Mali: Health, Gender, and Community Empowerment

Browse this program's Independent Study Projects/Undergraduate Research

Explore the links between health, economic development, and social issues—including gender, religion, and community empowerment—in contemporary Mali.

Learn more about studying abroad with SIT in Mali through the words of a recent student, Will Ridenour, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

This democratic nation is seen as one of the forerunners among African nations striving to manage complex development issues, and the Malian government has consciously chosen to place high priority on gender and family matters. It does so in a country characterized by distinctive ethnic groups—including the nomadic Tuaregs, the cliff-dwelling Dogon, and the craftsmen and farmers of the Niger River—many of whom continue to practice traditional ways of life rich in art, religion, and community allegiances.

Students will learn about the link between women’s roles, family health, and improvement in development indicators. By showcasing the interconnectedness of these issues, the program provides students with an appreciation of the complexities involved in approaching health as an international development issue.

In-country resources and program partners generally include:

Congratulations to program alumna Sarah Smilkstein (Scripps College) awarded a $10,000 Davis Projects for Peace grant for the community education center she worked tirelessly to establish in the Niamakoro neighborhood of Bamako. Reach the Scripps interview in which Sarah describes her experience studying abroad in Mali with SIT.