To date, revolving funds have been initiated in the 25 villages of Mandé commune.
Sustainability is a priority and USAID Mali Selected Integrated Reading (SIRA) is setting up revolving funds to improve access to educational materials even after the project has ended. The Mansacɛsirijala (Family-School Link Booklet) is a USAID SIRA tool for parents who want to help their children learn reading and writing at home. Until now, the popular booklet has been provided free of charge to the families of students in grades 1 and 2 since the project began in 2016.
As the project nears completion, SIRA has been working with school management committees (SMC) to establish revolving funds that build on project investments to subsidize booklets into the future. As an example, the Education Commission (CEC) of Samanko, Mandé commune, organized a general assembly with the 25 SMCs in the Commune to discuss the principle of promotional sales, set the price of the booklets, and define roles in this initiative. Upon returning to their respective communities, each SMC in turn, organized debriefing sessions followed by the sale of booklets. Funds from this sale will serve to purchase booklets for next year’s first and second grade families.
The President of the SMC and the Director of the Samanko primary school emerged as strong advocates for sustainability. USAID SIRA had already set up a community library (Yeelenkɛne) in Samanako in response to the high-level leadership there and to acknowledge the productive engagement by the SMC, the education committee and the community at large.
"Two months ago, we discussed the Mansacɛsirijala in the presence of the SMC presidents of the 25 villages in the Commune. Unanimously, a decision was made to sell the booklets at 250 F CFA each. To date, 70% of the booklets made available to us have been sold. Many parents have told us that this tool allows them to monitor their children’s learning at home. We are so pleased," said Lassina Ouédraogo, President of the State Civil Commission for the town hall of the rural commune of Mandé.
"I use the booklet regularly with my son Daouda Diarra who is a first grader. I see that he is already able to recognize vowels. I also encourage him to go to the Yeelenkɛne to read, write and play. I frequently pick him up and take him there. I see that he has interest in these unique activities." - Aya Diarra, parent of a Samanko student
The SMC, with the help of SIRA staff and community volunteers and the school director organized an informal training for parents to teach them how to use the booklet. The Presidents of the SMC and the CEC, along with the SIRA Chief of Party, addressed an audience including a large number of parents who engaged in practical exercises using the booklet and had fun putting on sketches with their children to illustrate best practices for using the booklet at home.
Sustainability is always a challenge, but with innovative thinking, engaged communities willing to invest in education, and partnerships that deliver, USAID SIRA is building for the future. We are best represented by the voices of our partners and the people of Mandé have spoken.
"The majority of students’ parents including myself were reluctant about having our children learn to read in Bamanankan. After further awareness-raising on SIRA’s reading and writing approach, we observed improvements in our children’s reading and writing competencies confirming the quality of this approach. The booklet provides parents the opportunity to ensure close monitoring of their children’s learning. The revolving funds will promote the sustainability of the activity. We are very satisfied with SIRA,” Djibril Diakite, SMC President, Samanko Primary School.
Photo credit: SIRA