Mali Rising Foundation

Description

Located in West Africa, Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world, with more than 90 percent of the population living below the poverty line. Student attendance in primary schools in the country is approximately 60 percent and drops to less than 30 percent in secondary school. In the rural areas of Mali, access to education is a key deterrent to attendance. The Foundation focuses on the importance of education as a key strategy in poverty reduction and sustainability and seeks to provide innovative and effective ways to engage with the local communities in supporting education beyond primary school.

Founded in 2004, the Foundation has built 16 middle schools in southern Mali to date and aims to ensure a middle school is within walking distance of every child in Mali. Schools are maintained through cooperative efforts of the village education committees and additional support from MRF's Field Director.