Support Mali's Vulnerable Children

A Child for All takes a sustainable approach to helping Malian orphans. The orphanage just opened in the middle of June and by the end of this month will have at least 8 orphans living there. Zoumana, the director of the orphanage, took us on a full day’s tour of the varying facets of the organization. We went to one of the farms which is used to support the children. The father of Kadiatou (the founder of A Child for All) owns the farm and oversees the production as well as working the land himself to help his daughter’s endeavor. The farm grows everything from peanuts to mangos and corn, the sprouts of which were just coming up as we were given a tour of the plot.

After seeing the farm, we went to the orphanage. The children, thus far all boys, were dressed in nice clean soccer uniforms, sitting outside playing with Legos, some of the first toys I’d seen on in the past month. Isha, the live-in head of the orphanage took us for a walk with the boys. They were well behaved and amazingly enough, their nice white jerseys stayed white- not an easy feat for boys of their age. While Isha cared for the children, there was another woman who cooks for the children and cleans.

We were welcomed to spend a night at the orphanage for the full experience. Unlike many places we visited, the home was equipped with electricity and running water which will help the children stay healthy. the way they cared for us is certainly a reflection of how they cared for the children, and they are doing an amazing job! A Child for All is providing the children with the a nourishing environment needed to allow them to learn and thrive.

Sarah is a GlobalGiving volunteer in the field. Follower her and her fellow travelers' adventures at itfwa.wordpress.com!