Mariam: determined to return to school despite child marriage
Despite being married at 15, Mariam is back in school, determined to finish her studies, fight gender inequality and create a better future for her family.
Plan International Mali
Plan International stands with girls to remove barriers, save lives, and build a world where equality for girls means progress for all.
In Mali, girls face greater risks and fewer choices. Deep rooted inequalities deprive them of opportunities and limit their potential.
Their voices are often silenced, and access to education, quality jobs, and decision-making spaces remains out of reach.
Gains achieved over decades — continued education, the choice to marry or have children, and the ability to build their own futures are threatened.
That is why we support girls so they can thrive where it matters most: quality education, safety from violence, and the freedom to experience childhood without being forced into marriage or motherhood.
We mobilise families, communities, and boys to tackle the obstacles to girls’ empowerment, because making this ideal a reality is everyone’s responsibility.
Every day, girls are staying in school, leading change, building businesses, protecting their health and making choices about their futures.
We’ve been working in Mali since 1976 — partnering with girls, communities, and local organisations to make sure progress never stops, placing girls’ needs, rights, and voices at the heart of our priorities. When girls lead, communities rise.
We won’t stop until we are all equal.
A girl’s life can’t be defined by a single issue.
This is how we stand with girls so that they can lead in every part of their world:
- Providing girls with quality education in a safe learning environment with qualified teachers.
- Helping girls acquire essential skills, find good jobs, and build better futures.
- Providing humanitarian assistance so that girls remain safe, healthy and can continue to learn, even in crisis.
- Ending harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation, and making public spaces and communities safe for girls.
- Helping girls make informed choices about their health through adolescent-friendly services.
- Amplifying girls’ voices and campaigning with them in decision-making spaces to achieve the changes they need.
Hunger crisis appeal
Act now. Save lives.
The world is in the grip of the most devastating hunger crisis ever seen.
Where we work
