04-09-2024 | di COOPI

Mali. A project that speaks of the future for the children and adolescents most affected by the crisis

Malian children are among those most affected by the multidimensional crisis facing the Sahel. Among the various groups of vulnerable children, we find children affiliated with armed forces and groups, children separated from their parents or guardians, unaccompanied children, and children displaced within their own country. They are the beneficiaries of a socio-economic and socio-professional reintegration project launched by COOPI - International Cooperation in September 2023 in collaboration with state, local, and traditional structures. The project “Integrated response to strengthen resilience to nutritional insecurity in the Barouéli health district, Ségou region and care for children affected by the crisis in the Bandiagara, Douentza and Mopti regions” funded by UNICEF for a duration of 1 year, aims to strengthen community child protection systems to ensure that protection, health, and nutrition services are accessible and adapted to the needs of crisis-affected children and adolescents.

Issa's story: a new life through hydraulic training

Among the many lives touched by the project is that of Issa (fictitious name), a child separated from his parents, originally from the village of Tegueri in the Bandiagara region, who fled with another boy due to attacks by armed groups. Identified by COOPI's protection team at the Bandiagara IDP site, Issa immediately found comfort in the words and actions of COOPI workers, who offered him psychological support and the opportunity to participate in professional training in health plumbing.

When I arrived in Bandiagara, I was sad and scared. But thanks to COOPI, I found new hope and a future to build.”

recounts Issa, now engaged in training.

One month into the course, Issa has already developed skills that will help him become self-sufficient and support himself and his family. The training has not only provided him with the foundation for a new trade, but also restored hope to a young man who had lost everything.

From vulnerability to autonomy: the stories of Salimata and Awa

Young Salimata (fictitious name), a 16-year-old girl from Diafarabé and displaced in Ténenkou. was identified by COOPI during an assessment mission and received socio-economic support for her reintegration. Originally from Diafarabé and Séné Daga, Salimata was forced to leave her home due to the crisis and, thanks to the project, received training in livestock husbandry and a socio-economic reintegration kit through COOPI. In less than a year and a half, with the support of her guardian, Salimata started a small livestock business, which will soon allow her to sell her first batch of livestock on the market.

Thanks to COOPI, today I can look to the future with optimism and hope.”

says Salimata's guardian, expressing gratitude for the opportunity given to the girl.

Awa (fictitious name), another 16-year-old girl originally from Dianké in the Youwarou circle, also had to leave her home because of threats from armed groups. She is currently living in a temporary shelter family run by COOPI in Youwarou. After she was identified by the protection team, Awa received psychosocial support and participated in recreational activities in child-friendly spaces, and, thanks to the assistance she received, she was able to start a cattle-breeding business, which allowed her not only to provide for herself financially, but also to reintegrate into the local community.

Buying and selling of more cattle for breeding has allowed me to become self-sufficient. I thank the NGO COOPI infinitely for supporting me through this income-generating activity,”

said Awa, testifying to the positive impact of the project on her life.

Seven young people former members of a self-defense group

In the village of Somadougou, seven adolescents between the ages of 15 and 17 were identified by COOPI as former members of a self-defense group. After being demobilized through a series of sensitizations, these young people were placed in a socio-professional reintegration program, receiving training in electricity and construction. With the support of COOPI and local communities, the boys have embarked on a path that is leading them to become qualified electricians, ready to meet the growing demand for electrical services in their villages.

We want to use what we have learned to help our families and become independent,” 

declare the young men, happy to have found a new path away from violence.

COOPI has been working in Mali since 2013, in the regions of Mopti and Ségou, areas with some of the highest levels of child malnutrition in the Sahel and a worrying incidence of human rights violations, especially against children. The organization has developed a series of targeted interventions, including child protection, food security and psychosocial support, with the aim of responding to the urgent needs of the most vulnerable communities. Today, COOPI continues to work alongside Malian government institutions to ensure that crisis responses are timely and effective, focusing on health, nutrition, and human rights protection. With five ongoing projects and nearly one million beneficiaries reached from 2013 to 2022, COOPI remains a key pillar in Mali's humanitarian landscape, supporting displaced people, migrants, women, and children in the context of a complex and protracted crisis.