Before Mali Kalanso

Prior to 2010, only a handful of children – mostly boys – attended elementary school at distant schools, living with extended family or making the long trek by bicycle or on foot each day.

In the history of the communities, only a few boys -- and no girls -- had ever made it to high school. Even fewer graduated and none made it to university.

Today - A Model Charter School

We are extremely proud that:

  • All eligible children attend school, both girls and boys, beginning in Pre-K

  • An entire generation is gaining literacy for the first time, in a country with an overall adult literacy rate of 31%

  • Meals are provided to 500+ students each school day, many of whom eat only 1 meal a day at home

  • Girls are no longer promised for marriage before completing their education

  • University education is now a reality for the first time, with our first university graduate — a young woman named Kadi — in 2025

  • In 2026, there are 16 more students studying at university and 15 enrolled in professional schools

How We Got Here

A Holistic Approach

Buildings alone do not provide an education.  Teachers are in short supply in Mali, as are books and desks.  We work in partnership with the Malian government to provide teachers for each classroom in our model charter school.

Mali Kalanso fully equips each classroom and provides books for each student, plus other programming that includes:

  • Daily meals

  • Clean water sources so children have access to potable drinking water

  • Annual vision, hearing and dental exams; Vitamin A drops and intestinal parasite treatment; basic health, nutrition and sex education

  • Special underwear for menstruating girls so they can confidently attend class and not fall behind

  • Dyslexia screening

  • Tutoring as necessary, starting in 3rd grade

  • Solar classroom lighting for a place to do homework

  • Teacher training and housing for teachers

Our Process

Our model is built on the principle of community agency, where local leaders identify the challenges and hold the final authority over how to address them. We act as a technical partner, presenting a range of viable solutions and evidence-based strategies so the communities can choose the path that best aligns with their vision and values.

By providing this framework for informed decision-making, we ensure that while we contribute expertise, the community retains full ownership of the school’s direction and outcomes.

It has not been a linear process. In response to internal political strife and terrorism in the country, and global events like wars in other countries which have dramatically impacted the price of food, fuel and other staples, we often have had to adapt, shift resources and re-prioritize, all while forging ahead.

Thanks to the trust we’ve earned with our funders, we have been able to direct funds where they are needed most at a given moment.  This flexibility has enabled us to pivot at critical times and in turn afforded us the ability to better achieve long term goals for the communities.