Fundraising for advancing education in West Africa

Hi, my name is Ariana Sobhani and I am running the Victoria Park Half Marathon to raise money for advancing education in Western Africa.

Mali, one of the poorest countries in the world, faces significant challenges due to widespread conflict and limited resources. With a national literacy rate of only 35% (and a mere 24% among women), the need for quality education is more urgent than ever. Unfortunately, the Malian government struggles to provide adequate free schooling, leading to a reliance on independent schools that must adhere to central regulations.

I am mainly fund raising for "The Brilliant Star" primary school, a beacon of hope managed by the dedicated Malian and Cameroonian leadership team of Mr. and Mrs. Yem. This school is primarily funded through contributions from community and Malian benefactors, small parental fees, and profits from their other, more affluent schools.

The Brilliant Star is committed to fostering integration among different ethnic and religious groups, serving the community, and prioritising girls' education. Despite their minimal equipment and furnishings, the school has dedicated trained teachers and a supportive community of educators, students, and families. These families make tremendous sacrifices to send their children to school instead of having them work to support the family financially. The subsidised school fees are £10 per month per child, a sum that many families cannot afford. To address this, when funds allow, the school provides some scholarships to ensure that orphans or the very poor have the opportunity to learn.

Another programme I am mainly fundraising for is Starfish International in The Gambia (https://starfishinternational.org/). Starfish International is a non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing education and empowering girls and young women, enabling them to become agents of change and positive contributors to their society. They do this by providing after school extra classes and skills building for employment, as well as college and university training to girls able and willing. As little as $10 a month covers one schoolgirl’s basic tuition. Both these programmes demonstrate the immense significance and transformative potential that education holds in West Africa, where in the UK it is something that we often take for granted.

My involvement in fundraising for the schools began recently through working with Dr. Semira Manaseki-Holland, who manages the MaaCiwara Project (https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/applied-health/research/maaciwara-study), the University of Birmingham's maternal-child health initiative in Mali. Since 2019, Semira has visited Mali 9 times, several times for months living with local Malian families, and there has since been 10 workshops, hundreds of donated toys, books and stationery and £4590 has been donated to the schools. These advancements have already had such a tremendous impact on the schools, and Semira has witnessed firsthand the transformative power of education in these communities, demonstrating that every contribution, no matter how small, brings us closer to a brighter future for the children of Mali.

To support this vital cause, I am running the Victoria Park Half Marathon on the 9th of June. Any donations made would be highly appreciated and will directly contribute to the education and future of the children of West Africa, helping to break the cycles of poverty and conflict through the power of learning.

Please join me in making a difference, thank you for your generosity and support.