Safe Shelter
ACFA operates two homes for children in Mali: the Bamako Children’s Home in the capital city of Bamako and the Zorokoro Children’s Complex in the village of Zorokoro.
Our approach to providing safe shelter is holistic, addressing not only the physical needs of the children but also their emotional and social needs. Our team of dedicated professionals works closely with local communities and partners to ensure that our homes for the children are safe, nurturing, and provide supportive environments where children can grow and flourish.
the Bamako Children’s Home
ACFA-Mali opened the Bamako Children’s Home in 2010 in the capital city of Bamako. This simple 3-bedroom house was the childhood home of ACFA’s founder, Kadiatou (Kady) Sidibe. Kady’s own father graciously donated his home to help us launch so that we could quickly start supporting at-risk children. Like many startups, funds were short in our initial years, so this donation arrived at a pivotal moment in ACFA’s history.
Over the course of thirteen years, we have been able to provide a true home for our ACFA children, helping to create beautiful childhood memories for kids who had experienced unimaginable trauma prior to coming to ACFA.
the Zorokoro Children’s Complex
With so many more vulnerable children in Mali in need of a safe place to live and a secure future, ACFA Founder Kadiatou Sidibe and her husband donated 5 acres of land to ACFA. Located in the village of Zorokoro, Koulikoro just outside the capital city of Bamako, this land is the current site of our active Zorokoro Children’s Complex construction project.
Our vision for this complex includes:
a dormitory to house up to 100 vulnerable children;
a school for grades K through 9;
a healthcare clinic;
a library and state of the art computer lab;
an administrative building;
a dining facility; and
a sports complex.
The first part of the dormitory has been completed and we now have toddlers ages 3-6 years old living in the dormitory and being cared for by our staff. Our school opened with two buildings in 2020 and our library and computer lab building is almost finished.
help us expand the zorokoro children’s complex and reach our goal of sheltering 100 children
why safe shelters are integral to our work
Homelessness can have a devastating impact on a child's development and well-being. Children living on the streets are exposed to countless dangers, including violence, abuse, and exploitation. They are also at a higher risk of malnutrition, illness, and disease.
By providing homeless children in Mali with a safe home, we can help protect them from these dangers and provide them with a stable environment in which they can thrive. Safe shelter provides children with a sense of security and stability, allowing them to focus on their education, health, and overall well-being.
Nearly 44% of the population of Mali lives below the national poverty line.
This means about 1 in 2 children in Mali are impoverished
More than 6,000 children beg on the streets of the capital city of Bamako, Mali.
About 1 in 3 children do not attend school in Mali due to lack of access.