Kita, Mali!

Welcome to Kita

Kita is one of the poorest communities in Mali. Remote and rural, it offers almost no modern conveniences for families, no clinics nearby, no wells or established schools. Half the population lives in extreme poverty on less than a dollar a day, while life expectancy is 54 years and child mortality rates are among the highest in the world.

But with your support, this picture is changing. Through sustainable investments in education, health, clean water and nutrition, children and families are getting access to the basic tools they need to escape poverty.

Community-led change is at the heart of what we do. We invest in infrastructure, like schools, clinics, and wells, but above all we invest in people, ensuring that they are driving their own development, today and for generations to come.

Facts about Kita

Education

Less than

10%

of the population has access to early childhood education

Health

Average distance to nearest healthcare centre is

15km

Water

40%

of the population has no access to water, sanitation or hygiene services

Nutrition

19%

of infants are born moderately to severely underweight

Why Kita, Mali?

Location: Covering 35,000 sq km in western Mali
People: 54% of the population lives on less than $1.25 per day.
Main subsistence: Farming
Impact reach: Over 80,000 men, women and children

Challenges and Project initiatives

Less than 10% of the population has access to early childhood education
20% of children do not enrol in primary school
Primary school completion rates are low at 48% (male 52%, female 44%).

IMPROVE ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION

In a community where only 25% of youth can read and write, education is a top priority. Local schools are in poor shape, which directly contributes to the low enrolment rates, so with your help we are investing in new training for teachers and the construction and renovation of schools – complete with things like kitchens, water pumps, latrines, furniture, teaching materials, and indoor and outdoor play equipment.

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH

The challenges
Our project initiatives

Average distance to nearest healthcare centre is 15 km
Access to maternal and child health care is inadequate, leading to a high infant mortality rate (176 deaths per 1000 live births) and maternal mortality rate (540 deaths per 100,000 live births)
50% take place at home without a skilled health professional.

STRENGTHEN MATERNAL AND INFANT HEALTH CARE

It’s hard to imagine, but 50% of all births here take place at home without a skilled health attendant. That’s why we’re training health workers and supporting the upgrade of local clinics with solar energy, obstetrics equipment, and birthing centres. We’re also improving child health through school-based vaccination, hygiene and nutrition programs.

NUTRITION

The challenges
Our project initiatives

Typical diet is rice and millet (a grain)
19% of infants are born moderately to severely underweight
74% of pregnant mothers and 82% of children under 5 are anemic.

KEEP CHILDREN HEALTHY THROUGH NUTRITION PROGRAMS

When 75% of mothers and young children are anemic, improving nutritional status is an urgent priority. We’re helping the community create monthly screening programs, recovery centres, and nutritional education programs to ensure that no child is overlooked and every mother knows the signs of malnutrition, and what to do about it, before it compromises the health of her family.

WATER AND SANITATION

The challenges
Our project initiatives

40% of the population has no access to water, sanitation or hygiene services
Average distance to the nearest water pump is 12 km
Diarrhea accounts for 18% of child death under the age of 5.

PROVIDE CLEAN WATER

Severely inadequate access to clean water and sanitation makes children vulnerable to the leading causes of child mortality – hepatitis A, cholera and diarrhea – which is why we’re helping the community install water pumps, construct latrines and develop community-led sanitation programs, with a focus on water points at local schools and clinics.

See how your support is changing lives

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A large group of students holding thank you signs in front of their new school

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