said this, my father, who used to be strong in his decisions, looked at me and smiled.  I felt something had happened.  He changed his mind and postponed the relocation.  I hope he won’t talk about it anymore.   I am so glad and proud of him as he has just realized how my education matters not only to me, but to him.  This was not the case a few years back, but since ATEG has given me the chance to go to school, my father is very happy for me to get an education.”

Arts to End Genocide continues to give rice to residents at Camp Faladje.  We used to feed approximately 300 people but since 27 of the 30 NGO’s that worked in the camp have now left, we increased rice to nearly half the Camp. We continue to pay doctors that treat not only the residents in the Faladje Camp but the street children also.  We also pay for  medicine, continue skills training for the women.  One of the projects we continue to work on is to enhance the soap to make it  mosquito resistant.   The ladies continue to sew for people in the camp and for the students making their uniforms and backpacks, milk processing continues as well as the art of henna.   The garden project outside of Bamako has been  a success.

We will soon have a “food cart” that 5 women will run so they can sell food in the market.  The Women’s Cooperative is  active and the ladies can use it to borrow money as needed which makes them more independent from us.  This, of course, was our intention and we do hope  this continues to be a source of income for them.   

One of our goals is to possibly get more children in school next Fall depending on funds available.  If you would like to sponsor a child or know someone that might like to sponsor a child, please share Arts to End Genocide’s information.  www.artstoendgenocide.org  We thank you all for your continued support for these our brothers and sisters in Mali. 

Links:

• http://www.artstoendgenocide.org

ATEG programs continue to sponsor and educate internally displaced children at the Faladje IDP Camp in Bamako, Mali. 

This school year has gotten off to a rocky start with the teachers going on strike and delaying the start of the school year. Although children in other parts of the world might rejoice in having more vacation time, our children were most anxious to begin classes and resume their education. Our students, and their parents understand how this opportunity is their pathway to a successful life. Last year there was an average of a 89% attendance rate with 17 of the students attending at least 90% of the time. We have been told this is an outstanding rate for students that are IDP’s.

When you sponsor a child, your donation is used primarily for the child’s education, including school fees, supplies, clothing, etc. A small portion of the money goes to funding ATEG’s other programs at the Faladje Camp to help these vulnerable people survive. Our goal is to make these families more self-sufficient.

 We have a long way to go to help these children. If you are interested in sponsoring a child, please check the website and choose a child. Tell a friend about this program, so that they too might want to sponsor a child and give them an education and a chance for a brighter future. Thank you.