Mali Street Children

There are about six and a half million children living in Mali, in fact 38.3% of the entire population of the country is aged 14 yrs or younger and most live in poverty, with Mali being one of the poorest countries in the world. As such 700,000 children under the age of 15yrs are economically active such is the widespread poverty, particularly in the sand strewn north of the country. As such, life is already tough for Mali's children, but it's even tougher for the estimated 250,000 children living without a father, mother or both parents, orphaned through AIDS and fighting between government troops, separatists and al-Qaeda fighters. With few if no better options, many of these children head towards city areas such as the capital Bamako in order to find ways to support themselves. The situation is aggravated by the fact that, according to the United Nations Development Program, approximately 80% of the population of Mali does not have access to adequate housing. There are some 6000 of these street children in Bamako alone mainly seen around the Sogoniko and Medina bus stations, although the figure is probably much higher.

Overall it is believed that there are around 200,000 children in Mali who work the streets begging and getting money for gangs they have been recruited into (with many street children in Mali stating they belong to gangs as they offer some protection against violence and aggression) or for adults who exploit them. These children have very limited life opportunities, are out of school, have no access to health care nor are ever likely to enter the official job market. In turn they are at risk of sexual exploitation and trafficking ~ its a simple fact that if a child is taken from the streets and trafficked no-one, apart from their fellow street kids and gange members, would ever know or even care. Around 15,000 children in Mali, many of them street children, are trafficked every few years to the Ivory Coast where they work on cotton and cocoa plantations whilst girls are similarly trafficked there mainly for domestic servitude.

Other children end up on the streets in Mali, 90% of whom are boys, because they have been sent to harsh Koranic schools mainly at the insistence of their fathers who not only want them schooled in Islamic tradition but also because of poverty and an inability to provide for their children. Part of this 'schooling' is to beg on the streets, an activity that is seen as an integral part of their religious education. These children are known as 'manya' and, when they return to their school, they hand over their spoils to the Koranic masters and those who don't return with sufficient rewards are beaten and otherwise punished.

The authorities in Mali are aware of this activity but do little or nothing to address it preferring to turn a blind eye. This harsh treatment causes many children to run away, and, unable to return home to face further beatings, they end up not just begging on the streets, but living on them. In fact around 30% of street children in Mali state they are street children following abuse by their Koranic masters. Of all these street children it is estimated that around 19% are aged under 13yrs old with the majority (46%) aged 13-16yrs, the remainder are 16yrs and over, although of course, once they reach 18yrs they are no longer classified as children, but they remain on the streets nonetheless. The video (below) gives some insights into the lives of street children in Mali together with projects and programs operating there that you may choose to support.

Mali Street Children

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Mali Street Children: Sponsor An IDP Child Through the ATEG 'Sponsor An IDP Child' program you can improve the lives of over 500 IDP children who are living on a garbage dump in Bamako, Mali. These IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) children are lacking food security, healthcare, hygiene, sanitation and safety. ATEG works to resettle these children and their families to a clean safe living environment where we will provide the tools for them to become healthy and self sufficient. Visit >

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Mali Street Children: A Child for All (ACFA) A Child For All is a non-profit that provides hope to Mali's vulnerable children through its holistic program. They work with street children in Mali to provide a safe place to live, nutritious food, education, and access to healthcare. Visit >

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Mali Street Children: Mali Development Group This project works with disadvantaged and disabled young people in Mali's capital, Bamako, and many of those helped by the association are rescued from the streets. The project often deals with very vulnerable and traumatized children, many of whom have lost contact with their families, and have no other source of help. Visit >

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Mali Street Children: Sponsor Children in Mali Details of how to sponsor children in Mali with Mali child sponsor programs and make a difference to children's lives there. More >

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Mali Street Children: Mali Children Find out more about children's lives in Mali in pictures and video together with facts and figures. More >

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Mali Street Children: Volunteer in Mali As well as sponsoring a child why not explore volunteering opportunities in Mali? More >

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Mali Street Children: Mali Country Profile In another of our African country profiles, find out all about Mali in a series of information articles, latest daily news, videos, and images together with volunteering and child sponsorship opportunities. More >

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