Mali Favorite Tips by tini58de

There is hope...

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Unfortunately Mali is rapidly being swallowed up by the desert, and is still suffering the aftershocks of an enormous drought. This has made it one of the five poorest countries in the world with a high infant mortality rate, extensive malnutrition, low levels of literacy, and a short life expectancy.

There are quite a few organisations that are trying to help improve the living conditions - but it is a very long process!

It might be good news, that just recently there has been a discovery of deposits of gold potentially huge enough to lift the country from its economic difficulties....

Let's just hope for the best!

Desertification

Favorite thing: About 65% of Mali is now desert or semi-desert and it is getting more and more. The rapid desertification of Mali is due to on-going droughts, over-grazing, topsoil erosion, harsh desert winds, and the scavenging of trees for firewood.

Climate

Favorite thing: In the north of Mali - which is the desert - it is hot, hot, hot! It cools down a little toward the end of the year, but still it stays hot and there is almost no rainfall!

The humid rainy season is June to September although this really only applies to the south. In the Sahel the rainfall is variable. Often there are the dusty Harmattan winds blowing off the desert between December and February.

People

Favorite thing: The largest ethnical group in Mali is the Bambara, who occupy many of the civil servant positions. The Dogons and the Tuareg live a more traditional life.

The Tuareg, or 'blue men of the desert' (named for their indigo robes and turbans) are an ancient nomadic tribe.They are a proud race of people, famous for their fighting abilities and artwork. Drought and government policy are threatening their traditional way of life now.

The Dogons are very busy farmers living on the edges of a long narrow escarpment in the inland delta. Their homeland, the Dogon country, has been designated a World Heritage site because of its cultural significance. The Dogon are also famous for their artistic abilities and wonderful masks.

Women

Favorite thing: Poverty in Mali is worse for women in both urban and rural settings. Young girls are often denied access to education. They marry early, and one out of every 10 women will die during childbirth. Many spend their lives bearing and rearing children. Genital mutilation ist still a common practise in Mali.

This was a reason, why I wanted to sponsor a GIRL in Mali. Fatoumata does not attend school either, but at least I hope, that the general living conditions will improve, so that maybe HER daughters will lead a better life!

Facts about Mali

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Population: 11.4 million
Capital City: Bamako
National Language: French
Per capita income: US$ 240/year
Life expectancy: 51 years
Access to safe drinking water: 65%
Adequate sanitation facilities: 69%
Under 5 mortality rate: 233/1,000 live births

(Source: State of the World's Children 2002)
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Fondest memory: The women we met! They were proud and pretty and were laughing so much - despite the difficult life they have to live!