Afrikawaly: Educ'action

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We are planning on building an education center in Troun, small village in Mali . This center would provide primary education and vocational trainings to hundreds of children.

Standings & Awards

13 out of 591 in Africa
10 out of 779 in Education
11 out of 935 in Design
13 out of 992 in Charitable
32 out of 4003 Overall

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VOTES

Afrikawaly

Educ'Action aims to empower the youth of a remote village to reach full autonomy through education

This project will enable the youth of Troun to face the challenges of rural life in developping countries. These kids have never been to school,and currently have limited opportunities for a better future. While the village has great potential (good land for agriculture, good climate), the population is still facing great challenges every day to support their family. The village is hit by a high rate of unemployement and rural exodus.

This future center would provide basic mathematics, reading and writting classes along with selected technical skills classes: Agricultural techniques, Woodworking, Dressmaking, Nursing, and Masonry. Our goal is to equip those youngsters with the tools needed to either start a business on their own or continue the conventional educational system.

The construction is planned for june 2013 and 150 children will be able to attend the classes for the first school year by october 2013.Girls will represent at least 50 % of the students.

To realise the project, Afrikawaly has partenered with the government who will provide the teachers and allow the students diplomas to be recognised in the country .

The village has also contributed to the project by offering 1 hectare of land to build the future school and by commiting themselves to help with the construction.

Roadmap to Success Optional (1 - 3 minutes to upload)

Roadmap to Success:

roadmap_to_success.pdf

FIVE PROJECT QUESTIONS Required (60 - 90 minutes)

1. What is your innovation?

This project will be giving the chance to underpriviledged youngsters to break the poverty circle and believe in a brighter future.Through the network Afrikawaly is buiding in Mali, those who want to continue regular education would be given opportunities to do so and those who want to create small businesses will get expertise and access affordable equipment . To ensure the financial autonomy of the center, all output created in the classes will be sold in local markets or even in Canada.

2. Who gains the most?

By educating the children who represent 53% of the population of Troun, we are endeavouring to change the economic dynamic of this village in the future. The 400 children of Troun will be the first beneficiaries of that new dynamic.By mandating that at least 50% of the students should be girls, we are also attacking a philosophy whereby girls' education is not a priority. In 5 years the whole region will be benefiting from this project trough a decrease of unemployement rate and rural exodus.

3. Who pays?

Private donors have been supporting the project through monthly donations and charity events. Canadian companies such as Pharmanet ,Telus and Radio Canada have offered grants and 40 computers as an additional feature for the center. The government of Mali has signed an agreement to pay the teachers, while the village has reserved a land for free.To build the school and equip the classes, we are applying for scholarships and organizing many fundraising events (concerts, food tasting..)

4. What is your success?

Our goal is to make this education center a vector of sustainable development, first for the village, then for the region in the longer term.Our project will empower the local youth to create their own small businesses, and be a powerful driver of economic growth for the village. In 12 months, 150 students should be enrolled. In 3 years Illiteracy will have been reduced by 70% in the village. 5 years from now, the first graduating students will be creating value in Troun.

5. How will you do it?

The involvement of the whole community is important and would mitigate the risk of families refusing to send kids to school.We have formalised partnerships with the government and the community. The government has provided all the needed approvals and will pay the teachers, while the village has reserved a land and will participate in the school's management. We have also built strong partnerships with local NGO's or technical schools to ensure the sustainability and the quality of the trainings