Support Mali's Vulnerable Children

It has been a busy and fruitful summer at A Child for All (ACFA)!

As part of our environmental initiative and goal towards sustainability, we have continued to plant trees around the ACFA Zorokoro Children’s Complex. This includes mango seedlings, which the children enjoy watering and caring for.

The children enjoyed a break from school before starting a summer school program including kindergarten and first grade classes. In addition to the 22 ACFA children, we also teach children from the surrounding villages. We still want to help more vulnerable children at the Complex. Please help us to build out the rest of the dormitory so we can take in 100 vulnerable children.

Every few weeks, the first grade students at the Zorokoro Children's Complex practice story telling with the books in the temporary library. The story is chosen from a theme of the week and the theme is mostly supported by the visual aids of the books. Some of the stories are written in Bambara and some children can recall them because they have heard the stories before and they are happy to see the stories told in a book. The final touches are being completed for the permanent community library and computer lab, and planning is underway for setting up and running the library with community involvement.

Supplementing the classroom education, teaching our children life skills and responsibilities is part of our program. While not in class, the younger children at the Complex help with daily chores such as preparing food in the kitchen or weeding the vegetable garden. The ACFA children still have plenty of time to play and run around the Complex. From tending the garden, ACFA also ensure that the children understand about a healthy diet and the environment.

Our staff in Mali continues to build relationships and support within the community around the Zorokoro Children’s Complex. For example, they recently met with a local village council to teach them about ACFA, and learn about the challenges facing people within their community. Outreach like this helps with all aspects of support for the Zorokoro Children’s Complex. We are particularly focused on support for the ACFA school as well as the upcoming community library and computer lab.

Speaking of vocational training, we have an ACFA success story to share! One of our teenagers at the Bamako Children’s Home, Fousseyni, graduated from the culinary school, École Hotelliere Chaka Sidibe in June! To celebrate Fousseyni's achievement, our founder, Kadiatou, and the chef who owns the restaurant that Fousseyni currently has a paid internship at, Le Loft, attended the ceremony.
Insecurity has long affected Mali’s economic system, making it challenging for many Malians to achieve employment and financial security. One of our four primary goals at ACFA is to equip ACFA children with the education needed to be able to support themselves within the Malian economy or wherever their lives take them. We are so grateful for the support of the ACFA community in making a difference in these children’s lives.

Please consider donating to ACFA today to support our continued growth and enable more vulnerable children to receive what all kids deserve: care, safety, and opportunity. Thank you for your generous and continued support of ACFA.