From survival to success

Naimatou Dembélé, a mother and grandmother, lives in the small village of Konobougou, 140 km from Bamako, Mali's capital. There, she ran a small stall, selling galettes, a local delicacy that she cooked every day with love and dedication. However, despite all her efforts, she was struggling to make ends meet. 

Life was difficult for Naimatou, as she not only had to ensure that her grandchildren could be cared for when they fell ill, that they had enough to eat, but also that they received a decent education. School fees were a considerable financial burden for her, and she sometimes feared that she would have to take her grandchildren out of school to help the family earn money.  

A glimmer of hope 

Naimatou participated in the joint program "Responding to the covid-19 pandemic through shock-sensitive social protection systems", which is financially supported by the German Ministry for Development Cooperation (BMZ) and the German Development Bank (KFW). This brought a glimmer of hope into Naimatou's life. The program’s team selected  her village for a pilot initiative aimed at helping the most vulnerable families. Naimatou had heard about it, but never imagined it would change her life.  

The change 

With the help of cash transfers provided by UNICEF as part of the joint program, Naimatou's life began to change. She was able to buy better quality ingredients for her galettes, which increased her sales. She was also able to enroll her grandchildren in school without financial worries. For her, the smiles on the children's faces were the biggest joyr.  

But that wasn't all, Naimatou had a dream for many years, a dream she had thought unattainable: to build a cement house for herself and her family. Thanks to her ncome-generating activity, her dream became a reality. Little by little, she saved enough to buy the necessary materials and hire local workers to build the house. Every day, she saw her new house taking shape, and with it a sense of security and stability she had never known before. Naimatou confided to us: "I have become very independent and my grandchildren are happy, their well-being is my greatest pride". 

Naimatou's life is now filled with hope and optimism. She is no longer alone in her fight for her family. UNICEF's support has not only improved her financial situation, but also strengthened her self-confidence and her determination to offer her grandchildren a better future.  

Naimatou is an example of perseverance and resilience for her community. She proves that, even in the face of the most severe difficulties, there is always hope. Thanks to her love for her family and the help of the joint cash transfer program, she  transformed her life and that of her grandchildren. Her story continues to inspire future generations to believe in a better future.