THE PEACE CORPS WELCOMES YOU TO

M A L I

a p e a c e c o r p s p u b l i c a t i o n

f o r n e w v o l u n t e e r s

Oc t o b e r 2 0 1 1

A Welcome Letter

Congratulations on your invitation to join the Peace Corps! 

The staff of Peace Corps/Mali and I are pleased to welcome 

you.

For the past several months, the programming and training 

team has been working hard preparing for your training 

needs. Homestay families are being organized, language 

trainers are developing language sessions, cross-cultural 

trainers are preparing your cultural orientation, and villages 

are being organized. This will assure that you have a culturally 

realistic training and opportunities for hands-on learning 

to help you qualify to officially swear in as Peace Corps 

Volunteers and assume all the responsibilities that come with 

the job. The team will provide you with all the necessary 

support to make your stay in Mali productive and safe.

I have no doubt that your experience as a Peace Corps 

Volunteer in Mali will exceed your expectations. I have lived 

and worked throughout Africa for more than a decade and 

find Mali to be a wonderful place with wonderful people. 

The hospitality and friendliness of Malians is unmatched in 

Africa. I am also continually amazed by the number of Peace 

Corps Mali Volunteers who stay on or come back in other 

capacities because they fall in love with the country and 

want to continue to make a difference in people’s lives here. 

I suspect many of you will also be as enchanted. Serving as a 

Peace Corps Volunteer still remains one of the finest ways to 

contribute to Mali’s development process, as well as your own. 

Likewise, working as a Volunteer here will also lend itself to 

being a part of cross-cultural sharing that is so important and 

needed in our world today. 

As you embark on the journey of a lifetime, serving as a 

Volunteer in Mali, I want to take this opportunity to clarify 

what is expected of a Peace Corps Mali Volunteer so you 
2 P E A C E C O R P S

can contribute most effectively to Peace Corps’s three goals. 

Consider this a guide for you to reflect on as you prepare for 

your journey, engage in training activities, and conduct your 

day-to-day work as a Volunteer. 

Regardless of your assignment, there is a core set of 10 

expectations for all Peace Corps Volunteers that you will 

find in the following section. These are derived from the 

Peace Corps’ mission and goals and time-tested principles 

of development. These expectations affirm the concept that 

while technical skills are essential for making a contribution, 

they are not the only thing, nor are they enough.

It is really important that you read, understand, and 

internalize these expectations because they will guide you 

through a successful Peace Corps service. We will also ask that 

you sign to acknowledge acceptance of these expectations 

once you arrive in-country.

The staff and I promise you two years full of challenge that 

you will not forget. We can hardly wait for your arrival. Have 

a safe journey to Mali. See you at the airport, and once again, 

Aw Bissmilla!

Michael J. Simsik, Ed.D.

Country Director, Peace Corps/Mali

RPCV/Benin, 1986-1989
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 3

N O T E S

Tab l e o f Co nte nts

Map of Mali

A Welcome Letter 1

Core Expectations for Peace Corps Volunteers 9

Peace Corps/Mali History and Programs 13

History of the Peace Corps in Mali 13

History and Future of Peace Corps 

Programming in Mali 13

Country Overview: Mali at a Glance 15

History 15-16

Government 17

Economy 17

People and Culture 18

Environment 18-19

Resources for Further Information 21

Living Conditions and Volunteer Lifestyle 27

Communications 27-29

Housing and Site Location 29

Living Allowance and Money Management 30

Food and Diet 30

Transportation 31

Geography and Climate 31-32

Social Activities 32-33

Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior 33-34

Personal Safety 34-35

Rewards and Frustrations 35-36
Peace Corps Training 39

Overview of Pre-Service Training 39-42

Technical Training 40

Language Training 40-41

Cross-Cultural Training 41

Health Training 41-42

Safety Training 42

Additional Trainings During Volunteer Service 42-43

Your Health Care and Safety in Mali 45

Health Issues in Mali 45-46

Helping You Stay Healthy 46

Maintaining Your Health 46-48

Women’s Health Information 48

Your Peace Corps Medical Kit 48-49

Before You Leave: A Medical Checklist 49-51

Safety and Security—Our Partnership 51-54

Factors that Contribute to Volunteer Risk 53-54

Staying Safe: Don’t Be a Target for Crime 54

Support from Staff 55

Crime Data for Mali 55-57

Volunteer Safety Support in Mali 57-58

Diversity and Cross-Cultural Issues 61

Overview of Diversity in Mali 62

What Might a Volunteer Face? 62-64

Possible Issues for Female Volunteers 62-63

Possible Issues for Volunteers of Color 63

Possible Issues for Senior Volunteers 63

Possible Issues for Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual Volunteers 64

Possible Religious Issues for Volunteers 64

Possible Issues for Volunteers With Disabilities 64
Frequently Asked Questions 67

Welcome Letter From Mali Volunteers 73

Packing List 77

Pre-departure Checklist 85

Contacting Peace Corps Headquarters 89
8 P E A C E C O R P S
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 9

CORE EXPECTATIONS FOR

PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS

In working toward fulfilling the Peace Corps Mission of 

promoting world peace and friendship, as a trainee and 

Volunteer, you are expected to:

1. Prepare your personal and professional life to make 

a commitment to serve abroad for a full term of 27 

months

2. Commit to improving the quality of life of the people 

with whom you live and work; and, in doing so, share 

your skills, adapt them, and learn new skills as needed

3. Serve where the Peace Corps asks you to go, under 

conditions of hardship, if necessary, and with the 

flexibility needed for effective service

4. Recognize that your successful and sustainable 

development work is based on the local trust and 

confidence you build by living in, and respectfully 

integrating yourself into, your host community and 

culture

5. Recognize that you are responsible 24 hours a day, 7 

days a week for your personal conduct and professional 

performance

6. Engage with host country partners in a spirit of 

cooperation, mutual learning, and respect

7. Work within the rules and regulations of the Peace 

Corps and the local and national laws of the country 

where you serve

8. Exercise judgment and personal responsibility to 

protect your health, safety, and well-being and that of 

others
10 P E A C E C O R P S

9. Recognize that you will be perceived, in your host 

country and community, as a representative of the 

people, cultures, values, and traditions of the United 

States of America

10. Represent responsively the people, cultures, values, 

and traditions of your host country and community to 

people in the United States both during and following 

your service
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 11

N O T E S

a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 13

PEACE CORPS/MALI 

H ISTORY AND PROGRAMS

History of the Peace Corps in Mali

In August 1969, Mali made a formal request for Peace Corps’ 

assistance. That same year, a Peace Corps representative 

arrived in Bamako, the capital of Mali, to assist the 

government in planning Volunteers’ activities, primarily in the 

area of agricultural development. The first Volunteers arrived 

in April 1971 to help allay hardships caused by a severe 

drought. Twenty-five Volunteers developed projects in poultry 

raising, vegetable production, water resources management, 

and agricultural extension. Since that time, nearly 3,000 

Volunteers have served in roughly 1,000 communities 

throughout the country.

History and Future of Peace Corps Programming in Mali

Volunteers currently serve in five of Mali’s eight administrative 

regions, as well as in the district of Bamako. Volunteers work 

in five technical sectors: education, environment, health, 

small enterprise development, and water and sanitation 

management. Peace Corps’ current programming aims 

to achieve the government of Mali’s priority goal of food 

security while eliminating poverty and responding to other 

development needs.

Currently, about 140 Volunteers are addressing the 

priority development needs of Mali as identified by Malians 

themselves: food security; access to clean drinking water; 

sound natural resource stewardship and improved agricultural 

production; basic education and literacy; income generation; 

and preventive health care.

All Volunteers in Mali also work on secondary projects that 

address any one of four agencywide initiatives: gender 

and development, HIV/AIDS prevention, ICT, and youth 

development.

a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 15

COUNTRY OVERV IEW: 

MALI AT A GLANCE

History

Malians take great pride in their ancestry. Mali is the heir to 

the succession of ancient African empires—Ghana, Mande 

(Malinke) and Songhai—that occupied the West African 

savannah. These empires controlled Saharan trade and were 

in touch with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern centers of 

civilization.

The Ghana empire, dominated by the Soninke or Sarakole 

people, was centered in the area along the modern-day MaliMauritania border. It was a powerful trading state from 700 to 

1075 A.D.

In 1235, the Malinke people of the small state of Kangaba 

became involved in a struggle for independence. Their leader, 

a young man named Sundiata Keita, fielded an impressive 

army to meet the intruding Tekrur forces. The decisive battle 

was fought on a plain just north of present-day Bamako, 

and Sundiata emerged victorious. Building on this success, 

Sundiata established the Mali Empire, one of the great empires 

of that era. After his death, his successors continued the 

expansion of the empire in both wealth and territory.

The zenith of Mali’s power and prestige occurred during the 

reign of Mansa Kankan Musa from 1307 to 1332. Covering 

more than 3 million square kilometers, the empire centered 

around the great bend of the Niger River and dominated the 

profitable trade between North and sub-Saharan Africa.

The rulers of Mali and their followers were converts to Islam, 

and Mansa Musa became one of the legendary leaders of 
16 P E A C E C O R P S

that faith. Timbuktu, the empire’s capital, became a center 

of Muslim scholarship, with a university containing libraries 

unequaled anywhere in Africa or Europe at that time. The 

Mali Empire began a slow decline after Mansa Musa’s reign but 

remained powerful into the middle of the 16th century. 

The Songhai Empire, with its capital in Gao, predominated 

throughout the 16th century. Its great builders, Sunni Ali 

and Askia Mohamed, were equal in historical importance to 

Sundiata and Mansa Musa. At its peak, under Askia Mohamed, 

the Songhai Empire encompassed the Hausa States as far 

as Kano (in modern-day Nigeria) and northern Cameroon. 

Timbuktu remained a center of commerce and Islamic faith 

throughout the period. The Songhai Empire was destroyed in 

1591 by a Moroccan invasion directed by Djoudder.

French intrusions into present-day Mali began in about 1854. 

It took approximately 50 years of battles and broken treaties 

for the French to finally subjugate the Malian people. The 

campaign ended with the capture of the Malinke leader 

Samory in 1898. Colonialism broke up traditional African 

patterns, replacing egalitarian relationships with those of 

dependence on European powers. It also set in motion some 

negative forces, such as one-crop economics, and established 

unrealistic political boundaries that have created significant 

challenges for today’s independent African governments.

Following Mali’s independence from France in 1960, the new 

government, under the leadership of Modibo Keita, moved 

quickly to place Malians in charge of all public institutions.

In November 1968, a military coup put Lieutenant Moussa 

Traoré in power, a position he held until 1991. At that 

point, a democratic revolution led to the creation of a new 

Constitution, and the first democratically-elected president 

(Alpha Oumar Konaré), in 1992 and again in 1997.
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 17

Government

Since the democratic revolution of 1991, the Malian 

government has become a model of democracy and peace 

in an otherwise troubled area of West Africa. The current 

president, Amadou Toumani Touré, was elected in 2002 and 

re-elected in April 2007. 

The government of Mali has struggled to address many 

problems, most notably the prolonged Tuareg rebellion. 

Despite a 1992 peace treaty, clashes continued in the 

northern provinces of Timbuktu and Gao. Since 1995, 

however, there has been a marked decrease in Tuareg-related 

violence, thanks in part to former Prime Minister Ibrahim 

Boubacar Keita’s efforts to establish a lasting peace. The 1994 

devaluation of the Malian currency, the CFA franc, coincided 

with a series of droughts, floods, and student strikes to lower 

the standard of living of many Malians, putting pressure on 

the government to address the country’s development needs. 

Economy

Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, and is 

heavily dependent on foreign aid. Roughly 75 percent of the 

population is earning less than $1 per day. Nearly 80 percent 

of the labor force is engaged in subsistence agriculture, 

including farming and fishing, mostly along the Niger River 

Delta. Industrial activities include gold extraction, cash 

crop production (cotton and rice), and processing of farm 

commodities. The economy is expected to grow 5 percent per 

year for the next several years. In 2010 the per capita gross 

domestic product stood at $380. The composition of GDP by 

sector is 36 percent agriculture, 22 percent industry, and 33 

percent services. 
18 P E A C E C O R P S

People and Culture

There are more than 20 major ethnic groups in Mali, each 

with a distinct language, geographic region, and social 

infrastructure. Approximately 50 percent of the population 

belongs to the Mandé group, which include the Bambara, 

Malinké, and Sarakolé. Other groups include the Peul 

(17 percent), Voltaic (12 percent), Songhai (6 percent), 

and Tuareg and Moor (10 percent). Ninety percent of 

the population is Muslim, with about 9 percent following 

traditional African beliefs and 1 percent practicing 

Christianity. Though the country’s official language is French, 

the most widely spoken languages belong to the Mande group, 

with 60 percent of the population speaking Bambara. Other 

languages, such as Fulani and Songhai, are also widely spoken 

in certain geographical areas.

Joking Cousins

Mali is rich in social capital, with great importance placed on 

social relationships and kinship. Soon after you arrive in Mali, 

you will be exposed to the national kinship system of “joking 

cousins,” a social tradition between families and groups that 

eases tensions and facilitates peaceful conflict resolution while 

giving all a good laugh! 

Environment

Mali covers an area greater than New Mexico, Oklahoma, and 

Texas combined. It is landlocked, bounded by Algeria and 

Mauritania to the north, Senegal to the west, Guinea, Côte 

d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso to the south, and Niger to the 

east. The country is mostly flat, except in the south where 

the Manding Mountains rise; and in the east, featuring the 
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 19

Bandiagara plateau and the Hombori Mountains. Central Mali 

consists of flood plains of the Niger Delta, while the northern 

part of the country lies within the Sahara Desert. Mali has two 

major rivers, the Niger and the Senegal. 

a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 21

RESOURCES FOR

FURTHER INFORMATION

Following is a list of websites for additional information about 

the Peace Corps and Mali and to connect you to returned 

Volunteers and other invitees. Please keep in mind that 

although we try to make sure all these links are active and 

current, we cannot guarantee it. If you do not have access to 

the Internet, visit your local library. 

A note of caution: As you surf the Internet, be aware that 

you may find bulletin boards and chat rooms in which people 

are free to express opinions about the Peace Corps based 

on their own experience, including comments by those who 

were unhappy with their choice to serve in the Peace Corps. 

These opinions are not those of the Peace Corps or the U.S. 

government, and we hope you will keep in mind that no two 

people experience their service in the same way.

General Information About Mali

www.countrywatch.com/ 

On this site, you can learn anything from what time it is in the 

capital of Mali to how to convert from the dollar to the Mali 

currency. Just click on Mali and go from there.

www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations

Visit this site for general travel advice about almost any 

country in the world.
22 P E A C E C O R P S

www.state.gov

The State Department’s website issues background notes 

periodically about countries around the world. Find Mali 

and learn more about its social and political history. You can 

also go to the site’s international travel section to check on 

conditions that may affect your safety.

www.psr.keele.ac.uk/official.htm

This includes links to all the official sites for governments 

worldwide.

www.geography.about.com/library/maps/blindex.htm

This online world atlas includes maps and geographical 

information, and each country page contains links to 

other sites, such as the Library of Congress, that contain 

comprehensive historical, social, and political background.

www.cyberschoolbus.un.org/infonation/info.asp 

This United Nations site allows you to search for statistical 

information for member states of the U.N.

www.worldinformation.com

This site provides an additional source of current and 

historical information about countries around the world.

Connect With Returned Volunteers and Other Invitees

www.rpcv.org

This is the site of the National Peace Corps Association, made 

up of returned Volunteers. On this site you can find links to all 

the Web pages of the “Friends of” groups for most countries of 

service, comprised of former Volunteers who served in those 

countries. There are also regional groups that frequently get 

together for social events and local volunteer activities. Or go 

straight to the Friends of Mali site: www.friendsofmali.org 
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 23

www.PeaceCorpsWorldwide.org

This site is hosted by a group of returned Volunteer writers. 

It is a monthly online publication of essays and Volunteer 

accounts of their Peace Corps service.

International Development Sites About Mali

http://www.eldis.org/go/country-profiles&country=1134

http://www.fao.org/countryprofiles/index.

asp?lang=en&ISO3=MLI

http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/Search/search_results.cfm

?newSrch=1&srchTp=advanced&Country=Mali

http://www.mcc.gov/mcc/countries/mali/index.shtml

http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/country_fact_sheets/

cty_fs_MLI.html

Recommended Books

Books About the History of the Peace Corps

1. Hoffman, Elizabeth Cobbs. All You Need is Love: The 

Peace Corps and the Spirit of the 1960s. Cambridge, 

Mass: Harvard University Press, 2000.

2. Rice, Gerald T. The Bold Experiment: JFK’s Peace 

Corps. Notre Dame, Ind.: University of Notre Dame 

Press, 1985.

3. Stossel, Scott. Sarge: The Life and Times of Sargent 

Shriver. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution 

Press, 2004.

4. Meisler, Stanley. When the World Calls: The Inside 

Story of the Peace Corps and its First 50 Years.

Boston, Mass.: Beacon Press, 2011.
24 P E A C E C O R P S

Books on the Volunteer Experience

1. Dirlam, Sharon. Beyond Siberia: Two Years in a 

Forgotten Place. Santa Barbara, Calif.: McSeas Books, 

2004.

2. Casebolt, Marjorie DeMoss. Margarita: A Guatemalan 

Peace Corps Experience. Gig Harbor, Wash.: Red 

Apple Publishing, 2000.

3. Erdman, Sarah. Nine Hills to Nambonkaha: Two 

Years in the Heart of an African Village. New York, 

N.Y.: Picador, 2003.

4. Hessler, Peter. River Town: Two Years on the 

Yangtze. New York, N.Y.: Perennial, 2001.

5. Kennedy, Geraldine ed. From the Center of the Earth: 

Stories out of the Peace Corps. Santa Monica, Calif.: 

Clover Park Press, 1991.

6. Thompsen, Moritz. Living Poor: A Peace Corps 

Chronicle. Seattle, Wash.: University of Washington 

Press, 1997 (reprint).
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 25

N O T E S
26 P E A C E C O R P S
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 27

LI V ING COND ITIONS AND 

VOLUNTEER LIFESTYLE

Communications

You should be prepared for a significant reduction in the 

frequency and reliability of communications with friends and 

family. It is a good idea to prepare your family and friends 

for the reality of lengthy delays between letters, the lack of 

regular access to a telephone, and uncertain access to email.

Mail

The postal system in Mali is relatively reliable by African 

standards. Few Volunteers report problems with receiving 

letters and packages sent from the United States by airmail, 

but the mail can take three to four weeks to arrive. Volunteers 

recommend visiting your local post office for advice on 

international flat rate shipments. Surface mail is slightly 

less reliable, significantly less expensive, and takes much 

longer—six months to a year or more. Mail within the country 

takes a few days to two weeks. Volunteers can have important 

documents sent from the U.S. via DHL. Be aware that all 

packages will be subject to import fees and may be searched.

You can choose to receive mail at the Peace Corps office or at 

your site. Most Volunteers share a local post office box in their 

regional capital once they have moved to their sites. During 

pre-service training, mail should be sent to you at the Peace 

Corps office. Mail will be forwarded to the training site once a 

week.
Your address at the Peace Corps office will be:

“Your Name,” PCT

Corps de la Paix

B.P. 85

Bamako, Mali

Telephones

Telephone service in Mali, like the postal system, is relatively 

reliable. However, Volunteers do not have fixed telephones 

in their homes, whether they live in small villages or large 

towns. An expanding cellphone network covers most cities and 

large towns, and some Volunteers have access to a phone at 

their workplace. However, it is not appropriate to make longdistance calls from these phones. Most towns have commercial 

phone centers that offer phone and fax services, but outgoing 

calls can be expensive. Many Volunteers arrange times to 

receive calls from home. Peace Corps regional and transit 

houses have telephones from which Volunteers can receive but 

not make calls.

Volunteers are not permitted to use the telephones at the 

Peace Corps office to call family or friends unless the call 

pertains to an emergency and is approved in advance by the 

country director.

A cellphone is provided by Peace Corps only if you are the 

only Volunteer at a site with service (most Volunteers have cell 

service). If desired, you and your family may want to figure 

out an international calling plan (e.g., Skype).

Computer, Internet, and Email Access

Use and ownership of computers are rapidly expanding, 

but primarily among better-funded government offices and 

wealthy individuals and companies. There are Internet cafés 

in Bamako and the regional capitals. Connection speeds are 

slow, but improving with growing demand and more private-
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 29

sector entrepreneurs. Some of the commercial phone centers 

offer computer and Internet access on an hourly basis (around 

1,000 to 2,500 CFA francs per hour), and this is the route by 

which most Volunteers access the Internet. 

Currently serving Volunteers are telling us they are glad 

they brought laptops with them. They often use laptops to 

complete electronic quarterly reports and create project and 

activity documents related to their work. While laptops are 

convenient, they are not provided by Peace Corps. Whether 

or not you bring a personal laptop is voluntary and, ultimately, 

a personal choice. You should consider that laptops can get 

stolen, lost, damaged and have to survive extreme conditions. 

However, it is also important to consider that, should you want 

one, it is very difficult and expensive to receive a laptop once 

you are already in Mali. Peace Corps cannot receive laptop 

shipments on your behalf once you are in-country; therefore, 

think carefully before making your decision. At a minimum, it 

would be helpful to bring a good-sized flash drive. 

Housing and Site Location

The community to which you are assigned will provide safe 

and adequate housing in accordance with the Peace Corps’ 

site selection criteria. Housing is typically a small house made 

of mud or cement bricks with a thatch roof. Some Volunteers 

in urban sites live in cement houses with two or three rooms. 

Most Volunteers do not have running water or electricity; 

water comes from a pump or a well, and light is provided by 

kerosene lanterns or candles. Nearly all Volunteers are within 

one hour of another Volunteer and most are within a 10– to 

12-hour drive of the Peace Corps office in Bamako. 
30 P E A C E C O R P S

Living Allowance and Money Management

Volunteers’ living allowance is approximately 105,000 CFA 

francs (about $210) per month, not including a vacation 

allowance equivalent to $24 per month. Volunteers also 

receive a quarterly work-travel allowance ranging from $20 

to $100, depending on the location of their sites. All of these 

allowances are paid in local currency and deposited directly 

into a bank account that each Volunteer must establish at 

or near their sites. The amount of the living allowance is 

based on an annual survey of Volunteers’ financial needs. 

Most Volunteers report they can live comfortably with this 

allowance and have extra money for regional travel, as well 

as occasional nights on the town. You are expected to live at 

the level of your Malian counterparts, so you are discouraged 

from bringing or receiving extra money from home to spend 

in-country. 

Food and Diet

Water generally needs to be treated through boiling, bleach 

treatment, or filtering to be potable. The availability of fruits 

and vegetables is somewhat limited, but Mali produces 

some of the best mangoes and papayas in the world. Garlic, 

onions, tomatoes, and a local type of eggplant are available 

year-round. Other fruits and vegetables, available seasonally, 

include oranges, grapefruits, bananas, carrots, cabbages, 

potatoes, lettuce, and cucumbers. Staple meals include rice 

and tô (a thick porridge made of millet, sorghum, corn, or 

yams), served with a sauce made from peanuts, okra, greens 

(i.e., spinach or baobab leaves), or tomatoes with meat or 

fish. French bread is available in larger towns and villages. 

Pre-packaged spaghetti and macaroni noodles are available in 

larger villages, towns, and cities.
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 31

Transportation

Paved roads connect regional capitals and large towns in 

Mali, and fairly well-maintained buses operate on a regular 

daily schedule. Smaller towns and villages are served by 

“bush taxis”—typically overcrowded and poorly maintained 

minibuses that do not run on a fixed schedule. Most 

Volunteers do not live near paved roads and, thus, do not have 

daily access to motorized transportation from their villages.

Volunteers can choose between receiving a transportation 

allowance or receiving a bike to use for work and recreation 

purposes. Peace Corps/Mali will provide you with a bicycle 

helmet, which is required for bicycle use. However, if you have 

any special helmet needs (for example, a hard-to-find size), 

we encourage you to purchase a high-quality helmet in the 

United States, as the quality and selection of helmets available 

in-country are limited. Peace Corps/Mali will reimburse you 

for the cost if you provide the receipt.

For safety reasons, Peace Corps/Mali prohibits Volunteers 

from driving motorized vehicles (such as a motorcycle) except 

in a life-threatening emergency. Moreover, Volunteers are not 

permitted to ride as a passenger on motorcycles.

Geography and Climate

Mali stretches across three climatic zones: savanna, steppe, 

and desert. The savanna features wooded grasslands broken 

occasionally by cliff and rock formations and is watered by the 

Niger and Senegal rivers and their tributaries. This area lies 

south of a rough line drawn from Kayes in the west to a point 

just south of Mopti in the east. The steppe, or the Sahelian, 

zone is between the savanna and the desert, stretching north 

from Mopti to roughly 50 miles beyond the great bend of the 

Niger River. It consists of dry, sandy plains sparsely wooded 
32 P E A C E C O R P S

by trees. The third zone, north of these plains, is part of the 

Sahara Desert and is characterized by rocky outcrops dotted 

by vegetation and small villages wherever water is close to the 

surface. The harshness, vastness, and romance of the desert 

exert an influence that is felt throughout the country and has 

helped shape the culture.

Nomadic herdsmen and camel drivers inhabit the northern 

half of Mali, where they haul salt and other commodities from 

Taoudeni to Timbuktu and Gao. 

The Sahel provides grazing land for more than half of the 

country’s 5 million to 6 million cattle. The savanna is the most 

densely populated and most heavily cultivated area, furnishing 

most of the cereal, cotton, and peanuts produced in Mali. The 

richest farming area is in and around the Niger River basin.

Mali’s climate is similar to that of Arizona. The rainy season 

extends from June to October in the south, but starts later 

and ends earlier as one goes north. The period between 

November and early March is characterized by moderate 

daytime temperatures, cool nights, and cloudless skies. In 

April and May, the humidity drops to about 10 percent, 

and temperatures rise to as high as 110 or 120 degrees 

Fahrenheit. June brings rains that slowly ease the intensity of 

the heat. The climate becomes hotter and drier farther north.

Social Activities

Social activities vary according to where you are located. They 

might include relaxing and talking with friends and neighbors, 

going to the market, or taking part in local festivals. The 

cultural diversity of Mali means there is always something of 

interest taking place nearby from which you can learn, be it 

drumming and dancing or planting peanuts. Many Volunteers 

meet periodically in regional market towns to share ideas 
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 33

and experiences. However, in keeping with its goal of crosscultural exchange, the Peace Corps expects Volunteers to 

establish social networks with Malian friends and colleagues 

at their sites rather than seek out other Volunteers for social 

activities. Such networks enhance Volunteers’ ability to be 

effective in their work.

Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior

One of the biggest challenges faced by Volunteers in Mali 

is defining their role as professionals in the Malian context 

while maintaining a sense of their own work ethic and cultural 

identity. The tendency of Malian counterparts to blur (from 

a Western perspective) the distinction between professional 

and personal time and space adds another layer of complexity 

to the challenge of establishing yourself as a professional in 

this context. Cultivating work relationships is not something 

that happens exclusively during working hours; behavior and 

activities outside the work setting will have an impact on your 

professional relationships.

Malians generally consider it important to dress appropriately 

whenever they are going to be seen in public—whether at 

work, in the market, or at a bar. It is almost unheard of, for 

example, for a Malian man or woman to wear shorts unless 

he or she is taking part in some kind of sporting event. Nor 

would a professional man or woman ever be seen in public 

wearing dirty, disheveled, wrinkled, or torn clothing. Dressing 

appropriately will greatly enhance your credibility, improve 

your ability to integrate into your community, and increase 

your odds of having a safe Peace Corps service. Aside from 

following Malian norms for dress, however, Volunteers need 

to be aware of other unwritten rules of the culture, such as 

the fact that Malian women never go to a bar on their own. 
34 P E A C E C O R P S

Serving in the Peace Corps often requires sacrificing personal 

preferences regarding dress and behavior. There will be ample 

discussion of this subject during cross-cultural sessions in preservice training.

Peace Corps/Mali has instituted a dress code that must be 

followed by Volunteers, trainees, and staff at the Bamako 

office, the Tubaniso training center, and at any function where 

a staff member, Volunteer, or trainee could reasonably be 

considered to be representing the Peace Corps. The code is 

also suggested for any Volunteer with an office-type work 

assignment, anyone attending a professional meeting, or 

attending a meeting with someone to whom one is expected 

(as per Malian mores) to show deference.

•	 Shirts with buttons, sleeves, and collars for men (must

cover midriff)

•	 Shirts with sleeves for women (nothing too tight or

revealing and must cover midriff)

•	 Any kind of shoes or sandals (except rubber/plastic

shower flip-flops)

•	 Long pants for men and at least mid-calf length for

women (if worn by women, they should never be tight 

or transparent and are best accompanied by a long 

shirt)

•	 Skirts (opaque and at least knee-length), dresses, veils

(dampe), Malian-style outfits for men and women, or 

boubous (robes worn by local men or women)

Personal Safety

More detailed information about the Peace Corps’ approach 

to safety is contained in the “Health Care and Safety” chapter, 

but it is an important issue and cannot be overemphasized. As 

stated in the Volunteer Handbook, becoming a Peace Corps 

Volunteer entails certain safety risks. Living and traveling 
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 35

in an unfamiliar environment (oftentimes alone), having a 

limited understanding of local language and culture, and 

being perceived as well-off are some of the factors that can 

put a Volunteer at risk. Many Volunteers experience varying 

degrees of unwanted attention and harassment. Petty thefts 

and burglaries are not uncommon, and incidents of physical 

and sexual assault do occur, although most Mali Volunteers 

complete their two years of service without incident. The 

Peace Corps has established procedures and policies designed 

to help you reduce your risks and enhance your safety and 

security. These procedures and policies, in addition to safety 

training, will be provided once you arrive in Mali. Using these 

tools, you are expected to take responsibility for your safety 

and well-being.

Each staff member at the Peace Corps is committed 

to providing Volunteers with the support they need to 

successfully meet the challenges they will face in order to 

have a safe, healthy, and productive service. We encourage 

Volunteers and families to look at our safety and security 

information on the Peace Corps website at www.peacecorps.

gov/safety.

Information on these pages gives messages on Volunteer 

health and Volunteer safety. There is a section titled “Safety 

and Security in Depth.” Among topics addressed are the risks 

of serving as a Volunteer, posts’ safety support systems, and 

emergency planning and communications.

Rewards and Frustrations

Although the potential for job satisfaction in Mali is quite high, 

like all Volunteers, you will encounter frustrations. Because 

of financial constraints, inefficient management, and an often 

contradictory incentive system, collaborating agencies do 

not always provide the support they may have promised. 
36 P E A C E C O R P S

In addition, the pace of work and life is slower than that of 

which most Americans are accustomed. For these reasons, 

the Peace Corps experience of adapting to a new culture and 

environment is often described as a series of emotional peaks 

and valleys.

You will be given a high degree of responsibility and 

independence in your work—perhaps more than in any other 

job you have had or will have. You will often find yourself in 

situations that require an ability to motivate yourself and your 

co-workers with little guidance from supervisors. You might 

work for months without seeing any visible impact from, 

or without receiving feedback on, your work. Development 

anywhere in the world—including disadvantaged areas in 

the United States—is slow work that requires perseverance. 

You must possess the self-confidence, patience, and vision 

to continue working toward long-term goals without seeing 

immediate results.

To overcome these difficulties, you will need maturity, 

flexibility, open-mindedness, and resourcefulness. The Peace 

Corps staff, your Malian co-workers, and fellow Volunteers will 

support you during times of challenge, as well as in moments 

of success. Judging by the experience of former Volunteers, 

the peaks are well worth the difficult times, and most 

Volunteers leave Mali feeling they have gained much more 

than they sacrificed during their service. If you are able to 

make the commitment to integrate into your community and 

work hard, you will be a successful Volunteer. 
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 37

N O T E S

a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 39

PEACE CORPS TRAINING

Overview of Pre-Service Training

Training is an essential part of Peace Corps service. The 

goal of the 10-week program is to give you the skills and 

information you need to live and work effectively in Mali. In 

doing that, we build upon the experiences and expertise you 

bring to the Peace Corps. The program also gives you the 

opportunity to practice new skills as they apply to your work 

in Mali. We anticipate that you will approach training with 

an open mind, a desire to learn, and a willingness to become 

involved. Trainees officially become Volunteers only after 

successful completion of training.

You will receive training and orientation in components of 

language, cross-cultural communication, development issues, 

health and personal safety, and technical skills pertinent to 

your specific assignment. The skills you learn will serve as the 

foundation upon which you build your experience as a Peace 

Corps Volunteer.

Upon arrival in Mali, you will go to Tubaniso, the Peace Corps 

training center about 30 minutes outside of Bamako. After 

a brief orientation period, you will move into a host village 

within an hour of the training center. In the host village, 

you and other trainees (about 15 to a village) will live with 

a Malian host family for the majority of your training period, 

allowing you to gain hands-on experience in some of the new 

skills you are expected to acquire.

Training combines structured classroom study and 

independent study, with the maximum possible number of 

training hours spent out of the classroom. At the beginning of 

training, the training staff outlines the goals each trainee must 
40 P E A C E C O R P S

achieve before becoming a Volunteer and the assessment 

criteria that will be used to evaluate progress toward those 

goals. Evaluation of your performance during training is a 

continual process of dialogue between you and the training 

staff. After successful completion of pre-service training, you 

will be sworn in as a Volunteer and make final preparations for 

departure to your site. 

Technical Training

Technical training will prepare you to work in Mali by building 

on the skills you already have and helping you develop new 

skills in a manner appropriate to the needs of the country. 

The Peace Corps staff, Mali experts, and current Volunteers 

will conduct the training program. Training places great 

emphasis on learning how to transfer the skills you have to 

the community in which you will serve as a Volunteer. 

Technical training will include sessions on the general 

economic and political environment in Mali and strategies 

for working within such a framework. You will review your 

technical sector’s goals and will meet with the Mali agencies 

and organizations that invited the Peace Corps to assist them. 

You will be supported and evaluated throughout the training 

to build the confidence and skills you need to undertake 

your project activities and be a productive member of your 

community.

Language Training

As a Peace Corps Volunteer, you will find that language skills 

are key t o personal and professional satisfaction during your 

service. These skills are critical to your job performance, they 

help you integrate into your community, and they can ease 

your personal adaptation to the new surroundings. Therefore, 

language training is at the heart of the training program. You 

must successfully meet minimum language requirements to 

complete training and become a Volunteer. Mali language 
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 41

instructors teach formal language classes five days a week in 

small groups of four to five people.

Your language training will incorporate a community-based 

approach. In addition to classroom time, you will be given 

assignments to work on outside of the classroom and with 

your host family. The goal is to get you to a point of basic 

social communication skills so you can practice and develop 

language skills further once you are at your site. Prior to 

being sworn in as a Volunteer, you will work on strategies to 

continue language studies during your service.

Cross-Cultural Training

As part of your pre-service training, you will live with a Mali 

host family. This experience is designed to ease your transition 

to life at your site. Families go through an orientation 

conducted by Peace Corps staff to explain the purpose of 

pre-service training and to assist them in helping you adapt 

to living in Mali. Many Volunteers form strong and lasting 

friendships with their host families.

Cross-cultural and community development training will help 

you improve your communication skills and understand your 

role as a facilitator of development. You will be exposed to 

topics such as community mobilization, conflict resolution, 

gender and development, nonformal and adult education 

strategies, and political structures.

Health Training

During pre-service training, you will be given basic medical 

training and information. You will be expected to practice 

preventive health care and to take responsibility for your 

own health by adhering to all medical policies. Trainees are 

required to attend all medical sessions. The topics include 

preventive health measures and minor and major medical 

issues that you might encounter while in Mali. Nutrition, 
42 P E A C E C O R P S

mental health, setting up a safe living compound, and how 

to avoid HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases 

(STDs) are also covered.

Safety Training

During the safety training sessions, you will learn how to 

adopt a lifestyle that reduces your risks at home, at work, and 

during your travels. You will also learn appropriate, effective 

strategies for coping with unwanted attention and about your 

individual responsibility for promoting safety throughout your 

service.

Additional Trainings During Volunteer Service

In its commitment to institutionalize quality training, the 

Peace Corps has implemented a training system that provides 

Volunteers with continual opportunities to examine their 

commitment to Peace Corps service while increasing their 

technical and cross-cultural skills. During service, there are 

usually three training events. The titles and objectives for 

those trainings are as follows: 

•	 In-service training: Provides an opportunity for 

Volunteers to upgrade their technical, language, 

and project development skills while sharing their 

experiences and reaffirming their commitment after 

having served for three to six months.

•	 Regional Trainings: These trainings are held annually 

and are designed to meet the specific technical and 

resource needs of Volunteers serving in different and 

diverse regions. 

•	 Close-of-service conference: Prepares Volunteers for 

the future after Peace Corps service and reviews their 

respective projects and personal experiences. 
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 43

The number, length, and design of these trainings are adapted 

to country-specific needs and conditions. The key to the 

training system is that training events are integrated and 

interrelated, from the pre-departure orientation through 

the end of your service, and are planned, implemented, and 

evaluated cooperatively by the training staff, Peace Corps 

staff, and Volunteers.

a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 45

YOUR HEALTH CARE AND 

SAFETY IN MALI

The Peace Corps’ highest priority is maintaining the good 

health and safety of every Volunteer. Peace Corps medical 

programs emphasize the preventive, rather than the curative, 

approach to disease. The Peace Corps in Mali maintains 

a clinic with a full-time medical officer, who takes care of 

Volunteers’ primary health care needs. Additional medical 

services, such as testing and basic treatment, are also 

available in Mali at local hospitals. If you become seriously 

ill, you will be transported either to an American-standard 

medical facility in the region or to the United States.

Health Issues in Mali

Major health problems among Volunteers in Mali are rare and 

are often the result of a Volunteer’s failure to take preventive 

measures to stay healthy. The most common health problems 

in Mali are minor ones that are also found in the United 

States, such as colds, diarrhea, headaches, dental problems, 

sinus infections, skin infections, minor injuries, sexually 

transmitted diseases (STDs), emotional problems, and alcohol 

abuse. These problems may be more frequent or compounded 

by life in Mali because environmental factors raise the risk or 

exacerbate the severity of certain illnesses and injuries.

The most common major health concerns in Mali are malaria, 

amoebic dysentery, hepatitis, meningitis, and HIV/AIDS. 

Because malaria is endemic in Mali, Volunteers are required 

to take antimalarial pills. You will also be vaccinated against 

hepatitis A and B, influenza, meningitis, MMR (measles, 
46 P E A C E C O R P S

mumps, and rubella), polio, rabies, tetanus and diphtheria, 

typhoid fever, and yellow fever. 

Helping You Stay Healthy

The Peace Corps will provide you with all the necessary 

inoculations, medications, and information to stay healthy. 

Upon your arrival in Mali, you will receive a medical 

handbook. At the end of training, you will receive a medical 

kit with supplies to take care of mild illnesses and first aid 

needs. The contents of the kit are listed later in this chapter. 

During pre-service training, you will have access to basic 

medical supplies through the medical officer. However, you 

will be responsible for your own supply of prescription drugs 

and any other specific medical supplies you require, as the 

Peace Corps will not order these items during training. Please 

bring a three-month supply of any prescription drugs 

you use, since they may not be available here and it may take 

several months for shipments to arrive.

You will have physicals at midservice and at the end of your 

service. If you develop a serious medical problem during your 

service, the medical officer in Mali will consult with the Office 

of Medical Services in Washington, D.C. If it is determined 

that your condition cannot be treated in Mali, you may be sent 

out of the country for further evaluation and care.

Maintaining Your Health

As a Volunteer, you must accept considerable responsibility 

for your own health. Proper precautions will significantly 

reduce your risk of serious illness or injury. The adage “An 

ounce of prevention ...” becomes extremely important in 
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 47

areas where diagnostic and treatment facilities are not up to 

the standards of the United States. The most important of 

your responsibilities in Mali is to take the following preventive 

measures:

Malaria is a major health issue in most parts of Africa, 

including Mali. The most important step in preventing malaria 

and many other tropical diseases is to avoid mosquito and 

other insect bites. The best ways to avoid insect bites are 

to sleep under a mosquito net (provided by Peace Corps), 

wear long sleeves and pants whenever possible, use insect 

repellent, and be sure there are functional screens on your 

windows and doors. Mosquitoes bite primarily from dusk until 

dawn. Since no one can entirely prevent all mosquito 

bites, Volunteers in Mali must take anti-malarial pills; 

failure to do so is grounds for administrative separation 

from the Peace Corps.

Many diseases that afflict Volunteers worldwide are entirely 

preventable if proper food and water precautions are taken. 

These diseases include food poisoning, parasitic infections, 

hepatitis A, dysentery, giardia, and typhoid fever. Your medical 

officer will discuss specific standards for water and food 

preparation for Mali during pre-service training.

Abstinence is the only certain choice for preventing infection 

with HIV/AIDS and other STDs. You are taking risks if you 

choose to be sexually active. To lessen risk, use a condom 

every time you have sex. Whether your partner is a host 

country citizen, a fellow Volunteer, or anyone else, do not 

assume this person is free of HIV/AIDS or other STDs. You will 

receive more information from the medical officer about this 

important issue.

Volunteers are expected to adhere to an effective means 

of birth control to prevent an unplanned pregnancy. Your 
48 P E A C E C O R P S

medical officer can help you decide on the most appropriate 

method to suit your individual needs. Contraceptive methods 

are available without charge from the medical officer.

It is critical to your health that you promptly report to the 

medical office or other designated facility for scheduled 

immunizations, and that you let your medical officer know 

immediately of significant illnesses and injuries.

Women’s Health Information

Pregnancy is treated in the same manner as other Volunteer 

health conditions that require medical attention but also have 

programmatic ramifications. The Peace Corps is responsible 

for determining the medical risk and the availability of 

appropriate medical care if the Volunteer remains in-country. 

Given the circumstances under which Volunteers live and 

work in Peace Corps countries, it is rare that the Peace Corps’ 

medical and programmatic standards for continued service 

during pregnancy can be met. 

If feminine hygiene products are not available for you to 

purchase on the local market, the Peace Corps medical officer 

in Mali will provide them. If you require a specific product, 

please bring a three-month supply with you.

Your Peace Corps Medical Kit

The Peace Corps medical officer will provide you with a kit 

that contains basic items necessary to prevent and treat 

illnesses that may occur during service. Kit items can be 

periodically restocked at the medical office.
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 49

Medical Kit Contents

Ace bandages

Adhesive tape

American Red Cross First Aid & Safety Handbook

Antacid tablets (Tums)

Antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymycin B)

Antiseptic antimicrobial skin cleaner (Hibiclens)

Band-Aids

Butterfly closures

Calamine lotion

Cepacol lozenges

Condoms

Dental floss

Diphenhydramine HCL 25 mg (Benadryl)

Insect repellent stick (Cutter’s)

Iodine tablets (for water purification)

Lip balm (Chapstick)

Oral rehydration salts

Oral thermometer (Fahrenheit)

Pseudoephedrine HCL 30 mg (Sudafed)

Robitussin-DM lozenges (for cough)

Scissors

Sterile gauze pads

Tetrahydrozaline eyedrops (Visine)

Tinactin (antifungal cream)

Tweezers

Before You Leave: A Medical Checklist

If there has been any change in your health—physical, mental, 

or dental—since you submitted your examination reports to 

the Peace Corps, you must immediately notify the Office of 

Medical Services. Failure to disclose new illnesses, injuries, 

allergies, or pregnancy can endanger your health and may 

jeopardize your eligibility to serve. 
50 P E A C E C O R P S

If your dental exam was done more than a year ago, or if your 

physical exam is more than two years old, contact the Office 

of Medical Services to find out whether you need to update 

your records. If your dentist or Peace Corps dental consultant 

has recommended that you undergo dental treatment or 

repair, you must complete that work and make sure your 

dentist sends requested confirmation reports or X-rays to the 

Office of Medical Services.

If you wish to avoid having duplicate vaccinations, contact 

your physician’s office to obtain a copy of your immunization 

record and bring it to your pre-departure orientation. If you 

have any immunizations prior to Peace Corps service, the 

Peace Corps cannot reimburse you for the cost. The Peace 

Corps will provide all the immunizations necessary for your 

overseas assignment, either at your pre-departure orientation 

or shortly after you arrive in Mali. You do not need to begin 

taking malaria medication prior to departure.

Bring a three-month supply of any prescription or over-thecounter medication you use on a regular basis, including 

birth control pills. Although the Peace Corps cannot 

reimburse you for this three-month supply, it will order 

refills during your service. While awaiting shipment—which 

can take several months—you will be dependent on your 

own medication supply. The Peace Corps will not pay for 

herbal or nonprescribed medications, such as St. John’s wort, 

glucosamine, selenium, or antioxidant supplements.

You are encouraged to bring copies of medical prescriptions 

signed by your physician. This is not a requirement, but they 

might come in handy if you are questioned in transit about 

carrying a three-month supply of prescription drugs.

If you wear eyeglasses, bring two pairs with you—a pair 

and a spare. If a pair breaks, the Peace Corps will replace 

them, using the information your doctor in the United States 
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 51

provided on the eyeglasses form during your examination. 

The Peace Corps discourages you from using contact lenses 

during your service to reduce your risk of developing a serious 

infection or other eye disease. Most Peace Corps countries 

do not have appropriate water and sanitation to support eye 

care with the use of contact lenses. The Peace Corps will not 

supply or replace contact lenses or associated solutions unless 

an ophthalmologist has recommended their use for a specific 

medical condition and the Peace Corps’ Office of Medical 

Services has given approval.

If you are eligible for Medicare, are over 50 years of age, 

or have a health condition that may restrict your future 

participation in health care plans, you may wish to consult 

an insurance specialist about unique coverage needs before 

your departure. The Peace Corps will provide all necessary 

health care from the time you leave for your pre-departure 

orientation until you complete your service. When you finish, 

you will be entitled to the post-service health care benefits 

described in the Peace Corps Volunteer Handbook. You may 

wish to consider keeping an existing health plan in effect 

during your service if you think age or pre-existing conditions 

might prevent you from re-enrolling in your current plan when 

you return home.

Safety and Security—Our Partnership

Serving as a Volunteer overseas entails certain safety 

and security risks. Living and traveling in an unfamiliar 

environment, a limited understanding of the local language 

and culture, and the perception of being a wealthy American 

are some of the factors that can put a Volunteer at risk. 

Property theft and burglaries are not uncommon. Incidents 

of physical and sexual assault do occur, although almost all 

Volunteers complete their two years of service without serious 

personal safety problems.
52 P E A C E C O R P S

Beyond knowing that Peace Corps approaches safety and 

security as a partnership with you, it might be helpful to 

see how this partnership works. Peace Corps has policies, 

procedures, and training in place to promote your safety. We 

depend on you to follow those policies and to put into practice 

what you have learned. An example of how this works in 

practice—in this case to help manage the risk of burglary—is:

•	 Peace Corps assesses the security environment where

you will live and work

•	 Peace Corps inspects the house where you will live

according to established security criteria

•	 Peace Corp provides you with resources to take

measures such as installing new locks

•	 Peace Corps ensures you are welcomed by host country

authorities and families in your new community

•	 Peace Corps responds to security concerns that you

raise

•	 You lock your doors and windows

•	 You adopt a lifestyle appropriate to the community

where you live, including appropriate dress and 

behavior

•	 You get to know your neighbors

•	 You decide if purchasing personal articles insurance is

appropriate for you

•	 You don’t change residences before being authorized by

Peace Corps

•	 You communicate concerns that you have to Peace

Corps staff

This Welcome Book contains sections on: Living Conditions 

and Volunteer Lifestyle; Peace Corps Training; and Your 

Health Care and Safety that all include important safety and 

security information to help you understand this partnership. 

The Peace Corps makes every effort to give Volunteers the 

tools they need to function in the safest way possible, because 
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 53

working to maximize the safety and security of Volunteers is 

our highest priority. Not only do we provide you with training 

and tools to prepare for the unexpected, but we teach you to 

identify, reduce, and manage the risks you may encounter.

Factors that Contribute to Volunteer Risk 

There are several factors that can heighten a Volunteer’s 

risk, many of which are within the Volunteer’s control. By far 

the most common crime that Volunteers experience is theft. 

Thefts often occur when Volunteers are away from their 

sites, in crowded locations (such as markets or on public 

transportation), and when leaving items unattended.

Before you depart for Mali there are several measures you can 

take to reduce your risk: 

•	 Leave valuable objects in U.S.

•	 Leave copies of important documents and account

numbers with someone you trust in the U.S.

•	 Purchase a hidden money pouch or "dummy" wallet as

decoy

•	 Purchase personal articles insurance

After you arrive in Mali, you will receive more detailed 

information about common crimes, factors that contribute to 

Volunteer risk, and local strategies to reduce that risk. For 

example, Volunteers in Mali learn to:

•	 Choose safe routes and times for travel, and travel with

someone trusted by the community whenever possible

•	 Make sure one’s personal appearance is respectful of

local customs

•	 Avoid high-crime areas

•	 Know the local language to get help in an emergency

•	 Make friends with local people who are respected in the

community 

•	 Limit alcohol consumption
54 P E A C E C O R P S

As you can see from this list, you must be willing to work hard 

and adapt your lifestyle to minimize the potential for being a 

target for crime. As with anywhere in the world, crime does 

exist in Mali. You can reduce your risk by avoiding situations 

that place you at risk and by taking precautions. Crime at the 

village or town level is less frequent than in the large cities; 

people know each other and generally are less likely to steal 

from their neighbors. Tourist attractions in large towns are 

favorite worksites for pickpockets.

While whistles and exclamations may be fairly common 

on the street, this behavior can be reduced if you dress 

conservatively, abide by local cultural norms, and respond 

according to the training you will receive. 

Staying Safe: Don’t Be a Target for Crime

You must be prepared to take on a large degree of 

responsibility for your own safety. You can make yourself less 

of a target, ensure that your home is secure, and develop 

relationships in your community that will make you an 

unlikely victim of crime. While the factors that contribute 

to your risk in Mali may be different, in many ways you can 

do what you would do if you moved to a new city anywhere: 

be cautious, check things out, ask questions, learn about 

your neighborhood, know where the more risky locations 

are, use common sense, and be aware. You can reduce your 

vulnerability to crime by integrating into your community, 

learning the local language, acting responsibly, and abiding 

by Peace Corps policies and procedures. Serving safely 

and effectively in Mali will require that you accept some 

restrictions on your current lifestyle.
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 55

Support from Staff

If a trainee or Volunteer is the victim of a safety incident, 

Peace Corps staff is prepared to provide support. All Peace 

Corps posts have procedures in place to respond to incidents 

of crime committed against Volunteers. The first priority 

for all posts in the aftermath of an incident is to ensure the 

Volunteer is safe and receiving medical treatment as needed. 

After assuring the safety of the Volunteer, Peace Corps staff 

response may include reassessing the Volunteer’s worksite 

and housing arrangements and making any adjustments, 

as needed. In some cases, the nature of the incident may 

necessitate a site or housing transfer. Peace Corps staff will 

also assist Volunteers with preserving their rights to pursue 

legal sanctions against the perpetrators of the crime. It is very 

important that Volunteers report incidents as they occur, not 

only to protect their peer Volunteers, but also to preserve the 

future right to prosecute. Should Volunteers decide later in 

the process that they want to proceed with the prosecution 

of their assailant, this option may no longer exist if the 

evidence of the event has not been preserved at the time of 

the incident. 

Crime Data for Mali

The country-specific data chart below shows the average 

annual rates of the major types of crimes reported by Peace 

Corps Volunteers/trainees in Mali compared to all other 

Region programs as a whole. It can be understood as an 

approximation of the number of reported incidents per 100 

Volunteers in a year.
56 PEACE CORPS

Few Peace Corps Volunteers are victims of serious crimes and 

crimes that do occur overseas are investigated and prosecuted 

by local authorities through the local courts system. If you are 

the victim of a crime, you will decide if you wish to pursue 

prosecution. If you decide to prosecute, Peace Corps will be 

there to assist you. One of our tasks is to ensure you are fully 

informed of your options and understand how the local legal 

process works. Peace Corps will help you ensure your rights 

are protected to the fullest extent possible under the laws of 

the country.

1Incidence rates equal the number of assaults per 100 Volunteers and 

trainees per year (V/T years). Since most sexual assaults occur against 

females, only female V/T years are calculated in sexual assaults and other 

sexual assaults.

2Due to the small number of V/T years, incidence rates should be interpreted 

with caution.

Source data on incidents are drawn from Assault Notification Surveillance 

System (ANSS), Epidemiologic Surveillance System (ESS), Crime Incident 

Reporting Form (CIRF), and Consolidated Incident Reporting System; the 

information is accurate as of 6/18/10.

Prior to CIRF and prior to 2006, Other Sexual Assaults were termed Minor 

Sexual Assault.

The incidence rate for each type of crime is the number of crime events 

relative to the Volunteer/trainee population. It is expressed on the chart 

as a ratio of crime to Volunteer and trainee years (or V/T years, which is a 

measure of 12 full months of V/T service) to allow for a statistically valid way 

to compare crime data across countries. 

Incidence Rates of Reported Incidents in PC/Mali and Africa 

Region, 2005-2009

0.2

1.4 0.9 0.9

4.6

14.9

0.6 0.9 0.7

2.6

5.8

8.4

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

14.0

16.0

Sexual

Assault*

Other Sexual

Assault**

Physical

Assault***

Robbery Burglary Theft

Mali Africa

*Sexual Assault includes the categories of rape, attempted rape, and major sexual assault.

**Other Sexual Assault consists of unwanted groping, fondling, and/or kissing.

***Physical Assault includes aggravated assault and major physical assault.
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 57

If you are the victim of a serious crime, you will learn how to 

get to a safe location as quickly as possible and contact your 

Peace Corps office. It’s important that you notify Peace Corps 

as soon as you can so Peace Corps can provide you with the 

help you need.

Volunteer Safety Support in Mali

The Peace Corps’ approach to safety is a five-pronged plan 

to help you stay safe during your service and includes the 

following: information sharing, Volunteer training, site 

selection criteria, a detailed emergency action plan, and 

protocols for addressing safety and security incidents. Mali’s 

in-country safety program is outlined below.

The Peace Corps/Mali office will keep you informed of any 

issues that may impact Volunteer safety through information 

sharing. Regular updates will be provided in Volunteer 

newsletters, memorandums, and electronic postings from 

the country director. In the event of a critical situation or 

emergency, you will be contacted through the emergency 

communication network. An important component of the 

capacity of Peace Corps to keep you informed is your buy-in 

to the partnership concept with the Peace Corps staff. It is 

expected that you will do your part in ensuring that Peace 

Corps staff members are kept apprised of your movements 

in-country so they are able to inform you.

Volunteer training will include sessions on specific safety 

and security issues in Mali. This training will prepare you to 

adopt a culturally appropriate lifestyle and exercise judgment 

that promotes safety and reduces risk in your home, at work, 

and while traveling. Safety training is offered throughout 

service and is integrated into the language, cross-cultural 

aspects, health, and other components of training. You will be 
58 P E A C E C O R P S

expected to successfully complete all training competencies in 

a variety of areas, including safety and security, as a condition 

of service.

Certain site selection criteria are used to determine safe 

housing for Volunteers before their arrival. The Peace Corps 

staff works closely with host communities and counterpart 

agencies to help prepare them for a Volunteer’s arrival and to 

establish expectations of their respective roles in supporting 

the Volunteer. Each site is inspected before the Volunteer’s 

arrival to ensure placement in appropriate, safe, and secure 

housing and worksites. Site selection is based, in part, on 

any relevant site history; access to medical, banking, postal, 

and other essential services; availability of communications, 

transportation, and markets; different housing options and 

living arrangements; and other Volunteer support needs.

You will also learn about Peace Corps/Mali’s detailed 

emergency action plan, which is implemented in the event 

of civil or political unrest or a natural disaster. When you 

arrive at your site, you will complete and submit a site locator 

form with your address, contact information, and a map to 

your house. If there is a security threat, you will gather with 

other Volunteers in Mali at predetermined locations until the 

situation is resolved or the Peace Corps decides to evacuate.

Finally, in order for the Peace Corps to be fully responsive 

to the needs of Volunteers, it is imperative that Volunteers 

immediately report any security incident to the Peace 

Corps office. The Peace Corps has established protocols 

for addressing safety and security incidents in a timely and 

appropriate manner, and it collects and evaluates safety 

and security data to track trends and develop strategies to 

minimize risks to future Volunteers.
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 59

N O T E S
60 P E A C E C O R P S
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 61

D I VERSITY AND CROSSCULTURAL ISSUES

In fulfilling its mandate to share the face of America with host 

countries, the Peace Corps is making special efforts to assure 

that all of America’s richness is reflected in the Volunteer 

corps. More Americans of color are serving in today’s Peace 

Corps than at any time in recent history. Differences in race, 

ethnic background, age, religion, and sexual orientation 

are expected and welcomed among our Volunteers. Part of 

the Peace Corps’ mission is to help dispel any notion that 

Americans are all of one origin or race and to establish that 

each of us is as thoroughly American as the other despite our 

many differences. 

Our diversity helps us accomplish that goal. In other ways, 

however, it poses challenges. In Mali, as in other Peace Corps 

host countries, Volunteers’ behavior, lifestyle, background, 

and beliefs are judged in a cultural context very different from 

their own. Certain personal perspectives or characteristics 

commonly accepted in the United States may be quite 

uncommon, unacceptable, or even repressed in Mali.

Outside of Mali’s capital, Bamako, residents of rural 

communities have had relatively little direct exposure to other 

cultures, races, religions, and lifestyles. What people view as 

typical American behavior or norms may be a misconception, 

such as the belief that all Americans are rich and have blond 

hair and blue eyes. The people of Mali are justly known for 

their generous hospitality to foreigners; however, members of 

the community in which you will live may display a range of 

reactions to cultural differences that you present. 
62 P E A C E C O R P S

To ease the transition and adapt to life in Mali, you may need 

to make some temporary, yet fundamental compromises in 

how you present yourself as an American and as an individual. 

For example, female Trainees and Volunteers may not be 

able to exercise the independence available to them in the 

United States; political discussions need to be handled with 

great care; and some of your personal beliefs may best remain 

undisclosed. You will need to develop techniques and personal 

strategies for coping with these and other limitations. The 

Peace Corps staff will lead diversity and sensitivity discussions 

during pre-service training and will be on call to provide 

support, but the challenge ultimately will be your own. 

Overview of Diversity in Mali

The Peace Corps staff in Mali recognizes the adjustment 

issues that come with diversity and will endeavor to 

provide support and guidance. During pre-service training, 

several sessions will be held to discuss diversity and coping 

mechanisms. We look forward to having male and female 

Volunteers from a variety of races, ethnic groups, ages, 

religions, and sexual orientations, and hope that you will 

become part of a diverse group of Americans who take pride 

in supporting one another and demonstrating the richness of 

American culture. 

What Might a Volunteer Face?

Possible Issues for Female Volunteers

Mali has a traditional, patriarchal society. Female Volunteers 

may be surprised by the extent to which community and 

domestic roles are defined along gender lines and how little 

control they have over this. Although women are becoming 

more visible, men generally hold positions of greater authority 
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 63

in the workplace, in the community, and in the home. This 

strong tradition can present challenges for female Volunteers, 

especially those in agriculture and natural resource 

management projects, where they may be seen as taking on 

a typically “male” role. In addition, single people, especially 

women, generally do not have the status and respect that 

come with marriage and parenthood. Thus, female Volunteers 

may find it challenging to have their ideas recognized and 

respected by both women and men. 

Possible Issues for Volunteers of Color 

Although Malian society can be conservative, Volunteers 

generally find Malians to be hospitable and accepting of 

people with a wide variety of backgrounds. Nevertheless, 

Malians may have preconceived notions of Americans based 

on the kind of information available in Mali about Westerners, 

which comes mainly from television, movies, magazines, and 

local news reports, which often represent a limited view 

of American diversity. For example, Asian Americans are 

often called Chinois (Chinese) regardless of their actual 

background, and African Americans may not be considered 

Americans. 

Possible Issues for Senior Volunteers

The high regard for seniors in Malian society lends support 

to senior Volunteers’ effectiveness at work. They, in turn, are 

able to find ways to use their extensive experience to assist 

their communities. However, seniors often comment that they 

feel a lack of camaraderie with other, mostly much younger, 

Volunteers. And the three months of pre-service training can 

be particularly frustrating for seniors because of the rigid 

schedule, classroom setting, and issues of integration with 

other trainees in the group. Language learning may present 

an additional challenge. However, most senior Volunteers find 

living and working at their sites to be very rewarding. 
64 P E A C E C O R P S

Possible Issues for Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual Volunteers

Given their conservative values, homosexuality is not likely to 

be tolerated by the general Malian population. It will probably 

be impossible to be open about your sexual orientation and 

maintain a positive working relationship with members of your 

community. Disclosure of gay, lesbian, or bisexual orientation 

in Mali could compromise your safety and security, and impact 

your relationship with others in the community in a negative 

way. Other Volunteers and the Peace Corps staff will provide 

support, but you will find it very difficult to be open outside of 

that circle. 

You can find more information at www.geocities.com/~lgbrpcv/, 

a website created by lesbian, gay, and bisexual returned Peace 

Corps Volunteers. Peace Corps recruiters can also send you a 

packet of helpful information. 

Possible Religious Issues for Volunteers

Volunteers do not report negative reactions from their Malian 

colleagues about their religious beliefs. The majority of Malians 

are generally very tolerant of religions other than Islam. 

Proselytizing by Volunteers is not permitted, and it is wise to 

avoid confrontations over religious issues. 

Possible Issues for Volunteers With Disabilities

As part of the medical clearance process, the Peace Corps 

Office of Medical Services determined that you were 

physically and emotionally capable, with or without reasonable 

accommodations, to perform a full tour of Volunteer service 

in Mali without unreasonable risk of harm to yourself or 

interruption of service. The Peace Corps/Mali staff will work 

with disabled Volunteers to make reasonable accommodations 

for them in training, housing, jobsites, or other areas to enable 

them to serve safely and effectively. 
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 65

N O T E S
66 P E A C E C O R P S
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 67

FREQ UENTLY ASKED Q UESTIONS

How much luggage am I allowed to bring to Mali?

Most airlines have baggage size and weight limits and assess 

charges for transport of baggage that exceeds those limits. The 

Peace Corps has its own size and weight limits and will not 

pay the cost of transport for baggage that exceeds these limits. 

The Peace Corps’ allowance is two checked pieces of luggage 

with combined dimensions of both pieces not to exceed 107 

inches (length + width + height) and a carry-on bag with 

dimensions of no more than 45 inches. Checked baggage 

should not exceed 80 pounds total with a maximum weight of 

50 pounds for any one bag.

Peace Corps Volunteers are not allowed to take pets, 

weapons, explosives, radio transmitters (shortwave radios 

are permitted), automobiles, or motorcycles to their overseas 

assignments. Do not pack flammable materials or liquids 

such as lighter fluid, cleaning solvents, hair spray, or aerosol 

containers. This is an important safety precaution.

What is the electric current in Mali?

It is 220 volts, 50 cycles. However, not many Volunteers have 

electricity in their homes and where electricity does exist, 

power cuts and surges are common, putting a real strain on 

power supplies and voltage transformers or regulators. (The 

Peace Corps does not provide transformers or regulators.) For 

battery-powered appliances, such as tape players and radios, 

we suggest D batteries, since these are readily available at 

markets. Many Volunteers use rechargeable batteries with 

a solar charger, which is a good alternative to disposable 

batteries.
68 P E A C E C O R P S

How much money should I bring?

Volunteers are expected to live at the same level as the people 

in their community. You will be given a settling-in allowance 

and a monthly living allowance, which should cover your 

expenses. Volunteers often wish to bring additional money for 

vacation travel to other countries. Credit cards and traveler’s 

checks are preferable to cash. If you choose to bring extra 

money, bring the amount that will suit your own travel plans 

and needs. 

When can I take vacation and have people visit me?

Each Volunteer accrues two vacation days per month of 

service (excluding training). Leave may not be taken during 

training, the first three months of service, or the last three 

months of service, except in conjunction with an authorized 

emergency leave. Family and friends are welcome to visit 

you after pre-service training and the first three months of 

service as long as their stay does not interfere with your work. 

Extended stays at your site are not encouraged and may 

require permission from your country director. The Peace 

Corps is not able to provide your visitors with visa, medical, or 

travel assistance. 

Will my belongings be covered by insurance?

The Peace Corps does not provide insurance coverage for 

personal effects; Volunteers are ultimately responsible for 

the safekeeping of their personal belongings. However, you 

can purchase personal property insurance before you leave. 

If you wish, you may contact your own insurance company; 

additionally, insurance application forms will be provided, 

and we encourage you to consider them carefully. Volunteers 

should not ship or take valuable items overseas. Jewelry, 

watches, radios, cameras, and expensive appliances are 

subject to loss, theft, and breakage, and in many places, 

satisfactory maintenance and repair services are not available. 
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 69

Do I need an international driver’s license?

Volunteers in Mali do not need an international driver’s license 

because they are prohibited from operating privately owned 

motorized vehicles. Most urban travel is by bus or taxi. Rural 

travel ranges from buses and minibuses to trucks, bicycles, 

and lots of walking. On very rare occasions, a Volunteer may 

be asked to drive a sponsor’s vehicle, but this can occur only 

with prior written permission from the country director. 

Should this occur, the Volunteer may obtain a local driver’s 

license. A U.S. driver’s license will facilitate the process, so 

bring it with you just in case.

What should I bring as gifts for Mali friends and 

my host family?

This is not a requirement. A token of friendship is sufficient. 

Some gift suggestions include knickknacks for the house; 

pictures, books, or calendars of American scenes; souvenirs 

from your area; hard candies that will not melt or spoil; or 

photos to give away.

Where will my site assignment be when I finish training and 

how isolated will I be?

Peace Corps trainees are not assigned to individual sites 

until after they have completed pre-service training. This 

gives Peace Corps staff the opportunity to assess each 

trainee’s technical and language skills prior to assigning sites, 

in addition to finalizing site selections with their ministry 

counterparts. If feasible, you may have the opportunity to 

provide input on your site preferences, including geographical 

location, distance from other Volunteers, and living conditions. 

However, keep in mind that many factors influence the site 

selection process and that the Peace Corps cannot guarantee 

placement where you would ideally like to be. Most Volunteers 

live in small towns or in rural villages and are usually within 

one hour from another Volunteer. Some sites require a 10- to 
12-hour drive from the capital. There is at least one Volunteer 

based in each of the regional capitals and about five to six 

Volunteers in the capital city.

How can my family contact me in an emergency?

The Peace Corps’ Office of Special Services provides 

assistance in handling emergencies affecting trainees and 

Volunteers or their families. Before leaving the United States, 

instruct your family to notify the Office of Special Services 

immediately if an emergency arises, such as a serious illness 

or death of a family member. During normal business hours, 

the number for the Office of Special Services is 800.424.8580; 

select option 2, then extension 1470. After normal business 

hours and on weekends and holidays, the Special Services 

duty officer can be reached at the above number. For nonemergency questions, your family can get information 

from your country desk staff at the Peace Corps by calling 

800.424.8580. 

Can I call home from Mali? 

International phone service to and from Mali is relatively 

good. SOTELMA, the national telephone company, has 

offices in all administrative towns. Calls to the United States 

cost approximately 200 CFA francs (40 cents) per minute. 

Volunteers prearrange calls from the United States or limit 

their calls to giving the party in the United States a number at 

which to return the call. U.S. calling cards cannot be used in 

Mali at this time, and calling collect is not possible.

Should I bring a cellular phone with me?

There are several cellular service providers in Mali. Service 

has been limited to cities and larger towns, but network 

coverage is rapidly expanding. Peace Corps staff members 

with emergency responsibilities are equipped with cellphones. 

Differences in technology make U.S. cellphones incompatible 
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 71

with the Malian cellular systems. For these reasons, we 

recommend that you not bring a cellphone with you. For 

safety and security reasons, Peace Corps has a “one site-one 

phone” policy whereby Volunteers who are alone in sites with 

network coverage will receive cellphones. Some Volunteers 

purchase their own cellphones after they arrive in Mali, 

although not all Volunteer sites are within cellphone network 

range.

Will there be email and Internet access? 

Should I bring my computer?

As mentioned in the Living Conditions and Volunteer Lifestyle 

chapter, Volunteers do have occasional access to email and the 

Internet. For example, trainees can access email at Tubaniso, 

the Peace Corps training center in Mali. The decision of 

whether to bring a laptop computer depends on your own 

needs. Few Volunteers have electricity at their sites, and the 

Peace Corps cannot provide technical support or insurance 

for personal computers. You can use the computers available 

through Internet cafes and, for work-related purposes, the 

Peace Corps office and regional houses. While laptops are 

convenient, they are not provided by Peace Corps. Remember, 

whether or not you bring a personal laptop is voluntary and, 

ultimately, a personal choice. You need to consider that 

laptops can get stolen, lost, damaged and have to survive 

extreme conditions. At a minimum, it would be helpful to 

bring a good-sized flash drive. 

a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 73

WELCOME LETTER FROM

MALI VOLUNTEERS

Congratulations on being invited to serve in Mali! You’ve 

been selected to go to a beautiful and challenging place that’s 

provided a rewarding two (or three) years of service to many 

Volunteers before you. 

I live in a small village where my work is focused on 

gardening, field crops, and resource management. I garden 

with my village friends, and I hold presentations to help them 

better understand composting and natural pesticides. We are 

also in the process of finding land and materials to start a 

community garden for the village women’s association. 

During the rainy season much of my time is devoted to 

working with local farmer’s cooperatives. I’ve helped them 

to start a farmer’s field school and established relationships 

with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and research 

institutions like ICRISAT, which help farmers acquire and 

test new varieties of seeds. Resource management involves 

deforestation awareness and working with local shea butter 

producers to protect parklands. These are just examples of 

things I do, and Volunteers across the country work alongside 

a variety of local and international organizations. 

Other Volunteers in my training group are working on 

projects covering everything from natural medicines to 

ecotourism, not to mention secondary activities outside 

their sector (health, sanitation, education, etc.). Our 

responsibility as Volunteers and agents of change is to work 

with communities by helping them identify their assets and by 

informing them of the opportunities and options that are out 

there.

Whether you’re placed in the smallest of villages or a 

medium-sized town, adjusting to life in Mali is a difficult task. 

You’ll be expected to familiarize yourself with new customs, 

new foods, and a new climate. Add these to the challenge of 

mastering a new language and it seems liking a daunting task. 
However, these are exactly the kinds of challenges that make 

your service so rewarding. 

Adjusting to the slow pace of life here takes time, but 

you will learn to enjoy those quiet moments that allow you 

to connect with the people around you. Whether you’re 

practicing Bambara or just enjoying a cup of tea, time 

together with co-workers and neighbors helps you through 

the necessary integration process. Then one day, gradually 

or suddenly, you will realize you are no longer just a face or a 

name; you have become a person in the eyes of those around 

you. This newly-seen depth of character is the cornerstone 

of trust, and what could be more necessary when you are 

helping people to change?

So enjoy your remaining time in the States while you can, 

and try not to worry too much beforehand. Recognize that we 

all arrive in new places as empty vessels, and allow yourself to 

gain much during your service here. 

You have an amazing experience waiting for you!

Aw bisimila,

Jonathan Burgess

PCV/2008-2010

Koni-Koulikoro Region
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 75

N O T E S
76 P E A C E C O R P S
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 77

PACK ING LIST

This list has been compiled by Volunteers serving in Mali and 

is based on their experience. Use it as an informal guide in 

making your own list, bearing in mind that each experience 

is individual. There is no perfect list! You obviously cannot 

bring everything on the list, so consider those items that make 

the most sense to you personally and professionally. You can 

always have things sent to you later. As you decide what to 

bring, keep in mind that you have a weight limit on baggage. 

And remember, you can get almost everything you need in 

Mali.

General Clothing

You can get almost everything you need in Mali. However, 

some items you may want to consider buying before coming 

over are:

•	 Music system (portable CD player or iPod/MP3 player,

good portable speakers)

•	 Durable shoes (sandals like Tevas/Chacos and running/

sports shoes)

•	 Good kitchen knife

Packing for Training

Most of the information below is oriented toward your life as 

a Volunteer. However, it is important to remember that for 

your first two months you will be in training. While in training, 

your meals, transport, and lodging will be provided. Be sure 

to bring enough appropriate clothing to last you for at least 

a week, as finding time to do laundry during training will be 

difficult.
78 P E A C E C O R P S

Clothing

(both men and women)

•	 Two pairs of pants in good condition (not too tight, too

loose, or too low cut)

•	 Three to five cotton T-shirts

•	 A few pairs of socks (avoid white due to sand and dust)

•	 Sweatpants and a sweatshirt or sweater (it can get

cool...really!)

•	 Lightweight rain jacket

•	 Cotton bandannas

•	 Baseball cap or broad-rimmed hat

•	 Swimsuit

•	 Clothing for sleeping in common areas (boxer shorts,

pajama pants, tank tops)

Note that shorts are not worn by men or women in public 

except to play sports.

For Men

•	 “Casual dress” clothes: shirts with collars and slacks

(preferably lightweight cotton)

•	 Two-week supply of underwear

•	 One dressy outfit and one tie for official functions

•	 One or two pairs of shorts for sports

For Women

•	 One slip (preferably cotton), if your skirts are sheer

•	 A good supply of bras and underwear, including sports

bras 

•	 Two nice outfits for official functions (calf length or

longer)

•	 Several dressy shirts
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 79

•	 Several nice, comfortable pairs of cotton pants

•	 One or two pairs of longer shorts or loose capris for

sports 

•	 Cosmetics, if you wear them

•	 Your favorite jewelry (but nothing too expensive or that

you would be devastated to lose)

Note: all skirts/dresses/pants must fall below the knees even 

when sitting down (preferably calf-length or longer). Shirts 

should not be tight, low cut, or sleeveless and cannot show 

your stomach or lower back (even bending over and raising 

your arms above your head).

A reminder about clothing: Malians, while not excessively 

formal, put a great deal of emphasis on a professional 

appearance. Dressing appropriately will greatly enhance your 

credibility at work, improve your ability to integrate into your 

community, and increase your odds of having a safe Peace 

Corps service. Men should expect to wear shirts with a collar 

and casual slacks; women should wear below-the-knee skirts 

and dresses or casual slacks with shirts that do not reveal too 

much of their chest or back. This means, for both men and 

women, no tight or see-through clothing that shows underwear 

lines, no outfits that show the knees when you are sitting 

down, and no torn or worn clothing. There are communities 

in Mali where you are expected to be even more modestly 

dressed (i.e., covering arms, legs, hair). You are expected to 

dress appropriately at all times when you are in public. That 

said, it is fine to dress down when you are relaxing with other 

Volunteers or while you are at home. 

Note: There are a lot of talented tailors and a wide variety 

of fabric in Mali. You will be able to have clothes made here. 

Bring things that you can have copied. Also, you can buy 

secondhand Western-style clothing in most Malian markets. Do 

not worry about bringing enough clothes for two years
80 P E A C E C O R P S

Personal Hygiene and Toiletry Items 

The Peace Corps medical kit contains almost everything 

you will need, though not necessarily in the brands you are 

accustomed to. You may want to bring a two-month supply of 

the following items to use during pre-service training.

•	 Shampoo and conditioner

•	 Deodorant

•	 Good razor and supply of blades (very expensive in

Mali)

•	 Body lotion

•	 Sunscreen

•	 Special vitamins (multivitamins are provided by the

Peace Corps) 

•	 Allergy medication

•	 Tampons or sanitary napkins

•	 Two pairs of prescription glasses or contact lenses and

solution

•	 Three-month supply of any prescription medication you

take (including birth control pills) 

•	 Nail clippers or nail care kit

•	 Earplugs

•	 Heat rash powder

Miscellaneous

You can find almost any kitchen item in Mali. You will not need 

any kitchen supplies during training, so you may want to have 

any items you choose to bring sent to you later. Following are 

a few items we recommend bringing:

•	 Good can opener or corkscrew

•	 Good frying pan (Non-stick is highly recommended, and

bring a plastic spatula for it)
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 81

•	 Dry sauce mixes and instant drink mixes (available in

Mali, but much more expensive)

•	 Favorite spices (e.g., Mrs. Dash, Italian seasonings,

Mexican spices)

•	 Seeds for spices and veggies to start your own garden

•	 Your favorite snack foods from America

•	 Sturdy backpacks (Day packs for work and bike rides;

medium packs for short trips; large packs for long trips)

•	 Leatherman, Swiss army knife, or other multipurpose

tool 

•	 Alarm clock

•	 Rechargeable batteries and charger (solar batteries may

be a good alternative; AAA and C batteries are difficult 

to find in Mali) 

•	 Two sturdy water bottles

•	 A portable music player (e.g., Walkman/Discman/MP3,

etc.) with minispeakers (While most Volunteers do not 

have electricity in their homes, they do have occasional 

access to electricity, during which time they can charge 

items)

•	 Plenty of your favorite music

•	 Anything from home that will make you feel more

comfortable (e.g., pictures, posters, books, journals) 

Malians will enjoy looking at your photos

•	 Camera and film (200- and 400-speed film is hard to

find locally) or digital with extra flash cards and extra 

batteries

•	 Shortwave radio or WorldSpace satellite receiver (see

www.worldspace.com) 

•	 Flashlight and headlamp

•	 Towel

•	 One or two flat sheets and a pillowcase

•	 Combination lock (key locks are available in Mali)
82 P E A C E C O R P S

•	 Duct tape (for fixing everything)

•	 Plastic bags (e.g., Ziplocs) and containers—to protect

your camera, tapes, food, etc.

•	 Good scissors (hair-cutting scissors optional)

•	 Sturdy sunglasses

•	 Sturdy but inexpensive watch, preferably waterproof

Additional Items to Consider Bringing

•	 Sports equipment (e.g., soccer ball, football, frisbee,

baseball mitt) 

•	 U.S. and world maps

•	 Travel games (e.g., cards, chess, checkers, Frisbee,

backgammon, Scrabble, Monopoly, Taboo, Trivial 

Pursuit, Risk)

•	 Pocket-size French-English dictionary

•	 Musical instrument

•	 Calendar

•	 Digital thermometer

•	 Compact sleeping pad

•	 Notecards, stationery, good writing pens, address book,

books of U.S. stamps (Volunteers traveling to the United 

States can mail letters for you)

•	 Small toolkit

•	 Light, highly compactable sleeping bag

•	 Eyeglass repair kit

•	 Your favorite movies on DVD or videocassette (there are

DVD players and VCRs at Peace Corps regional houses)

•	 Laptop computer
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 83

Items You Do Not Need to Bring

•	 Heavy coat

•	 A large quantity of clothes

•	 Camouflage or military-style clothing

•	 A lot of language materials

•	 A lot of cash

•	 A two-year supply of toiletries

•	 Kitchen items (e.g., silverware, flatware not mentioned

in packing) 

•	 Water filter (provided by the Peace Corps if needed)

•	 Business suit

•	 Nylons

•	 Veils

Remember, items that exceed the 80-pound weight limit or 

that you can’t fit in your suitcase can always be shipped to: 

Your name, PCT

Corps de la Paix

B.P. 85

Bamako, Mali, West Africa

a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 85

PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKLIST

The following list consists of suggestions for you to consider 

as you prepare to live outside the United States for two years. 

Not all items will be relevant to everyone, and the list does 

not include everything you should make arrangements for.

Family

•	 Notify family that they can call the Peace Corps’ Office

of Special Services at any time if there is a critical 

illness or death of a family member (24-hour telephone 

number: 800.424.8580, extension 1470).

•	 Give the Peace Corps’ On the Home Front handbook to 

family and friends.

Passport/Travel

•	 Forward to the Peace Corps travel office all paperwork

for the Peace Corps passport and visas.

•	 Verify that your luggage meets the size and weight

limits for international travel.

•	 Obtain a personal passport if you plan to travel after

your service ends. (Your Peace Corps passport will 

expire three months after you finish your service, so 

if you plan to travel longer, you will need a regular 

passport.)

Medical/Health

•	 Complete any needed dental and medical work.

•	 If you wear glasses, bring two pairs.

•	 Arrange to bring a three-month supply of all

medications (including birth control pills) you are 

currently taking.
86 P E A C E C O R P S

Insurance

•	 Make arrangements to maintain life insurance coverage.

•	 Arrange to maintain supplemental health coverage

while you are away. (Even though the Peace Corps is 

responsible for your health care during Peace Corps 

service overseas, it is advisable for people who have 

pre-existing conditions to arrange for the continuation 

of their supplemental health coverage. If there is a 

lapse in coverage, it is often difficult and expensive to 

be reinstated.)

•	 Arrange to continue Medicare coverage if applicable.

Personal Papers

•	 Bring a copy of your certificate of marriage or divorce.

Voting

•	 Register to vote in the state of your home of record.

(Many state universities consider voting and payment 

of state taxes as evidence of residence in that state.)

•	 Obtain a voter registration card and take it with you

overseas.

•	 Arrange to have an absentee ballot forwarded to you

overseas. 

Personal Effects

•	 Purchase personal property insurance to extend from

the time you leave your home for service overseas until 

the time you complete your service and return to the 

United States.
a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 87

Financial Management

•	 Keep a bank account in your name in the U.S.

•	 Obtain student loan deferment forms from the lender or

loan service.

•	 Execute a Power of Attorney for the management of

your property and business.

•	 Arrange for deductions from your readjustment

allowance to pay alimony, child support, and other 

debts through the Office of Volunteer Financial 

Operations at 800.424.8580, extension 1770.

•	 Place all important papers—mortgages, deeds, stocks,

and bonds—in a safe deposit box or with an attorney or 

other caretaker.

a w e lco m e b oo k · m a l i 89

Co ntacting P eac e Co rps 

H eadquarte r s

This list of numbers will help connect you with the appropriate 

office at Peace Corps headquarters to answer various questions. You 

can use the toll-free number and extension or dial directly using the 

local numbers provided. Be sure to leave the toll-free number and 

extensions with your family so they can contact 

you in the event of an emergency.

Peace Corps Headquarters

Toll-free Number: 800.424.8580, Press 2, then 

Ext. # (see below)

Peace Corps’ Mailing Address: Peace Corps

Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Headquarters

1111 20th Street, NW

Washington, DC 20526

For Direct/

Questions Toll-free Local

About: Staff Extension Number

Responding to Office of 

an Invitation Placement

Africa Ext. 1840 202.692.1840

Region

Programming or Nicole Lewis

Country Desk Officer Ext. 2327 202.692.2327

Country Information E-mail: nlewis2@

peacecorps.gov

Daryn J. Warner

Country Desk Assistant Ext. 2328 202.692.2328

E-mail: dwarner@

peacecorps.gov

Pe a c e Co r p s

Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Headquarters

1111 20th Street NW · Washington, DC 20526 · www.peacecorps.gov · 1-800-424-8580
90 P E A C E C O R P S

For Direct/

Questions Toll-free Local

About: Staff Extension Number

Plane Tickets, Travel Officer Ext. 1170 202.692.1170 

Passports, (Sato Travel)

Visas, or Other 

Travel Matters

Legal Clearance Office of Ext. 1840 202.692.1840

Placement

Medical Clearance Screening Nurse Ext. 1500 202.692.1500

and Forms Processing 

(including dental) 

Medical Handled by a 

Reimbursements Subcontractor 800.818.8772

Loan Deferments, Volunteer Ext. 1770 202.692.1770

Taxes, Readjustment Financial

Allowance Withdrawals, Operations

Power of Attorney

Staging (Pre-departure Office of Staging Ext. 1865 202.692.1865

Orientation) and 

Reporting Instructions

Note: You will receive 

comprehensive information 

(hotel and flight arrangements) three to five weeks

before departure. This information is not available 

sooner.

Family Emergencies Office of Special Ext. 1470 202.692.1470

(to get information to Services (24 hours)

a Volunteer overseas)