Mali

The majority of young people involved with the project have a lack of food, education and healthcare. In addition to this, some are also responsible for the whole family – for example, if there father has died. Most of them have had to work from a very early age in order to earn money to support themselves and their families.

Click here to read about the experiences of Cheick Oumar Sangaré

The experiences of Cheick Oumar Sangaré are representative of some of the problems young people involved with the project face. He is not, however, one of the more vulnerable youths supported by the project

“I used to work as a carpenter with a friend or brother and therefore didn’t have regular work as I wasn’t working everyday. Some days I spent my entire time at home. I didn’t know how to manage money so the money I used to earn was spentlike water, which left me thinking all the time ‘I don’t get money’. Sometimes I used to ask for money from my brother and sisters and this was a source of discord between us.”

What is the project about and how does it help improve the lives of people within the community?

Because the majority of people involved with the project are in a vulnerable situation, for example living on the streets, migrant workers, few or no qualifications, their main concern is to leave their situation for a better life, which includes being able to integrate well socially. This may include gaining a good qualification, which enables individuals to get a job, a position in society, and to be independent.

The project draws its inspiration from something called ‘The Bamako Declaration’ - a meeting of young people living on the streets and in other difficult circumstances from several West African countries that took place in Bamako in November 2000. It aims to improve the lives of disadvantaged young people by supporting micro-projects to promote their social and economic reintegration into their communities.

In essence, the project’s partners (J&D) help with the following activities, all of which work towards achieving the ultimate goal of improving the lives of disadvantaged youngsters through education, training, financial support and sharing experiences:

• Supporting young people in preparing application forms for jobs, courses, training etc
  
• The funding of selected micro-projects
  
• Provide support and advice to young entrepreneurs
  
• Offer basic education and training
  
• Monitor micro-projects
  
• Help manage websites
  
• Raise awareness of the project and associated micro-projects
  
• Encourage young people to attend and participate in meeting and workshops
  
• Create a network so individuals can share their experiences

Classroom

The project helps to improve the lives of disadvantaged youngsters in Mali because it focuses on generating and supporting income-based activities which changes people’s lives in an economic sense – people are benefiting from training and are finding employment. They are earning money, which enables a more regular way of life, away from the danger and temptations associated with living on the streets. Furthermore, in West African culture, earning an income increases an individual’s status within the family and community.

The project has impacted in many ways:

• Many of the children who had difficult family circumstances have now gone back to their families and have been accepted because of their new activity
  
• Those who were dependent on drugs have found a support to stop. Furthermore, their new micro-project has provided them with a motivation to stay away from drugs
  
• Training provided by the project has given many people new skills, especially improvements with literacy which has increased competences and people’s self-esteem
  
• Individuals now have a source of income and are able to support themselves and their families. In Mali, this brings with it respect from their families and communities
  
• Being responsible for their own micro-projects enables young people to become more responsible as they need to manage their income and expenses. This in turn has increased their sense of responsibility and they have found that they spend their money in a better way

Click here to read Cheick Oumar Sangaré’s case study

“Through the project, I now have my own workshop. My financial management has also improved. Before I became involved with the project, I didn’t know how much I was spending, so couldn’t know much my gain increase was. Now I control my expenditure and receipts making it more useful for me and my family.”

“Because I am now financially independent, my relationship with my family is much better than before and my friends and neighbours have more consideration for me.”

How does an initiative like the MDG campaign help to improve the lives of people in Mali?

Poverty is the main reason why children end up living on the streets or find themselves in vulnerable circumstances. Very poor families in Mali find it difficult to provide their children with the very basic needs and to raise them properly. Families do not have enough money for education, basic healthcare and food. Even if a school in Mali is almost free, families don’t even have sufficient money to pay for school stationery.

Malian Kids

The national strategic plan in Mali to tackle poverty has been drawn up in relation to the Millennium Development Goals. Although it’s difficult to pinpoint specific campaigns that contribute to the MDGs, Mali has benefited from an international programme as a result of the MDGs to reallocate its debt to the implementation of national education and healthcare programmes. The fight against poverty, however, is the main and central aim for all development work across Mali.

In terms of whether programmes, like this case study and other initiatives in Mali, make a difference to the poorest people in Mali, then the answer is yes. Changes have been made to basic education and healthcare and these services are now available to more people. For example, there are now more health centres and schools, which makes it easier for people to access them.

MDG Goal 1 is very broad, making it difficult to monitor. However, there are a number of projects taking place across Mali in relation to Goal 1, especially in Bamako. Furthermore, the majority of neighbourhoods in Mali now has either a young person or a woman involved with activities to generate income activity, offer vocational training and basic education, such as literacy skills.

In terms of Goal 8, the specific project detailed in this case study does not directly promote fair trade, but does encourage and support a network of young people who are involved with various micro-projects. Through this, some of the youngsters have sold items from their trade to others and staff members from J&D.

Other programmes in Mali include a fair trade aspect. For example, there is a local NGO (Non-Government Organisation) who trains young people in craft industries and helps them create websites so they can sell their crafts across the world.