The Global Fund for Children identifies and invests in community-based programs around the world to enhance the lives of children. A portion of the royalties from our book publishing venture, Shakti for Children, along with other private gifts, help fund grants to community-based educational programs that are aimed at addressing the special needs of girls, street children, AIDS orphans, and child laborers and other vulnerable groups of children. Since many of the participants must work during the day, all classes are taught at night. Founded in 1991, AFEM provides basic education and skills training to over 3,000 girls in Mali. To support the purchase of desks for over 3,050 students at five community schools.
Students often have to sit up to five at a desk, which makes learning difficult.
Because of the lack of government resources, communities have joined together and pooled their resources in order to construct schools for their young people. The grant is matched dollar for dollar by members of the community. To support the purchase of desks and culturally relevant textbooks for over 2,380 students at five community schools. As in Tanzania, communities have joined together to construct schools for young people. The grant is matched dollar for dollar by members of the community.