Friends of Mali – Ireland is a volunteer–based, not–for–profit organization that promotes sustainable, community–based development projects in one of the world’s poorest countries – Mali – in West Africa. Among those projects is the conversion of a temporary, single–room school into a permanent, three–room school for Tuareg students in the remote, Saharan village of Tin Gnere. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, this project has been partially funded under our Institutional Education Grant program since 2008. Friends of Mali – Ireland has begun the process of registering with the Irish Revenue Commissioners as a recognised charity; the registration is expected to be complete in the near future.

Friends of Mali – Ireland founder, Dr. Elizabeth Healy, recently sent us an updated progress report. The first two photos above are of the now–finished, first mud–brick classroom, taken from the front and the rear. This classroom has painted replicas of ancient Saharan cave drawings on the walls - a far cry from the torn poster of Niagara Falls that was on the wall of the classroom it replaced. The buildings on either side of this new classroom are the newly–built, temporary, straw classrooms covered to protect the students from the sun. Below is a close–up photo of one of these temporary, straw classrooms as well as one taken from the inside. With your help the villagers of Tin Gnere hope to be able to build a second, permanent mud–brick classroom as well as another temporary, straw classroom in the near future so that more of the 150 village children can attend school.

This project is becoming a great success story. The villagers view these developments as nothing less than transformational and they express their gratitude to our donors. With your help The Peoples of the World Foundation and Friends of Mali – Ireland have been able to fund three new teachers for this school – bringing the total number of teachers in the village to four, since the villagers have been able to secure funding for a teacher from the Malian Government. The school is now seen as a long-term educational resource by the villagers, the surrounding villages and the Malian Government. As the photos below illustrate, even in the remotest parts of the world indigenous education is possible given the motivation and the resources.

The new classroom, built in 2009, needs repairs/maintenance this year and will probably need replacement in 2013, as the sand bricks deteriorate with each rainy season. The construction of a second new classroom is planned for 2012. The funding of two more teachers for the village would be desirable, to be able to provide a comprehensive educational service for all the children of the village.

You can help us to continue supporting this important project and make a difference in children's lives. Our Friends of Mali – Ireland appeal is available in PDF format by download in standard US Letter size as well as International A4 size.

You can donate online right now at JustGive.org (please enter "Tuareg Appeal" under "Designate my donation") or at PayPal by clicking on the "Donate" image below.