In 2024, the Board or Directors took the initiative to evaluate how our schools are doing, years after they were built. We hear anecdotally from our contacts in Mali that the schools are all doing well, but we wished to verify this by doing an independent check to see how our schools are holding up and how they are functioning. To that end, we hired a Malian professional, a former Peace Corps language instructor who now works as a teacher and interpreter in Bamako. In November 2024, he visited 8 schools and sent us over 100 photos.

The main takeaway is that all of the schools he visited are open and functioning.

There are some maintenance needs at a few schools. and overcrowding is becoming an issue in others. Some communities struggle to finance the teacher’s salaries and to purchase enough supplies and materials. For example, one school did not have enough chairs, and at another school, there is no nearby water source.

The fact that overcrowding is becoming an issue is a testament to the demand for education among villagers in rural Mali. More families are choosing to send their children to school than a generation ago. This is a big shift from the 1990s, when I served as Peace Corps volunteer in the Segou region of Mali.

In some cases, villagers have constructed additional buildings out of mud bricks or millet stalks to house the overflow. In some schools, the classrooms host double shifts of students, one grade in the morning, and another in the afternoon. So each student is only attending half a day of school, and every teacher is teaching two different grades.

Our auditor noted that the schools all have basic supplies, but that it’s common for children to have to share books in groups of 2 or 3. He mentioned that the teachers sometimes do not have enough manuals and other teaching supplies, or have to buy these themselves.

Most of our schools have toilets (latrines), water, and hand-washing stations. However, there are some problems at some schools, for example Gongasso does not have available water nearby. In Tabakoro, the hand-washing equipment is broken and has not been replaced.

For the past 20 years, we have focused almost entirely on building schools in partnership with local communities in Mali. Our mission is simple and the work we do is essential, but the work does not stop there. Mali is among the poorest countries in the world. Every village has a school management committee which is responsible for its operation, with support from the local government and the national Ministry of Education.

In 2025, the Board is considering expanding our role, by helping schools to fund maintenance, or to provide small grants to purchase school supplies and books. If this is something that interests you, please get in touch or consider making a donation.

Overall, the villages where we have helped build schools are doing very well in terms of enrollment. Girls education is strong, at least at the primary school level. In most of the schools, the ratio of girls to boys is about 50:50.

A few generations ago, few children in rural Mali attended school. A cultural shift has occurred, and today, many parents want their sons and daughters to go to school. We are proud to have played a small part in this revolution.

In the communities we have helped, the schools are a point of pride. And having a clean, modern schoolhouse helps the community to recruit teachers, which is often difficult for rural schools.

The demand for school construction projects remains high. Our auditor frequently mentioned (1) villages that need middle schools, or where (2) more classrooms are needed, or (3) the distance to the school is high, and more schools would alleviate this.

At all of our schools, we fund the purchase of building materials like cement, doors and windows, and paint. We also pay for skilled labors — the masons and builders. The community comes together to provide additional labor, and materials like sand, gravel, and water to make the concrete blocks. Also importantly, the village comes together to feed the workers and to house them during their stay. It is your financial assistance helps make these projects possible. Thank you!

(Download a 1-page, 2-sided PDF of this newsletter here.)

Dear Build a School in Africa Supporters, 

Please join us in celebrating our 22nd year and the construction of our 33rd school! 2024 was a year marked by tragedy and hope for the Malian people and for our small, all-volunteer organization. Thanks to your support, we have continued our campaign of school building, and will soon complete our 34th school.

Judy Lorimer, in memoriam

It was with deep sadness that we learned that our former director Judy Lorimer passed away in June 2023. Judy was a long time kindergarten teacher, and during her retirement, she fell in love with Mali after a cultural exchange visit.

For many years, Judy traveled to Mali annually, at her own expense, visiting the schools she helped to build and spending time with the students and teachers. Judy will be missed tremendously by the whole Build a School in Africa family.

The Board & Volunteers

Long-time volunteer and webmaster Matt Heberger offered to serve as director and keep the organization going. We’ve also rejuvenated the Board and have been meeting every 2 to 3 months by Zoom. The Board currently has 4 members: Alice Heller, Karolyn (Midgie) Franz, Kyla Malone, and Matt. To read bios and see photos, please visit our website! 

New Elementary School in Diassidian

In 2023, we made the unusual decision to begin construction of a new school, knowing that we did not have enough funds to finish it. The community wanted to begin construction before the rainy season began, when the dirt roads turn into mud and transporting supplies becomes difficult.

The old school building in Diassidian made from mud bricks was dark and required frequent maintenance.

Thanks to your donations, the school was finished in 2024 in time for the start of the school year. The new school is bright and airy and better for learning. 

Putting a final coat of paint on the new school in Diassidian in October 2024. 

Kicking off Construction in M’Pessoba

Thanks to a generous donation from a couple in Australia, we have initiated construction on our 33rd school! 

In October, our volunteer in Mali,  Abou Coulibaly, visited the village and held kick-off meetings with the village and the deputy mayor. 

School committee meeting in M’Pessoba, Oct. 2024.

Widespread Flooding in Mali causes destruction, delays start of school year

This year’s rainy season was particularly intense across West Africa, and caused widespread flooding, the worst seen in decades. Each of Mali’s 20 regions was affected to some extent, and the government reported 30 deaths and the loss of hundreds of houses, latrines, and wells. 

As a result of the flooding, the start of the school year was delayed from Oct.1 to Nov. 4. And in many areas, school buildings have been used as shelters.

Political Instability makes our work even more essential 

Several West African countries are passing through a difficult period, marked by uncertainty and instability. Since 2011, there has been conflict in Mali including fundamentalist groups that have spread violence and chaos. Following a military coup in 2012, Mali has failed to hold free and fair elections. As a result, western countries have cut off foreign aid, neighboring countries have restricted trade, and some large nonprofits have paused operations in Mali. 

As an African proverb says, “When the elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.” We are hoping for an end to the conflict, a return to democracy and the rule of law, and a brighter future for the Malian people. Despite all of this, our operations have not been affected. We are engaged in people-to-people assistance, working directly with deserving communities. This kind of help is more important than ever!

Your Contribution Makes a World of Difference!

Historically, it has been difficult for village schools to recruit and retain good teachers. Having modern, clean school buildings helps a lot. 

Thanks to the work of the dedicated teachers and staff,generations of children will have the opportunity to realize their potential and make a positive contribution to society. By contributing to Build a School, you voice our support for the valuable mission they carry out. Any amount helps. Thank you!

Donate online or send your tax-deductible contribution to:

Build a School in Africa
4 Old Stonehill Road
Tyngsboro, MA 01879

Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season and New Year! 

—Abou, Alice, Kyla, Matt, and Midgie

Construction under way in Diassidian, early 2024.

During the last week of October, our volunteer Abou Coulibaly visited the village of M’Pessoba to kick off the construction of a new elementary school. Here, Abou is meeting with members of the community and the vice-mayor.

The plan for M’Pessoba is to build 3 classrooms, an office/storeroom for the teachers, and two blocks of latrines. We estimate that the new school will enroll 220 children — 111 girls and 109 boys.

Currently, the children attend schools that are either overcrowded or far away from their village. As a result, the classrooms serve “double shifts” and children only attend for half the day. Other children have to walk several miles and cross a busy road, which puts them at risk of accidents. The new school will alleviate the overcrowding and provide a safe environment for learning.

Thanks to a number of generous donations over the last few months, we reached our fundraising goal for the new school in Diassidian, Mali.

Last year, we made the unusual decision to begin construction of a new school, knowing that we did not have enough funds to finish it. The community wanted to begin construction before the rainy season began, when the dirt roads turn into mud and transporting supplies becomes difficult.

This year’s rainy season was particularly intense across West Africa, and caused widespread flooding, the worse seen in decades. Each of Mali’s 20 regions was affected to some extent, and the government reported 30 deaths and the loss of hundreds of houses, latrines, and wells. In many areas, school buildings have been used as shelters. As a result of the flooding, the start of the school year was delayed from Oct.1 to Nov. 4. 

This fall, the children of Diassidian will be able to start the school year off in bright, airy new classrooms.

Please join us in celebrating the completion of our 33rd school. We have already started planning for school #34 in M’Pessoba, Mali. Thank you again to all of our incredible donors who make this important work possible.