During our 2015 annual visit, when we met with the Director and teachers to gather their input and ideas of how best to support them and Siraba School students, they told us that the beginning of each school year was a challenge because they had to spend a great deal of time reviewing work covered the prior year. The school year in Mali tends to end in either May or June, and not begin again until October, so that children can help their parents farm during the short growing season. Siraba School classes continue through June, but even that 3 month gap until the next year began was problematic. The teachers asked if we could help support a summer program. We discussed this idea with the Dagabo School Committee, who agreed to help promote the concept to families – as long as we could also accommodate the families’ need for their children’s help during the summer farming season.

In 2015 we funded a summer program led by 3 teachers (Adja, the Director, and Adja’s husband Adama, who teaches high school in Ouéléssébougou). After a month break for Ramadan and to help their families with the harvest, the students returned for summer school in August. At least half of our students attended classes (2 days during the week, 1 on the weekend). Adama also held a class 1-day each week in math, physics, and chemistry for our graduates who are now in Middle School. The students appreciated the extra guidance, and the teachers reported much improvement at the start of the next school year. We hope that with continued support from our donors we will be able to fund a regular summer school program at Siraba School from now on.