Soroptimist International Foundation: SI Club Lumière, Mali

Soroptimist International Foundation partnered with SI Lumière, Bamako, in Mali, West Africa, to support a transformative project with £41,000 from the Educating Women from War-Torn Countries Fund. Made possible by a generous contribution from SI Taiwan, this funding helped educate, empower and enable 100 displaced women and girls who fled violence and unrest in northern Mali. The initiative focused on restoring hope and opportunity through learning and skills development, creating pathways to stability and self-reliance.
The project took place in the Bamako District, where displaced women and girls face significant educational and economic barriers. The first two months of the initiative focused on literacy, helping participants gain essential reading and writing skills in the Bambara language. The following four months provided training in agri-food processing, including techniques for preparing and preserving local products such as millet, corn, and ginger. Participants also learned cost calculation, hygiene, and packaging skills.
The final phase supported the formation of women-led cooperatives, equipping each participant with a start-up kit to launch their business. The programme also raised awareness about gender-based violence, helping women build confidence and knowledge to protect themselves and others.
On 14 September 2024, a celebration was held in Bamako to mark the successful completion of the training. All 100 women passed assessments in literacy, food production and cooperative management, receiving certificates and the kits they needed to begin their enterprises. The event received significant national media coverage and SI Club Lumière continued to support the cooperatives over the following three months.