CRWRC has been working in Mali since 1984. The people in Mali are among the poorest in the world, with the country suffering from chronic drought, poor economic infrastructure, and weak government services in education and health. In rural Mali, CRWRC is working alongside the Fulbe people group (also known as the Fulani). The Fulbe are a strongly Muslim group of cattle herders and farmers. CRWRC also partners with three organizations in Mali to help individuals, families, and communities improve their health, income, and standard of living. For a list of partners and specific programs, see below.
The CRWRC-Mali team consists of Winston & Berber Bosch, Lynda Dykstra, Robin and Zachary Entz; Mali is also the home to CRWRC’s West Africa team leader, Mary Crickmore, and her husband, Scott (the Information Systems Coordinator for CRWRC).
Fast Facts
Population: 11,995,402 (July 2007 est.)
Area Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Literacy rate: 46.4% (2003 estimate)
Life expectancy: 49.51 years (2007 estimate)
Population below poverty line: 64% (2001 estimate)
Gross Domestic Product per capita: $1,300 (2006 estimate)
Religions: Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1%
Languages: French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages
(From the World Factbook. Click here for more information on Mali.)
Mali-Fulbe
The Fulbe people group, also known as the Fulani, is a strongly Muslim group of cattle herders and farmers. After almost 20 years of CRWRC work, Fulbe villages maintain a number of programs on their own including child vaccinations and wood-conserving stoves. At the same time, CRWRC is helping women get cotton-spinning equipment to increase their income. In addition, about 100 Fulbe villages, scattered throughout Mali, have begun box libraries because they have seen the impact that literacy can have on their lives. These libraries include many booklets for beginning readers. Some very popular titles are: “AIDS Destroys Homes,” “Let’s Keep Our Children Healthy,” “What you want to know about Pregnancy and Childbirth,” “Malian Laws Affecting Cattle Herders,” “Mali and Democracy” and “Life of Abraham” (Genesis 12-24.) The New Testament was printed in the Fulbe’s language in 2006 and is available to villages who accept it into their libraries.
The US and Malian governments together with CRWRC are moving forward on the Millenium Challenge in one of the Fulbe village areas. This large aid initiative to meet Millenium Goals of cutting poverty should bring gardens and orchards to the Sahel. North American Christians have been advocating for Mali with the US government so that the program will be funded, and CRWRC collaborates to make sure benefits will go to those in real need and that corrupt officials can not take village land for themselves.
Organism de Developpement pour l'Esperance au Mali (ODES)
The Development Organization That Brings Hope To Mali (ODES) is a church-based non-government organization. Through CRWRC Support, ODES works to improve life in Mali through the following programs:
a) Income generation:
Groups of micro-businesses are formed and given workshops and opportunities for loans. Goups pay back the loans with interest and obligatory savings. ODES reports that ALL 210 participants have made a profit, to varying degrees. Many of the women have used their small profit to purchase needed food such as a sack or grain or rice for the family. Others have paid for their children’s education.
b) Justice:
Elected leaders, community officials, and village representatives are trained in topics such as decentralization, good governance, citizen rights and responsibilities and advocacy. They, in turn, do village level training.
c) Food Security:
Through a grant from the Canadian FoodGrains bank, ODES is working to increase food security through cereal banks and agricultural and income-generating activities.
d) Education
Children who have never attended school or who have dropped out, are receiving assistance from ODES to “fast track” themselves into the public education system.
Agence Evangelique de Developpment du Mali (AEDM)
AEDM is a Christian NGO working in the Mopti, Segou and Gao regions of Mali. Their work centers on education, health, micro-finance, environment and food security. They are not currently not a full partner of CRWRC, but are in the research and development stage of CRWRC’s partnership.
Association Malianne des Femmes des Eglises Protestantes (AMAFEP)
AMAFEP is the Malian Women’s Association of the Evangelical Protestant Churches. This volunteer association of women is working with CRWRC in Mali to fight against female genital mutilation (FGM) or Exicsion. AMAFEP seeks to stop excision within the Malian church, and to use the church as a vehicle to reach the rest of society.
It is estimated that 70 percent of the population of Mali lives in poverty, and most of the country is desert or semi-arid.
CRWRC is in the final year of a three-year CFGB funded project with their partner, ODES. This project is addressing chronic poverty and food insecurity in five villages impacting about 3875 individuals. The main activities involve training in various areas to make improvements to the agricultural work that people are already doing in order for it to be more profitable.
One part of this project is the development of cereal banks, where a community group will buy a crop shortly after harvest at a fair price and then sell it back to the farmer during the “hungry months” under the inflated market price. In this way, traders who make huge profits will be bypassed and the villagers will be able to have more food to eat.
CRWRC is also working with AEDM in the Bandiagra region, in response to the July 2007 flooding.
Winston and Berber Bosch
Winston is a Canadian working for CRWRC-Mali based out of Burlington, Canada. He and his wife Berber lived in Mali from 2003-2007. Winston and Berber have three children: Justus (age 4), Myka (age 2), and Isaac (age 2). Winston has a Masters degree in international development and is a consultant for various local organizations. Berber has a sociology degree and spends her time caring for their children. When not working or spending time with their young family they can be found mountain biking, playing squash and tennis. They are involved in a number of volunteer, community, and social functions.
EMAIL: wjbosch@mali.crwrc.org
Lynda Dykstra
Lynda is a Canadian who joined CRWRC-Mali in March, 2007. She has a Masters degree in International Affairs with a focus on economic development, and has previously worked in the Caribbean and eastern Africa. She is a consultant for various Malian organizations and works closely with the Mali-Fulbe box library program.
EMAIL: ldykstra@mali.crwrc.org
Robin & Zachary Entz
Robin and Zachary Heppner Entz joined the Mali CRWRC team in October, 2007. They are program consultants, working with the Fulani people who live in the Alatona region. Their work involves living in a Fulani village, encouraging new believers and helping the Fulani in this region negotiate many changes to their livelihoods. The government of Mali with the help of US funding, is constructing an irrigation project that will bring irrigatable land to the Fulani. The Entz`s will work together with the people as they transition to new land tenure systems and new farming systems. Both Robin and Zachary have degrees in International Development Studies and both of them have done sustainable agriculture internships.
EMAIL: rzheppnerentz@gmail.com
Chinyere Nwachukwu (Constituency Bridger) - Chinyere holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Development Studies (and a minor in Psyshology) from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI. She began working for CRWRC in June 2007 as a Constituency Bridger. This means that she is responsible for orienting all volunteers and visitors as they come into Mali/Nigeria. She will also be working closely with Constituencies in North America, and linking them with our partners in Mali and Nigeria, as well as facilitating communication between the two parties.
To read about Chi Chi's work, visit her blog. Email: cnwachuk@gmail.com
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