Girls Education, Mali (2007)

  • I only stayed a few days in the village of Tinto in Mali to see the work of the Orange Foundation. Their initial funding assisted in the schooling of girls. Everything was based on a simple idea, but extremely effective: beyond support for primary schools, the Foundation financed the digging of wells. This changed everything. Fetching water is normally assigned to young girls. The creation of a water pump within the community meant that they could avoid several hours walk each day, and devote more time to their education.

    This was their first step towards a more difficult choice later – to leave or not to leave their families and their traditions  -  to find higher education and a certain emancipation in a nearby town.


    --SM, 2007

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    Tinto, Mali. Early morning in the village.

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    Tinto, Mali. Shepherds passing the village mosque.

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    Tinto, Mali. Mariam heading to the community water pump.

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    Tinto, Mali. Hadiaratou Guinto, 11. Collecting tamarind leaves to make traditional meal.

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    Bankass, Mali. Local town pump provided by the Orange Foundation of France.

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    Tinto, Mali. First grader begins to learn numbers in village school.

    Tinto, Mali. Aissata, teaching math to 3rd - 4th graders together.

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    Tinto, Mali. Sixth grader in schoolroom.

    Tinto, Mali. 4th graders in classroom learning French.

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    Tinto, Mali. Fifth grader in village school.

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    Tinto, Mali. Dogon women beat "tige" of wheat.

    Tinto, Mali. Girls play 'To Be a Princess' at recess.

    Tinto, Mali. Binta Guindo and friends cracking kuna nuts.

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