Update on our 37th school in N’Tarla

Construction is well underway for the newest school in N’Tarla. The community has come together and laborers have made great progress. In the pictures below you can see some of the supplies needed as well as the exhausting manual labor required to construct the school. In addition to the classrooms the school will provide latrines and a teacher’s office with supply room. We are so excited for the children who will benefit from all of this hard work in the very near future!

Construction Begins on Our 37th School in N’Tarla

We’re excited to share some wonderful news from the field — construction has officially begun on our 37th school, this time in the community of N’Tarla.

This milestone was made possible by a generous donation from a donor whose belief in education and opportunity is now taking shape in a very tangible way. Because of this meaningful gift, what was once a vision is quickly becoming a reality.

Work began earlier this month, and the energy on the ground has been nothing short of inspiring. The N’Tarla community has shown tremendous enthusiasm and ownership from day one. In fact, the photos say it all — a large group of young men turned out to help begin construction, demonstrating a powerful commitment to building a better future for their children.

When a community rallies together like this, it reinforces why we do this work. Schools are more than buildings; they are centers of hope, opportunity, and long-term transformation. Seeing local residents invest their time and effort into this project reminds us that true impact happens when communities lead the way.

We look forward to sharing progress updates as construction continues.


A New Beginning in Koro N’Tossoni: School Construction Complete

There was a true sense of celebration in Koro N’Tossoni on February 7th as the community gathered to mark the completion and official opening of their brand-new primary school.

The opening ceremony brought together an inspiring cross-section of local leadership and community members. Deputy Mayors, chiefs from neighboring villages, and other local officials were in attendance, reflecting the importance of this milestone not only for Koro N’Tossoni, but for the wider region as well.

The event was filled with pride, gratitude, and hope for the future. Community members came together to celebrate what this new school represents: opportunity, growth, and a brighter path forward for their children.

The ceremony began with a vibrant performance by the traditional music group M’Polon. Their music set a joyful tone for the day, honoring local culture while celebrating progress.

Following the performance, speeches were delivered by the village chief and the mayor. The ceremony concluded with the formal handover of the school keys. Our team member, Abou, proudly presented the keys to the First Deputy Mayor. In turn, the Deputy Mayor handed them to the village chief, officially transferring ownership of the school to the community.

This gesture marked more than the completion of a construction project — it represented partnership, trust, and the community’s responsibility to care for and sustain this new space for learning.

As students prepare to fill its classrooms, this new school opens the door to knowledge, opportunity, and a stronger future for the entire community.

Opening ceremony for the primary school in Dintiola

On April 14, 2025 a representative from our organization, Abou Coulibaly, traveled to Dintiola to participate in the opening ceremony of the newest primary school. He was warmly welcomed by the local village. Below are pictures of the ceremony where the keys are handed over to the village chief. Several types of dances were performed during the ceremony, including the Minanka mask dance, the Koredouga, the Bara and the Niogo.

A local television station covered the festivities. Stay tuned for the video. We’ll post it after we have subtitles added, since the video is completely in the local language, Bambara.

Completion of the middle school in M’Pessoba

We are thrilled to announce the opening of the new elementary school classrooms in the town of M’Pessoba, Mali. This community of 12,000 people already had 6 classrooms, but some of them were in poor condition and the school was overcrowded, putting a strain on teachers.

Thanks to the support of the Australian Ripple Fund, construction started in November 2024. As always, we work in partnership with the community, which keeps construction costs low. In addition to the 111 girls and 109 boys in the village, the school also hosts children from smaller villages in the area. M’Pessoba has around 250 households ready to accommodate all the students who will come from other localities.

When our representative in Mali, Abou Coulibaly, visited M’pesoba in April 2025, the classrooms were filled with children who are benefiting from a beautiful new learning environment!

Plans to start our 35th school, a middle school in the village of Tionso

These are the eager students who will benefit from your generosity. They are in clear need of a safe place to learn. The new school will include three classrooms, one office/book storage room and a set of two latrines. At least 97 children (60 boys and 37 girls) will be enrolled at this school. The Village of Tionso is also willing to share the school with surrounding villages in need. If the infrastructure is built, the local board of education will be able to provide teachers to educate these students. Please consider helping as any donation goes a long way for this community!