Mali – SOS Social Centres

In Mali there are currently four Social Centres for children and the local community, including one in Socoura.  Many SOS Social Centres operate via Family Strengthening Programmes, which aim to support the wider community.  Below is some information about the Social Centre in Socoura that SOS Children runs in Mali:

SOS Social Centres around Mali: In-Depth

Socoura

Description of SOS Social Centre/FSP:

In view of the poverty that prevails outside the SOS Children's Village and beyond, an SOS Social Centre was opened in Socoura in June 2005, the main target of which is to support needy families. The offer, from which 36 families (150 children and 116 adults) currently benefit, also includes school grants and the funding of agricultural equipment and livestock to create an income as well as literacy courses for adults and training courses for women and young people. Moreover, health consultations will be carried out and people will be given food or assisted in putting together self-help programmes.

Work and Achievements:

There are presently 3 FSP villages which are Diondiori, Socoura and Takouti and all located in the rural commune of Socoura. There are also 350 direct recipients and 144 indirect recipients. The package is always composed of: cleaning products (soap and detergent), nutritional support (Guigoz and Cerelac Blédina) for children from 0 to 2 years and food support for 03 families consisting of rice and millet. SC2 and the community maintain a good partnership. SC2 of Socoura has now got a Program Officer and an Assistant.

350 children and 78 families currently benefit from various supports of SC2 / Socoura.

22 families successfully withdrew from SC2 among them 03 in 2007 and 19 in 2008.

Actions undertaken for the benefit families:

     -    Organization of training sessions on various topics according to the needs of recipients: IGA management, new agricultural techniques, policies on child rights, dyeing and soap making;

     -    Implementation of  Education Information and Communication sessions on health topics including: malaria, domestic accidents, family planning etc.. ...

      -    Literacy of 97 learners composed mainly of women in the program divided as follows: Socoura 46, Diondiori 31, and Takouti 20.