about us
A Child For All (ACFA) is a dedicated US-based nonprofit committed to the holistic development of vulnerable children in Mali.
Through comprehensive programs encompassing education, safe shelter, nutrition, and healthcare, the organization empowers vulnerable children to reach their full potential. By providing a nurturing and supportive environment, ACFA ensures that every child receives the essential tools and opportunities needed to thrive and build a brighter future.
ACFA BEGINNINGS
MEET our founder
Kadiatou Fatima Sidibe
FOUNDER & CEO
Kadiatou was born and raised in Bamako, Republic of Mali by a single father. She earned a Masters in Statistics and Economics from the Moscow University of Statistics and Economics in 1994, an MBA with concentration in Non Profit Organization Management from the George Washington University in 2008, and an MS in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University in 2012. She served in the United States Navy as a Supply Corps Officer for over 20 years. She has always wanted to do something to help Malian orphans and vulnerable children, and founded A Child For All to materialize her dream.
When I was growing up in Bamako, Mali, we were relatively better off than many. My father used to take both my brother and I on a motorcycle. All of Bamako knew us and we were referred to as "The elder Sidibe and his two children on a motorbike".
We often saw children begging for food on the street. I used to say to myself "Why don't they go to school instead of being on the street?” As I grew older, I realized that you don't just go to school because you want to. You have to be able to afford it: you have to have a roof above your head, food in your stomach, clothes to be decent, be healthy, money to pay for your schooling and parents who can take care of you.
ACFA was incorporated in March 2008 during my final year of the MBA program while still serving in the US military. The financial crisis at the time made it very difficult to raise funds for the children. By January 2010, we had a Board of Directors but with only less than $5,000 in the ACFA account, we certainly didn’t have enough funds to take in children.
But again, the lives of vulnerable children don’t wait and I had to do something. In February 2010, I went to Bamako, Mali and asked my father to donate his house for the purpose of opening a home for vulnerable children. He had already retired, and being the great man he was, he happily agreed. So he moved to his farm and I used my own savings to renovate the house. I came back to the US and announced to the Board that we no longer had to worry about paying rent. Thus, in June 2010, my father's 3 bedroom house, where I grew up, became Bamako Children’s Home for ACFA and we welcomed our 11 little vulnerable children. The children are now teenagers and still live there.
In 2020, we expanded to five acres in the village of Zorokoro and created the Zorokoro Children’s Complex to take in more vulnerable children.
-Kadi
our partners
our operations team in mali
Amadou O. Traore
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Amadou joined ACFA with a large field experience in community development, management of education programs and adult training. With over 30 years of field experience, he has managed various programs with organizations such as Peace Corps, Save the Children, Buildon, Intervida, OXFAM, and USAID in Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso. Previously, Mr. Traore served as the Education Policy and Strategy Advisor at USAID/Mali, engaging in policy dialogue with the Ministry of National Education and coordinating the Ministry's ten-year education development plan (PRODEC 2) with donor partners. Amadou is a graduate of the prestigious 'Ecole Normale Superieure' teacher training school in Bamako and holds a degree in English for Specific Purposes from the Monterey Institute for International Studies (MIIS) in California.
Zoumana Bagayoko
FINANCIAL DIRECTOR
Zoumana Bagayoko has managed ACFA’s daily operations in Mali since the organization’s inception in 2008. Zoumana’s duties include daily administrative management, implementing the Board of Directors’ policies and reporting back to the Board on matters that require input, managing finances and human resources, and working closely with local partner organizations and official authorities. Zoumana additionally manages the finances of the Malian operations while working closely with ACFA’s various staff members. Zoumana holds a Master’s degree in Information System Management from the University of Bamako and a Professional Certificate in Banking Technology.
mali staff
Yacouba Siaka Togola, Assistant Director of Operations
Dramane D. Diarra, Education Assistant
Masama Edmond Tchindo, Assistant Accountant/Librarian
Aminata Diarra, Assistant Cook
Mariam Kampo, Cook and Cleaning Support
US support
Ambar Atta, Philanthropy and Operations Coordinator
Carrie Blake, Grant Writer
Mali staff (mothers)
Sétou Diarra, Child Care Mother
Aissata Coulibaly, Child Care Mother
Nièba Coulibaly, Child Care Mother
Tenimba Traore, Child Care Mother
Khadiatou Coulibaly, Child Care Mother
Mariam Issa Koné, Child Care Mother
Maimouna Diarra, Child Care Mother
Educators
Kadiatou Bengaly, Kindergarten Teacher
Mariam Samake, Kindergarten Teacher
Farima Coulibaly, Kindergarten Teacher
Sekou Diakite, Primary Teacher
Togora Seydou, Primary Teacher
Board of Directors
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Lisa Savitt is a lawyer based in Washington, DC. She practices international law and is licensed in Washington, DC, Pennsylvania and New York. She is also qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales. Lisa works for a woman-owned law firm. She is also the past chair of the American Bar Association Section of International Law and is on the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative Board. Her husband Mike is a physicist. He also has a Master’s in Public Health and has worked on a project on malaria prevention. Lisa and Mike have traveled to East Africa and Lisa visited Mali in 2018 and met the ACFA children and visited the Zorokoro Children’s Complex.
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Rebecca Gelinas is a fundraising operations professional with more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit arena. After working for several years in the museum and international aid sectors, she began her own consulting firm, Rebecca Gelinas Consulting, in 2014. In this role she advises NGOs on donor CRM strategies and best practices, and also manages a small team that provides gift entry and other data services for nonprofit organizations. Rebecca holds a BA degree in Political Science from Illinois State University and an MA in Human Rights Practice from University of Arizona. She lives in Arlington, VA, with her husband Robert and their 8 rescue animals.
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Lauren Rava is a public policy professional at Johnson & Johnson, where she drives internal knowledge strategies and tools supporting priority initiatives and elevating institutional knowledge. In addition, she comes to ACFA with more than eight years in healthcare payment policy, communications, and public affairs. She has a MPP with a concentration in Health Policy from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and a BA in Political Science from Rutgers University. Lauren lives in New Jersey with her husband Dan and dog Bean.
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Sabrina Kidane is an experienced professional in market research and brings a wealth of expertise across a diverse set of industries. As a research manager, she is dedicated to delivering insightful research findings that meet clients' expectations. Driven by a desire to make a positive impact, she exemplifies a strong commitment to philanthropy through active involvement in volunteer work. Her travel experiences have provided her with a valuable global perspective, enhancing her understanding of international issues and cultural insights. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Towson University.
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Vernon Johnson is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) based in Washington, DC. He supports Accounting Firms as a consultant in accounting, auditing, risk management and audit quality matters. He is licensed in Washington, DC. Vernon currently works for Johnson Global Advisory as a Director. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Berea College (in Berea, KY) and a master’s in business administration (MBA) from Eastern Kentucky university (in Richmond, KY). Vernon is married to Daphne, and they have 3 children ages 13(Son), 11(Daughter), and 9(Son). Vernon was born in Sierra Leone, West Africa and immigrated to the USA in 1999. His interests include improving and developing the lives of people and communities in need around the world, traveling, and outdoor grilling.
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Rokiatou N’Diaye is a former Senior Program Planning and Budget Specialist at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Mali, Mrs Dante Rokiatou N’Diaye has worked in the field of development for more than two decades. With her financial background, she played many important roles in the development world including being a fervent advocate for gender equity and women empowerment, Participant Training Coordinator, Chief Financial Administrator, Project Accountant, Project Administrator and more. In 2009, she joined Toastmasters International, a voluntary organization aimed at developing leadership and public speaking skills. From a simple dream of being able to speak in public, she discovered many hidden talents during this journey that have led her to take on various management positions, all filled with passion and excellence. She found herself 10 years later at the head of this organization to serve as District 94 Director covering 14 countries in West Africa and Cameroon. Currently Past District Director and retired from USAID Mali, Rokiatou's ambition is to give back what she received as help, support and knowledge from life in general, and is the reason why she volunteered to serve as a Board member of ACFA.
Watch Kadiatou and our board speak about ACFA.
