United States Embassy in Mali
Press Statement
No: BAM2022-003 Bamako, Mali, March 24, 2022
Representatives of community associations from across Mali joined U.S. Ambassador Dennis B. Hankins for a ceremony marking the half-way point of the Ambassador’s Special Self-Help (SSH) Grants for 2021-22. The ceremony, which brought together the six recipients, served as a celebration of progress made thus far.
This year, six projects were selected for the Ambassador’s Special Self Help (SSH) Fund, equaling $60,000. The projects span a range of sectors – gardening, entrepreneurship training, small scale construction of a health center. The U.S. government and its partners are working from the far west to the far east of Mali. This year’s SSH projects reach five regions, with projects in Kayes, Timbuktu, Koulikoro, Mopti, and Gao.
The six SSH grants support local community projects that are achievable, sustainable, and improve the economic development and social conditions of the community. The Ambassador’s Special Self-Help program helps realize this vision by funding projects that aim to improve the lives of people within their own communities. While these projects are small in scale, they make a real difference in people’s lives.
Ambassador Hankins provided brief remarks describing the overall goals of the program and some past successes attributed to the program and presented each of the six representatives of the grantees with checks from the American people for the benefit of six Malian communities that are ready to assume the leadership necessary for a prosperous and secure Mali. Hankins commended the recipients for the leadership, courage and willingness to work within the framework of the Ambassador’s Self-Help program and serve as examples for their fellow citizens.
PROJECTS FUNDED:
1.Project “Battal Health Unit Renovation” by Association des Ressortissants de Battal et Sympathisants (ARBS). The project is based in Gao region and aims to rehabilitate the Battal Health Unit damaged by heavy rains and winds.
2.“Socio-professional reintegration of young nomad artisans in Timbuktu” by Association Nomade Agna. This project is in Timbuktu. It seeks to train unemployed and underemployed youth artisans in the Timbuktu municipal area in entrepreneurial and marketing skills.
3.This project ran by Jeka Baara is called “Women and Girls Sewing Project and is located in Kayes. The implementers aim to train 100 women and girls in sewing, embroidery and knitting to create income generating activities.
4. This project ran by Sourgou Farou is titled “Women Market Gardening Project” and located in Timbuktu. This project aims to grow fruits and vegetables on a two-hectare farm by the Dire women’s organization.
5.The “Chola Market Garden” by Cooperative Danaya is located in Koulikoro region. It aims to grow vegetables on a one-hectare plot in the village of Chola.
6.The Dassi Cotton Project” is ran by Tandana Foundation in Mopti region. The project aims to create a revolving fund, a trained leadership committee, and a building for storage and meeting for the women of Dassi.
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