Mali
Mali is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Size is just over 1,240,000 km² and it has a population of 14.5 million. The offical language is French. It's borders on the north reach deep into the middle of the Sahare desert. The majority of the people live in the southern region where the rivers Niger and Sénégal provide water.
ABC Children's aid has small operation in Mali, currently supporting 12 children from poor families in Timbuktu to go to school.
The Timbuktu of history
In its hey-day, Timbuktu was richer than London or Paris. 2/3 of all the world's gold passed through the markets of Timbuktu, making the city very rich. Timbuktu was Africa's fabled "City of Gold".
Around the riches grew up a great Islamic university, said to be the greatest in Africa, with over 50 000 students studying the Koran. Many of the Muslim priests who took Islam across North and West Africa and beyond were trained in Timbuktu.
The Timbuktu of today
Today Timbuktu is a shadow of its former self. Almost half of the current population of around 50 000 have no proper home. Instead, they live on waste-ground in make-shift dwellings made only of grass-mats or blankets draped over sticks.
ABC United Kindgom is supporting the children of ABC in Mali - if you live in the UK you can support a child in Mali through the website of ABC UK.
- Over 50% of the population live in tents and temporary accomodation
- Parts of Timbuktu are over 800 years old and contain some of Africa's most famous buildings
- Parts of Timbuktu are over 800 years old and contain some of Africa's most famous buildings
- Timbuktu is on the edge of the Sahara desert
- Locals estimate that because of poverty only 50% of children attend school
