Mali project profile

Education
Less than half the children in Togogana attend school and a great majority of adults have no formal education. Due to early marriage, pregnancy and limited knowledge of the importance of girls’ education, girls’ drop-out rate is high. There are shortages of educational facilities and materials.

Togogana ADP promotes the importance of education, especially for girls, builds classrooms and provides refresher-training courses for teachers. It establishes literacy centres for children who have missed out on starting their education and holds literacy classes for adults.

Health
People from Togogana have limited access to formal healthcare, so many rely on traditional remedies and most women give birth in unhygienic conditions. Malnutrition affects three-quarters of children. Meningitis and water-borne diseases are significant health threats. It is uncommon for parents to immunise infants. Most girls undergo female genital mutilation (also known as female circumcision – this involves the removal of some of a girl’s genitalia).

World Vision constructs and supports local health clinics and trains health workers so as to provide greater access to health services. Community education programmes promote immunisation and educate about water hygiene, sanitation, HIV and AIDS and the physical and psychological dangers of female genital mutilation.

Togogana ADP

Water
As there are no streams or rivers in the district and the ground water level is very deep, water is collected from often contaminated, hand-dug traditional wells that dry up in the dry season. Women and children walk for four to seven hours a day to fetch water.

World Vision drills deep wells to tap the ground water and fits them with pumps and tap stands to ensure a regular supply of water and protect them from contamination. Water committees are trained to educate community members about water hygiene practices and manage and maintain village pumps.

Agriculture
Togogana is an agricultural area with families growing millet, sorghum, maize, beans, peanuts, seasame and some vegetables. Agriculture is dependent on rain so in times of drought, as in the past five years, production is less than half of what is required to adequately feed families. Households gain income through selling crops, livestock and firewood.

Agricultural methods, including burning, cause environmental concerns. Much of the area has become deforested over the recent past. As a result, soils erode and the desert encroaches.

World Vision trains farmers in soil conservation techniques and modern methods of agriculture. It teaches farmers to grow vegetables near water pumps, to diversify sources of nutrition. Communities learn to mitigate the effects drought and establish cereal banks to store grain for times of shortage.

Community leadership
In Mali, government activities have been decentralised and operate at commune level (local government divisions). Togogana encompasses three communes. There are already a number of community groups for men, women and young people.

World Vision trains commune representatives and community groups to manage development activities. Community members also learn about issues relating to gender and child protection.

Sustainable development
World Vision started Togagana ADP in 2007, and is working with the community to enhance ongoing development. Progress will be evaluated every four years, and when the community reaches its goals World Vision will begin to reduce its support, allowing the community to direct its own development.