Sponsor a Child

Search for a Child
Back to Top
Who are the people?

Mali is one of the five least developed countries in the world. Rapid population growth, inconsistent rainfall, recurrent droughts, and the degradation of natural resources have contributed to a continuing decline in food production in the region. Countries in the Sahel region of West Africa, where Mali is located, are experiencing rapid desertification. What little vegetation is left is being rapidly cut down for building material and firewood or eaten by roaming livestock.

The population is comprised of five ethnic groups. Though French is the official language, 80 percent of the people speak Bambara. More than 80 percent of Malians work in agriculture, with the majority producing barely enough food to feed their own families, and another 10 percent are nomads.

Mali is plagued by frequent drought and insufficient food supplies. Of the 13.1 million residents, 63 percent live below the poverty line. Adult illiteracy is among the highest in the world, and infant and child mortality rates are also unusually high. Many children lack access to health care, safe water, education, and a stable food supply.

Child sponsorship is providing the necessities of a healthy life to Mali’s children and the hope of a better tomorrow to families who long to be self-sufficient.

What is it like to live there?

Mali is a landlocked country surrounded by Senegal, Mauritania, Algeria, Niger, and the Côte d' Ivoire. It was a French colony until winning independence in 1960. The country is located in the transitional zone between the Sahara desert to the north and tropical Africa to the south. It has only two seasons: the rainy season, from June to September, and the dry season, from October to May.


 
Country Statistics 
Population13.5 million
Land Mass 471,042 sq. miles
Life Expectancy49 years
Infant Mortality Rate120 / 1,000
Literacy Rate19%
School Enrollment39%
Access to Safe Water50%
Average Annual Income (GNI per capita)US$380
 
 
Three-quarters of the land in Mali, which is the second largest country in Africa, is covered by the ever-expanding desert. Mali means, “where the king resides,” referring to the country’s rich, ancient culture. At one time the “Empire of Mali” included almost all of West Africa.

The growing Sahara desert also has affected the habitats of many native animals such as giraffes, gazelles, and elephants, which have been forced to migrate in search of steady food supplies.

In rural Mali, many parents arrange the marriages of their children, who may marry at a very young age.

To help Malians build brighter futures for their children, sponsorship offers access to safe water and improved nutrition, agricultural training, health care, education, and assistance in starting small businesses.

How You Can Pray for Your Sponsored Child
  • Pray that your sponsored child might respond to God’s love and grace.
  • Ask God to guide your sponsored child as he or she learns, grows, and moves toward a future full of hope and possibilities.
  • Pray for God to protect the health of your sponsored child and his or her family.
Print Page
E-mail Article
Back to Top

Newsletter Sign-Up

World Vision
Phone: 1-888-511-6548
P.O. Box 9716
Federal,WA 98063-9716
© 2009 World Vision Inc.