School closure in Mali due to Covid-19 and the socio- political crisis is a big concern. More than two million children between the age of 5 and 17 years old still do not attend school and more than half of the young people between 15 to 24 years old are illiterate. School closures have affected nearly 3.8 million children in Mali. In addition to the pandemic, communities faced malaria. We suspected that the rate of children that drop out has risen and that most girls will not go back to school. Household poverty, child labour, child marriage, insecurity and the lack of schools close to children’s homes are all factors that explain the high rate of school drop-out and non-schooling in Mali.

With the reopening of schools, in spite of the overcrowded classrooms and the deficiency of mask and hand washing material, children were happy to be back. The WNCB programme in Mali is working with teachers, communities, business and government leaders towards the main objective that “children and young people are freed from child labor and enjoy their rights to quality education and to decent (future) work ” and to ensure that all involved take their roles and responsibilities.

   
Children back in school                            Involving parents working in the gold mines

   
Soap making to generate income         Meeting village and community leaders