Young people in Timbuktu Get involved in promoting Essential Family Practices (EFP)

On an ordinary day in the streets of the Hamabangou neighborhood in Timbuktu, Alassane Touré and his friends receive an unusual visit at their “Grin,” known as “Rue Sainte.” This visit adds something new to the group’s daily activities, which usually include discussions on Essential Family Practices (EFP).

“We usually discuss many topics during our gatherings, but this time I found the subject especially interesting,” says Alassane, a member of the “Grin Rue Sainte.” “Today, we had the opportunity to welcome people who came to speak to us about the importance of school and girls’ education in our society. It helped us better understand how crucial education is and how it can transform the lives of our sisters and our community as a whole,” he explains. “We, in turn, will raise awareness among those who didn’t have the chance to join these discussions,” he adds.

Among today’s visitors is Mohamed Elkhamiss, a member of the WhatsApp group Alafia batou,” a platform dedicated to raising awareness about Essential Family Practices (EFP). This group was created as part of the activities implemented under the Project to Support Financing, Entrepreneurship, and Employment in Mali (PAFEEM), in collaboration with UNICEF.

Mohamed Elkhamiss recalls how the idea for the WhatsApp group first came about. These groups were established as part of activities led by the partner NGO CIAUD Canada. Their main goal is to create a space for young people to exchange ideas and promote Essential Family Practices. “After being selected for the project, we came together to see how we could contribute to promoting the EFP. After several hours of discussion, we came up with the idea of creating the WhatsApp group Alafia batu of Timbuktu,” Mohamed explains. “As part of the PAFEEM project, there was training in photography and audiovisual production. During that training, ten young people were identified and chosen to engage in promoting Essential Family Practices,” he adds.

Trained to inform and raise awareness about EFP, Mr. Cissé and his colleagues visit young people in their neighborhoods. Discussions take place in small groups on topics chosen with the consent of the participants. The conversations from these awareness sessions are sometimes shared on the Alafia Batu platform to reach as many young people as possible. “In this group, we discuss topics related to Essential Family Practices such as child education, health, and human rights. With participants’ consent, we share the discussions and reports from our sessions on the platform to reach a wider audience,” says Mohamed.

Speaking about the impact of these awareness sessions, Alassane recalls that they discussed several aspects of children’s education in Malian society, with a particular focus on the Timbuktu region. “Education is a right for every child, and this message really resonated with everyone. Each member of the ‘Rue Sainte’ Grin shared examples that highlighted the importance of education,” Alassane continues.

Since 2012, Mali has faced a challenging political and security situation whose effects continue to weigh on the country’s economy and could, in the long term, hinder public policy outcomes. To respond to this situation, the government has launched several initiatives, including the establishment of the Project to Promote Access to Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Employment in Mali (PAFEEM). The project aims to support the Malian Government’s efforts to meet the challenges of financial inclusion, financing for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and job creation.

This objective aligns fully with the National Strategy for Emergence and Sustainable Development (SNEDD 2024–2033), which implements the vision “Mali Kura ɲɛtaasira ka bɛn san 2063 ma,” in accordance with its third pillar, “Structural Transformation of the Economy and Growth.” PAFEEM’s activities are structured around five components, including Component 3, “Support for Income-Generating Activities (IGAs) and Job Creation,” implemented with operational support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).