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Abibatou Togola, 15 years old (released) answers a question in class at Koumantou Secondary School. She is about to complete Grade 8. This is relatively unusual in a region where the number of girls attending school is significantly lower than that of boy
Abibatou Togola, 15 years, (released) writes on the black board at school. 45 – 50% of the population of Mali cannot read or write. But Mali’s education system remains largely unequal and unfair, especially for girls who are often forced into early ma
Girls during class at Koumantou Secondary School. Mali’s education system is largely unequal and unfair, and as a result has left more than 1 million children out of school. The multiple crises that have affected Mali since the end of 2011 have greatly
UNICEF is facilitaes adult literacy programs, where illiterate parents are taught to read and to write so that they can assist their children at home with school work. This helps the children with their grades and constantly reinforces to the parent how v
Abibatou Togola, 15 years (released) and her friends engage in a discussion during class at Koumantou Secondary School, Sikasso Mali. As UNICEF’s focus on educating the girl child in Mali continues, one would hope that these young girls are at least giv
Waraba Doumbia, 16 years (released) is not yet married, culturally there is a strong chance that she will soon be engaged. Her dream of becoming a doctor and serving her community will probably become a distant memory. Mali’s education system remains la
Waraba Doumbia,16 years (released) fetches water from their well at home. Before a girl even gets to school, she has prepared breakfast for the family, cleaned the homestead and taken care of all her younger siblings. When she gets home in the afternoon,
Waraba Doumbia, 16 years (released) dropped out of school due to bad grades and increasing pressure on her, as the eldest child to remain at home.  Mali’s education system remains largely unequal and unfair. Poverty, child labor, the multiple crisis, di
Waraba Doumbia, 16 years (released) sweeps the family’s homestead, one of many chores she is expected to complete during her day. “When I get up in the morning and watch my brothers and sisters getting ready for school, I feel very sad that I no longe
Waraba Doumbia, 16 years (released) ready to go out to the field where she is expected to spend most of her day. Mali’s education system remains largely unequal and unfair. Poverty, child labor, the multiple crisis, displacement, gender issues and socio
Abibatou Togola, 15 years old (released) attends Koumantou Secondary School. She is about to complete Grad 8. According to her teacher, she is a courageous student, a “fighting girl”. Her grades are good. “I think she will be able to pursue her drea
Abibatou Togola, 15 years old (released) attends Koumantou Secondary School. She is about to complete Grade 8. She lives nearby with her mother and father and siblings. Her parents have encouraged her to complete her schooling. This is relatively unusual
Madama Togola (21 years) and baby Maimouna (11 months) RELEASED. Madama never attended school, her parents discouraged her eduaction. She was married by the age of twenty. The marriage was arranged by her parents. UNICEF continues to engage in community

Sikasso, Mali

Dreams and Distant Memories

“If you teach a man, you teach one person. But if you teach a woman, you teach the entire community.”

Waraba is 16 years old. She lives in the Sikasso region of southern Mali, and due to bad grades and increasing domestic responsibilities, she no longer attends school. Her days consist of looking after her younger siblings, preparing meals, fetching water, cleaning their homestead and working the family’s fields. Although Waraba is not yet married, culturally there is a strong chance that she will soon be engaged. Her dream of becoming a doctor and serving her community will probably become a distant memory.

“If a girl doesn’t end up going to school, she is at a much greater risk of being exposed to early marriage. If a girl is attending high school there is a greatly reduced risk that she will be married so young. In this way, school is definitely a way of preventing early marriage. – Salif Diawara, teacher at Koumantou Secondary School.

Abibatou is 15 years old and attends Koumantou Secondary School. She is about to complete Grade 8. She lives nearby with her mother and father and siblings. Her parents have encouraged her to complete her schooling. Her favourite subject is English; she hopes to visit an English speaking country one day. Her dream is to become a doctor and to serve her community.

UNICEF has addressed the cultural demands placed on these young girls by helping with basic infrastructures, which frees the girls up to complete their homework and not to be too tired for school the following day.

Although Warabe and Abibatou come from the same village, their futures will probably look remarkably different. As UNICEF’s focus on educating the girl child in Mali continues, one would hope that these young girls are at least given the option of embracing a future they choose, not a route already mapped out for them.

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