Where We Work
Mali is a
landlocked
country in West Africa know for its rich
cultural history. A stable democracy since
1991, Mali is comprised of many ethnic groups
and a uniquely peaceful
culture.
72.3 percent of the population lives with less than a dollar a day
81 percent of adults are illiterate
1 in 5 children die before the age of 5
Life expectancy is 48 years.
"When you can use the earth as shoes and the sky as a hat, you can claim to have understood the world a little" -- Bambara proverb
The Mali
Health Organizing Project works in a slum
neighborhood called Sikoro on the outskirts of
Mali's capital, Bamako.
93% of Mali's urban population lives in
slums. -- UN-Habitat
We believe that places like Sikoro are particularly deserving of attention. According to the UN, a slum is an urban area that lacks:
- Safe water
- Sanitation
- Secure tenure
- Durable housing
- Sufficient living area
Slums in Mali are neighborhoods. They are not violent; people are motivated and organized.
"The world is...limitless"
-- Bambara proverb
About
Sikoro
The people in Sikoro mostly come to
the city from rural places hoping to find
work. Houses are constructed out of
mud-brick called banco and generally last only a
few years. People stay in Sikoro for much
longer than the typical lifetimes of their
houses because they cannot afford to move into
the city and are too ashamed to move back to
their villages.
Few people
in Sikoro own their land. Few people vote or
pay taxes, so the government does not provide
services.
Some people in the town are 4 kilometers on
hilly rocky pathways from water, clinical care,
paved roads, or electricity.
Despite all of these hardships, Sikoro's people
are active and engaged.
The need for change and the potential for
people to lead it make Sikoro an ideal site for
Mali Health Organizing Project's community
health model.