Family Sponsorships

Helping Single Mothers Survive

Fatoumata Sanogo (46)

Non-resident children: Mahamadou Jaruma (26), Hawa Jaruma (24), Aminata Jaruma (22), Sekou Jaruma (20), Mariam Jaruma (9)
Resident children: Setou Traoré (18), Korotoum Traoré (16), Assata Keita (6)
Resident grandchildren: Setou's boy (2)
School: 9e grade - Setou, Korotoum, 1st grade - Assata
Village: Yirimadio
Sponsor: Robert & Daniela

Fatoumata married a close relative in Bamako and became his first wife. Years later they get divorced. Fatoumata then married her second husband and moved to San; she is his fourth wife. After just a little time, this husband dies, and so Fatoumata returned to Bamako with her children. Some time later, her first husband came back and married her a second time; this time she was his third wife. One day, his other wives burned Fatoumata's house. It goes to court, and the court decides to divorce Fatoumata from her husband because of the problems with the other wives. Fatoumata married her next husband, becoming his third wife, but he died after their first child already - in 2004, when their child was 8 months old. She's been alone since, earning money by selling food on the market.

Claire Coulibaly (~40)

Resident children: Sabéré Kamaté (13, m), Vrama Kamaté (11, m), Kanuya Kamaté (10, f)
School: 4th grade - Kanuya
Village: Yirimadio
Sponsor: Wolfgang & Christine

Claire's marriage was arranged by her parents. She was a little older than usual when she got married near San. She was her husband's only wife. After 15 years together her husband - having beaten her regularly - decided to kick her out. So Claire fled to her father's house with her daughter. When her father died around 2000, she moves to Bamako with her daughter where she raises her up by herself. Claire has no interest in getting married again. In the beginning of 2010 her two sons join her in Bamako as they're having a lot of trouble with their stepmother. Sabéré and Vrama are starting school now. Claire makes drinks to sell on the street to support herself and her children.

Assitan Doumbia (24/25)

Resident children: Bakary Doumbia (11), Fanta Doumbia (1,5)
School: 5th grade - Bakary
Village: Dara
Sponsor: Volker

Assitan got married around the age of 12 years and became her husband's first and only wife. When she got sick in 2009, the whole family moved to Dara to be closer to the city. Her husband started dealing with properties. When he sold one to several people, he went to prison for a few months. Since his release from prison, nobody has seen him again. Assitan supports herself by collecting wood and selling it on the street.

Aminata Kouyaté (45)

Non-resident children: Youma (22, f)
Resident children: Fodé (20, m, tile layer), Mamoudou (18, m), Noumountene (15, f)
Resident grandchildren: Salif Sidibé (7)
School: 9e grade - Mamoudou, Muslim school - Noumountene, 1st grade - Salif
Village: Yirimadio
Sponsor: Marlene

Aminata got married in Bamako at the age of 19. 2004 her husband died. She earns money as a traditional Malian story teller, and sells items on the street to fee her family and survive.