Our partners in Mali

Agence Evangélique de Développement du Mali (AEDM) / Evangelical Development Agency of Mali

AEDM work to secure the health, well-being and future potential of children in the Sahelian (semi-arid) part of Mali’s region of Koro.
They ensure that children can develop in an holistic way through projects that provide education, develop strong families, and teach farming techniques.

In particular, their innovative Passerelle (‘Gateway’) scheme provides a second chance at education for children who never started school, or left school early. This education scheme earned AEDM the 2009 International Service Human Rights Award for the Defence of Children’s Rights.

Yam-Giribolo-Tumo (Ya-G-Tu) / Association for the Promotion
of Women

Set up by women, and run by women, Ya-G-Tu is an NGO that promotes and protects women’s rights in a region that traditionally excludes women from public life and decision-making processes.

Activities include supporting women to: take part in local decision-making; learn about sexual and reproductive health; improve their literacy and numeracy skills; set up activities and enterprises so they can earn an income; receive training in food and agriculture so they can improve children’s health and nutrition.

Jeunesse et Développement (J&D) / Youth and Development

This NGO supports young people in urban areas to reach their potential and play an active role in the development of their communities.
They also work with local partners in 26 villages in the south of Mali to support community health and women’s initiatives, civic education, and children not enrolled in school.

J&D has been at the forefront of introducing and supporting the ‘Reflect’ approach to social change in French-speaking West Africa. 
The international NGO ActionAid gives a good description on their website of what the Reflect approach involves.

Association Jeunesse Action (AJA) / Association for Youth Action

AJA work to promote and protect young people’s economic, cultural and social rights.

Their mission is to reduce high unemployment amongst young people by providing basic professional training for children and young people. A lack of training, frequent exploitation in the workplace, and high levels of illiteracy all negatively affect young people’s chances in life.

Groupe d’Animation Action au Sahel (GAAS) / Group for Facilitating Action in the Sahel

The widespread problem of child-trafficking is one of the major challenges addressed by GAAS. High levels of poverty, low levels of education, and a desert-like environment that makes farming difficult, mean that children are frequently forced into exploitative work or trafficked into other regions or countries.

GAAS promotes the development of rural communities through projects and training in education, skills training, HIV/AIDS, women’s and children’s rights, farming and food production.

Fédération Malienne des Associations de Personnes Handicapées (FEMAPH) / Malian Federation of Disabled People’s Associations

The Federation fights for the right of disabled people’s to play a full and active role in the economic, social and cultural development of their communities and country.

In particular, the Federation fights for disabled people’s right to work – they challenge the social attitudes and working practices that frequently exclude disabled people from accessing employment opportunities. 

La Direction Nationale de la Promotion de l’Enfant et de la Famille - Ségou / National Directive for the Promotion of Children and the Family – Region of Ségou

This is the regional department for women and children. They refer children in difficult circumstances to the appropriate institutions or programmes, and they work closely with other state regional departments and NGOs to implement child rights promotion programmes. The department is responsible for centralising all data and information related to child protection in the region of Ségou.

Association pour le Développement et l'Appui aux Communautés (ADAC) / Association for Community Development and Support

Working mainly in the region of Sikasso, ADAC aims to improve the living conditions of grassroots communities. In particular, they provide support to women, children and young people, disabled people and people living with HIV/AIDS.

ADAC are at the forefront of the fight against HIV/AIDS. In Kadiolo and Zégoua they have successfully established counselling and screening centres which earned them an International Service Human Rights Award in 2007 , and a 2008 prize from the Regional Executive Secretariat of the National High Council to Fight AIDS.

Groupe de Réflexion sur les Droits de l’Enfant (GRDE) /
The Child Rights Network

This network of 20 international and national organisations (created and supported by International Service in Mali) provides technical services to the state particularly in the area of child protection.

GRDE is a forum for communication, skills sharing, co-ordinating activities, joint initiatives and influencing policy.