Current ProjectsFebruary 2007
Mini-grant #1: The Women's Association of Niana Sobala in the Segou region. They are an amazing group of women with great initiative, aspirations, solidarity, and skills. We were glad to provide them with $100 (50,000 CFA) as seed money to create a micro-credit system which they administer themselves. The money is not to be repaid to ECOVA MALI; it will stay in their hands and grow as they take out loans and repay them to their own association with a small amount of interest. Soon we will post a report of how things are going with this project.
Micro-loan #1: We provided a micro-loan of $200 (100,000 CFA) to the family of Madou Diakite. He and his family are exceptionally skilled gardeners and manage an incredible river-side garden. When we saw them, they needed the loan to pay for repairs to their water pump, a resource that is critical to the success of their garden. Once the pump is repaired he and his family will be able to resume full production in his phenomenal garden. His agricultural expertise is well known in the region and he is slated to become one of ECOVA MALI's first trainers. Madou also took the initiative to provide some space within his fenced-in garden to a local women's association to whom he also offers access to irrigation from his pump. Project List
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We returned to Mali to visit our many friends and spend time in the villages where we lived as Peace Corps Volunteers. During our stay, we provided our very first micro loan and mini-grants. 
Mini-grant #2: We provided a mini-grant of $225 (110,000 CFA) to Djakari Djan Dembele for the urgently-needed purchase of a new fishing-net. Djakari is a fisherman by trade and his most valuable possession is his fishing net. With it he provides nourishment and income for his entire family. These nets are very expensive by Malian standards and due to some extremely difficult circumstances, Djakari could not afford one on his own. The Bani-fin is a river that flows through his village of Koro-Bada. The local fishermen have all noticed the decline in fish populations from over-fishing and pollution. Djakari is very interested in aquaculture, and we hope to match him with a Malian trainer so he can learn this valuable skill. Once he has mastered this skill we will be able to hire him to train other Malians. It is in this way that we intend to maximize the long-term impact of ECOVA MALI sponsored training efforts.