This project aims to improve access to education in nine areas of the Circle of Gourma Rharous in Mali.

Islamic Relief (IR) will also develop the quality of primary and informal education in these areas by providing equipment, constructing and rehabilitating schools, creating adult literacy programmes, training teachers and supporting school canteens.

The Circle of Gourma Rharous has the lowest economic status in the region of Timbuktu. Most of the population belong to pastoralist communities. These nomadic herdsmen raise livestock and grow basic crops to survive.

It is estimated that around 90% of Gourma Rharous’ population are illiterate. Difficult access to some schools, poor quality of teaching and low attendance rates are the three main reasons why many children miss out on an education.  

Since 1998 Islamic Relief has been working with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to support 18 school canteens in Gourma Rharous. The Education for All project is an expansion of this programme.

Project Objectives

To improve access to education in Rharous, Banikane, Hamzacoma, Bambara-Maoude, Haribomo, Ouinerdene, Inadiatafane and Gossi in Gourma Rharous. The project will also improve the quality of education in these areas.

Project Activities

• Constructing and rehabilitating classrooms and Development Education Centres;
• Providing equipment for schools and other education centres;
• Training teachers;
• Supporting school canteens in partnership with WFP, by providing food and kitchen utensils;
• Training schools to manage their canteens using reports and stock sheets;
• Providing administrative and financial training to school management committees;

"Islamic Relief is striving for a fairer world. Our mission is to help the poor and needy to live sustainable, self-reliant lives within safe and caring communities. Our work is guided and shaped by the core values of accountability, humanitarianism, neutrality and impartiality, inclusiveness, integrity and co-operation, all of which are also integral to the Islamic faith."
Dr Hany El Banna - Founder of Islamic Relief

Islamic Relief was established in 1984 and our unique approach is the result of these many years of hands-on experience.

1. Where possible we adopt a community partnership-based approach; encouraging community involvement, understanding and ownership of projects.
2. We run the majority of our field projects ourselves, giving us direct insight into the problems faced and how best to solve them.
3. We aim to empower those we help in order to achieve sustainable results.
4. Though our emergency response teams are quick to respond to emergencies around the world, we continue to support communities long after the initial media interest has died down.
5. We recruit staff locally to benefit from their local knowledge. This ensures that we are culturally sensitive and allows us to reach communities and areas other organisations cannot.
6. Where necessary we coordinate our work with other reputable aid agencies, local organisations and governments.

Millennium Development Goals

Islamic Relief is committed to the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which have been agreed by the world’s leading development institutions in an effort to meet the needs of the world’s poorest by the year 2015. 

The goals:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development

For more information about the MDGs, please visit: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/