20-12-2023 | di COOPI

Mali. Mariam, a story of women's empowerment, thanks to AICS

Mariam is a 19-year-old, divorced girl from commune IV in Bamako District (Sebenicoro), where violence and gender discrimination continue to affect employment opportunities as well as access to land and credit by women and fragile individuals. In Mali, achieving economic autonomy is a difficult path for many women, which is why COOPI-Cooperazione Internazionale has launched a project entitled "Women, youth and social enterprises: pillars of a sustainable and inclusive future", funded by the Italian Development Cooperation Agency (AICS), with the objective to contribute to the equitable economic growth and employment in the private sector in Mali and Senegal.

Thanks to the project that Mariam was able to participate in training sessions on cutting and sewing, laying the foundation for her work activity: sewing clothes for local residents as well as for members of her family. The income from these activities enabled her to become financially independent, emancipating herself not only economically but also socially, strengthening her status in the community.

I am proud of myself and also grateful to COOPI because I feel I have a guaranteed job

By setting as a pillar the elimination of gender inequality and the employability of citizens in the governorate of Bamako, the project has achieved multiple objectives, combining the needs of the population with those of local businesses. In fact, in addition to the training of citizens, trainings were carried out for local businesses in the areas of business management, organizational development, accounting and fiscal transparency, marketing and communication improving their performance and autonomy.

In both Mali and Senegal, the project was structured around the three-way nexus of emergency, development and peace, not only to address the economic needs of women and youth from vulnerable groups, but to increase acquisition of soft skills and strengthen dialogue between citizens, communities and local institutions on issues of women's empowerment, social entrepreneurship and sustainable development.

Started in October 2022, the project, now in its final phase, has reached 3,000 people through outreach activities and trained 400 citizens and 30 local cooperatives, with a focus on the needs of women and girls in working age. COOPI has been present in Mali since 2013, acting also in the area of Health and Protection.