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Mali

Save the Children Canada – Mali
Tel : +223 21 0779
Fax: +223 21 0176
E-mail: savethechildren@africaonline.net.ml
Contact Name: Salia Kante

Organisation of Activities

Our Child-to-Child activities began in 1998. They are implemented through partner organisations and associations which are working in the domain of survival, education, protection, health promotion and participation. They are local voluntary organisations with attached protection centres, schools, and sanitation and health centres. The national office of Save the Children Canada provides the funding for our activities. In the case of our sex and reproductive education project, Reproductive Health and Child Survival, a partner organisation provides the funding for our activities. From March 2000, we have been promoting the implementation of the Child-to-Child approach in health promoting schools.

About 6,500 children are involved in the programme, most being situated in schools or pre-schools in urban and rural areas. Approximately 1,250 children are based in associations. The number of adults involved in the programme is 22. They are teachers based in the schools, and animators based in the associations. The children are aged between 4 and 18 years of age. They include both boys and girls. Our activities are framed so as to include any child. We therefore work with disadvantaged and marginalised children, and children with special needs. These include disabled children, street children, working children and children in institutions.

Main Purpose of the Child-to-Child Activities

Our main aims are:

1. To improve children's participation to eradicate barriers to children's participation;

2. To link children's learning in schools with learning in the wider environment, e.g., home and community;

3. To link the child's learning with the child's life;

4. To generally strengthen the relationships between children and their environment.

In addition to the above, we are also very much interested in promoting gender issues, inclusive education and the rights of the child through our activities.

How Child-to-Child Activities are Introduced and Children's Participation

At the heart of our philosophy is our commitment to children taking an active role in the formulation and implementation of activities. In this regard, the teachers and animators play a guiding role, facilitating children's development of ideas for activities. Consequently, children are very much encouraged to think for themselves and make their own decision about their health and their rights. Some of the methods that we use to achieve this level of participation are:

1. Asking questions (oral and written);

2. Tests;

3. Meetings and discussions;

4. Utilizing written records;

5. Observation;

6. Using photographs, video, pictures and maps. We also use the Child-to-Child six-step approach. Sometimes the children find it strange that they are given so much responsibility for making the decisions about activities. The teachers also sometimes find it strange that they only facilitate in these activities. However, generally speaking, the approach has worked very well for us. In our activities we want to ensure that children are taught well and that Child-to-Child is more than just 'child-centred learning' or 'peer learning'.

School-based Child-to-Child Activities

Our school-based activities are part of a health-promoting school initiative. Ten schools are currently involved. As far as a school health plan is concerned, we have a small sanitation and hygiene plan.

Parents and community facilitate the participation of children in various ways. Both have a positive attitude towards our activities.

Monitoring and Evaluation of Child-to-Child Activities

We do have a system for monitoring and evaluating our Child-to-Child activities, which includes the involvement of children. One way is children questioning other children to test how much knowledge they have gained as a result of the activities.

Training

Children, teachers and members of partner organisations all receive training. Training is provided by Erin Smith (of Save the Children Canada - see separate entry in this Directory) and myself (Salia Kante). The content of training is based on the Child-to-Child six-step approach, and games, etc.

Use, Adaptation, Translation and Production of Child-to-Child Materials

The materials we use are made by the Save the Children Canada office in Toronto and Ottawa. We also use material produced by the Child-to-Child Trust. Additionally, we have developed our own materials in a local language of Mali. Finally, we have produced a video.

Date: 2001. Updated information awaited.
Source: CtC Website Directory 2000