Holidays and was captured in the Islamic holy book, the Koran

(Qur’an). Together with the Sunnah, a collection of mali Celebrations are very important to your sponsored child sayings attributed to Muhammad, these texts provide and family. The most important ones have religious or a firm basis for religious and social life for all Muslims, political significance: including rules for diet, dress, hygiene, and more. January 1 Islam is a religion of peace and prayerfulness. A devout New Year’s Day Muslim prays five times daily. If possible, Muslims pray Date varies* in a mosque, and on Friday do so with common prayer Ramadan and a sermon. Islam also requires that Muslims make February* a pilgrimage, called the Hajj, to the holy city of Mecca Prophet’s Birthday at least once in their lifetime. Islamic holidays include Date varies* Ramadan, the holiest month of the Muslim calendar, Tabaski which commemorates the month in which Muhammad May 1 received the revelations that became the Koran. Eid Labor Day al-Fitr is a joyous feast celebrating the end of Ramadan May 25 and the month of fasting. Al-Hijra celebrates the Islamic Africa Day New Year. September 22 Animism is the term used to categorize the plethora Independence Day Population 14.8 million of localized indigenous religions throughout the world. Capital City Bamako *date varies Animists live in a world dominated by a complex interplay of spiritual powers—those of the creator or Official Language French creators (gods), the destroyers (demons), the forces Religion in Mali Per Capita Income US$660/year of nature, the deceased (ancestors), and the living The people of Mali are largely Muslim (90 percent). (healers or witches). The manipulation of such powers Youth Literacy Rate 56% male/39% female Roughly 9 percent of the population hold indigenous through magic, to benefit humans, is subject to strict Access to Safe Water 89% urban/53% rural beliefs, and the remaining 1 percent are Christian. rules, including rituals, sacrifices, and trance. Animists believe that when people die their life force (soul) leaves Under 5 Mortality Rate 128/1,000 live births Muslims are followers of Islam. Islam is an Arabic the body, joining the invisible world of ancestors. The word meaning “submission to the will of Allah (God).” Source: The State of the World’s Children 2014 (UNICEF) invisible world is also populated by nature spirits of the Muslims believe that Allah’s will was revealed to the wind, rain, forest, animals, and earth. prophet Muhammad more than 14 centuries ago

Additional sources include the CIA World Factbook and State Department websites. Mali is a landlocked West African country located in the Sahel, the region bordering the Sahara Desert. The northern third of the country lies within the Sahara. Pasture and Plan International USA is part of a global organization that works side by side with communities in 50 developing countries to croplands fed by the Niger River lie in the center of the country. The seemingly endless end the cycle of poverty for children. We develop solutions community by community to ensure long-term sustainability. Our savannas are occasionally interrupted by sandstone mountains and foothills. Mali is roughly level of community engagement, long-term outlook, and constant focus on the needs and priorities of children is unique among international development organizations. Our solutions are designed up-front to be owned by the community for generations to the size of California and Texas combined, and it is home to the famous starting point of the come, and range from clean water and health-care programs to education projects and child-protection initiatives. mysterious Timbuktu camel route that brought Arabians to Western Africa via the Sahara. Gold, ivory, produce, and slaves from the central area of West Africa were transported Promising Futures, Plan International USA Community by Community 155 Plan Way • Warwick, RI 02886 north, eventually making their way to Europe and the Middle East. This ancient travel route 1-800-556-7918 • planusa.org has established Mali as a mecca of African culture. A Brief History pregnancies. Communities actively participate in promoting the dangers of child and maternal health Before the arrival of Islam, present-day Mali was the during pregnancy. Plan also supports children to take site of three great empires: the Ghana Empire around an active role in regular radio broadcasts, to raise 700 AD, the Empire of Mali (Malinke) until the 13th awareness of health issues in the community. century, and the Songhai Empire. However, by 1883 France had annexed the entire region from the west Education and development coast to Bamako. The area of present-day Mali was administered by France under a variety of names during Plan has been supporting communities to better the colonial period. After independence in 1960, Mali understand the advantages of girls’ education and became a single-party state under the leadership of early childhood development. Plan is working with President Modibo Keita. Single-party presidential communities to emphasize the importance of education, and legislative elections were held in June 1979, and holding workshops and training sessions for teachers General Moussa Traoré received 99 percent of the to enhance their skills. Committees have been set up Most farmers cultivate their land in a traditional way, Ethnic Diversity votes. After a series of coup attempts and a period of within these schools with Plan’s support, allowing with the aid of a tool called the daba, used for hoeing military rule, Alpha Oumar Konare was inaugurated as children and adults to ensure that their schools are run the soil. However, more and more farmers are moving The population of Mali is made up of about 23 distinct the president of Mali’s Third Republic on June 8, 1992. effectively. toward modern ways of cultivating the soil, with the ethnic groups. About 50 percent of Malians are Mande, Retired General Amadou Toumani Touré, former head of assistance of animal-drawn equipment such as plows, a group consisting of Bambara, Malinké, and Soninké state during Mali’s transition (1991-1992), became the Child protection and participation rototillers, seeders, and carts. In many cases, these ethnic groups. In addition, there are many other smaller country’s second democratically elected president as implements are drawn by oxen or donkeys. It is an groups. Most live and trade together in harmony. an independent candidate in 2002, and was reelected Plan has achieved encouraging results in terms of child extremely serviceable but very expensive investment to a second five-year term in 2007. The next round of protection and participation. Female genital cutting, for most farmers, and not every cultivator has the Language presidential elections was scheduled for April 2012, which used to be a taboo subject, is now openly opportunity to own or use such tools. Although French is the official language in Mali, most but in the aftermath of a March 2012 coup, deposed discussed within communities. Children are also now sponsored children speak Bambara. It is very likely that President Touré resigned to facilitate the naming of more active in preparing their communities should a Family Structure you will encounter a language barrier in communicating an interim president and to transition back toward disaster occur, and they are empowered to take part with your sponsored child, as the majority of the democratic rule. in the recovery process of their communities. Through Malian villages are made up of family groups living our Universal Birth Registration campaign, which works within compounds. Compounds usually include many children do not know enough English to write a letter. to provide children with an official identity, Plan is Those who do not know English will be assigned Plan’s work in Mali covers four core distant relatives and may house as many as 35 people. committed to provide children greater protection and Malian families are usually a polygamous unit, consisting community workers or volunteers who will explain your areas, all of which are rooted in the access to education and health services. of a man, his several wives, and children. Within the letters and help the children compose their responses. rights of the child: compound, each wife has her own hut where she lives Here are a few phrases in Bambara that you might Child survival and maternal health Livelihood security with her children. Women bear a substantial amount of want to use in your correspondence with your Education and development the family burden, working as many as 16 hours a day sponsored child: Through microfinance projects, Plan has developed and Child protection and participation caring for children, preparing meals, pounding grain, I ka kene wa? supported savings and loans systems for communities, Livelihood security hauling water, and gathering wood. Community matters, How are you? helping members to set up their own businesses, save however, are decided by the men. Children are expected So mnogow ka kene? income, and provide for their families. Child survival and maternal health to help their parents. Young boys work in the fields, How is your family? tend animals, and help with the rebuilding of houses. Plan works to reduce child mortality and improve Soro kera? Economic Security Girls help their mothers with household tasks and look Did you have a good harvest? maternal health by providing health clinics for after the younger children. parents and their children, as well as guidance during Mali was once considered the granary of West Africa.