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ONG Miriyawalé offers support and guidance to Malian children and youngsters to grow up and develop themselves despite the unfavorable conditions they live in. Miriyawalé uses a social cultural methodology.

The organization Miriyawalé was founded in 1997 in the Netherlands by Abou Camara a Malian artist and his Dutch wife Janette de Haas. Miriyawalé became a Malian NGO in 2007 and opened a first center in september 2008 in Sikasso and moved to Baguinéda Camp in 2016.

Miriyawalé’s objective is encouraging and facilitating children and youth (0-30 years old) to develop themselves. Miriyawalé has three main components: education, sports and culture. It also provides social assistance in crisis situations. Miriyawalé implements her program in a community center, but also works in the streets, in schools etc. The board of the Miriyawalé foundation is based in the Netherlands; the board of the NGO is based in Mali. read more

Miriyawalé organises a diversity of social cultural activities like, dancing, drawing, theatre, music, karate, football, fitness, play- and game activities to join. Furthermore Miriyawalé organises educational and cultural activities and gives medical and social assistance to visitors of the centre. Originally, the intention was to work with young adults in Mali with an emphasis on culture and employment support. It soon became apparent that a large group of youngsters of 0-12 year was eager to participate too, so Miriyawalé started a programme for all young people (0-30 yrs).

The activities are adapted to the need of the population of Mali. read more

WHO⇑

WHERE⇓

⇑WHAT

⇓WHY

The Koulikouro region is the cradle of the Empire of Mali and known for preserving its traditional culture with its griots and its hunters. Like much of Mali, the area is strongly Islamized, but the practices of animists remain very present in the villages. Bambara serves as the area’s most common language.

Mali’s total population is expected to double by 2035; its capital Bamako is one of the fastest-growing cities in Africa. A young age structure, a declining mortality rate, and a sustained high total fertility rate of 6 children per woman – the third highest in the world – ensure continued rapid population growth for the foreseeable future. Despite decreases, Mali’s infant, child, and maternal mortality rates remain among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa because of limited access to and adoption of family planning, early childbearing, short birth intervals, the prevalence of female genital cutting, infrequent use of skilled birth attendants, and a lack of emergency obstetrical and neonatal care.

Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world, 75% of the youth is unemployed. There is a permanent crisis in it’s education system, at school and at home. A lot of youngsters think there’s an eldorado abroad and only want to escape.

Miriyawalé thinks this a bad thing. One of the main targets in our program is convincing youngsters to create perspective, imagine a better future in Mali.

The youth in Mali is threatened by many treats; poverty, AIDS, unemployment, illiteracy, malnutrition, abuse, hopelessness, religious extremism and oppression. read more

Of course we can’t do it all alone. Miriyawalé works with volunteers of all nationalities and is funded by private donors, charities and sponsors. If you’re interested in either of them, let us know.