Mouly’s Reading Corner

An Education Cannot Wait-supported “Reading Corner” initiative is bringing out-of-school children like Mouly to the classroom in Timbuktu and Taoudenit, Mali

By Education Cannot Wait

May 30^th, 2024

Adapted Story from the Field. Special Contribution by UNICEF Mali (Original).

“Bi, Ba, Bu…”

Thirty young voices join in the chant, following cues from their beaming teacher who wields an old yellow ruler in one hand like a seasoned conductor. Among them, 12-year-old Mouly’s voice rings with confidence as she meticulously practices today’s new syllables.

It’s Thursday morning at Mahamane Fondougoumo School – one of the oldest schools in Timbuktu, Mali – and students are taking part in the “Reading Corner” initiative.

It’s hard to believe that, just one year ago, Mouly could not read and had never stepped foot in a classroom.

Thanks to funding from Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises within the United Nations, the innovative “Reading Corner” programme is reaching girls and boys left furthest behind in the regions of Timbuktu and Taoudenit. Developed by UNICEF and the Ministry of National Education, the initiative supports access to and retention in school for marginalized children in the region, like Mouly.

Mouly, 12, smiles from within her new classroom in Mahamane Fondougoumo School in the Timbuktu region of Mali. © UNICEF/UNI535977/Keïta

Mouly loves school.

Even before she was able to enroll for the first time, it was not uncommon to find her standing outside of the classroom, watching the activity within with a longing look on her face. It was during one of these moments, after she’d slipped away from home in-between chores, that the school principal found her behind the classrooms.

After this discovery, school administrators approached Mouly’s parents to try to better understand the family’s situation.

Mouly’s parents explained that she has never attended school due to financial constraints. Hearing this, and with her parents’ agreement, the school principal decided to enroll the bright and curious 12-year-old at Mahamane Fondougoumo School and the “Reading Corner” programme.

With funding from ECW, the school had recently received equipment, educational kits and school supplies to support the reception and education of additional out-of-school children. With no school fees to worry about, and learning resources provided, Mouly was able to dive into learning for the first time.

Twelve-year-old Mouly follows along in her lesson with her teacher, Imamaya Traoré, at Mahamane Fondougoumo School in Timbuktu, Mali. © UNICEF/UNI535991/Keïta

Due to her age, Mouly had to join the third year class – despite not knowing how to read or write.

Thankfully, her determination and love for learning mean that no roadblock is too great for the 12-year-old.

Five months after the start of her first school year, and thanks to the special support she receives through the “Reading Corner” initiative, Mouly has already acquired basic reading and writing skills.

"I am happy. I am learning lots of new things!" ~Mouly

The initiative is part of a programme designed to strengthen the academic skills of students reintegrated into the educational system after having been out of school, and children who have never been schooled but are too old to enroll in first grade, like Mouly. The programme has been running for two years at the Mahamane Fondougoumo School and, to date, 60% of those reached through the school’s “Reading Corner” have been girls.

Today, Mouly is nearly at the level of her third grade peers – and her grades continue to improve.

Mouly’s teacher, Imamaya Traoré, is surprised and delighted at her student’s rapid progress.

Students practice writing during Mahamane Fondougoumo School’s “Reading Corner” programme in Timbuktu, Mali. © UNICEF/UNI535994/Keïta

In Mali, and in the surrounding Sahel region, conflict, insecurity and climate change-induced disasters have disrupted the lives of millions. An estimated 7.1 million people need humanitarian assistance in the country this year, and 54% of them are children.

In 2022, 1,024 serious violations against children were reported by the United Nations Secretary-General. The number of recorded violent events in Mali continues to rise, increasing from 1,267 in 2020 to 2,228 in 2023 – a 76% increase over three years.

Ongoing conflict and insecurity have resulted in the closure of nearly 1,800 schools, mainly in the north and central Mali. This leaves out-of-school children especially vulnerable to forced recruitment into armed groups, child marriage, forced labour and other forms of exploitation and abuse.

In Timbuktu, more than 131,000 children aged between 7 to 18 are out of school (Modular and Permanent Household Survey 2023 - EMOP). The reasons vary – from lack of educational structures, poverty, low priority given to girls’ education by some parents, social norms and displacement due to the security crisis. Nationally, more than 2 million girls and boys – over 18% of all children in the country – do not have access to education, according to the 5th General Census of Population and Housing of 2023.

Without the urgent delivery of educational opportunities and learning alternatives, learning losses could be irreversible in the country.

Teacher Imamaya Traoré works with students at Mahamane Fondougoumo School, building their reading and writing skills through the "Reading Corner" initiative in Timbuktu, Mali. © UNICEF/UNI535987/Keïta

ECW investments in Mali have been supporting in-country partners to reach the most vulnerable children with the protection and opportunity of quality education since 2019. Building on the impact of the First Emergency Response rolled out in 2019, ECW launched its Multi-Year Resilience Programme (MYRP) in 2021.

The MYRP is expanding access to learning spaces, covering school fees for families in need, providing remedial learning courses, strengthening the capacity of the learning environment, supporting educators and engaging the communities in which it works. ECW-supported initiatives in the country also provide support for girls and children with disabilities, increase school enrolment rates and implement school protection through a holistic approach that meets children and adolescents’ physical, mental and psychosocial needs.

With a total of US$29.6 million in investments in the country, ECW support has reached more than 445,000 of Mali’s most vulnerable children and adolescents to date.

Thanks to this funding, the dedication of implementing partners like UNICEF, and the commitment of Mali’s Ministry of Education, girls like Mouly – who are brimming with potential, curiosity and resilience – are finding renewed hope and opportunity in the safety of the classroom.

ECW calls on additional strategic donor partners – including governments, the private sector, philanthropic foundations and high net-worth individuals – to join our efforts in mobilizing an additional US$600 million to reach the Fund’s target of US$1.5 billion, which will enable partners to reach a total of 20 million girls and boys in crisis-affected areas of the world by 2026.

Mouly stands at the blackboard with her teacher, Imamaya Traoré, at Mahamane Fondougoumo School in Timbuktu, Mali. © UNICEF/UNI535988/Keïta

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