Mali

 Sanankoroba

Mali is the second largest country in West Africa; nearly one third of it is part of the Sahara desert. Life expectancy is low and many people suffer from bilharzia and river blindness.

Emilie’s Charities is contributing to the sponsorship of a SOS Children’s village at Sanankoroba, 30 kilometres south of Bamako, in 1987. The village has a kindergarten and a primary and secondary school, all of which are open to children from the neighbourhood. The school has capacity for 800 pupils and includes workshops for vocational training. A small clinic provides medical care for both the SOS and local families. The village has 2 hectares of agricultural land where vegetables and fruit are grown to supply the village. There is also a youth home in Bamako itself where young people from the village can learn to take their first steps towards independence while continuing their education.