Poverty in rural Mali is complex. Families rely on farming, and that requires regular rainfall. The climate crisis is causing more drought, which can lead to food shortages. Limited access to essential services like healthcare, education and clean water makes the situation worse. This week, pray for communities to be able to overcome poverty in these extreme conditions.
Sunday 16 November
‘We faced a problem where women’s main occupation was chopping wood,’ says Fatoumata from Doniena village in Mali. ‘Women didn’t have jobs. There was a lot of poverty here. Families were struggling to care for children.’ Lord, we lift up women like Fatoumata to you. Open up doors to more income opportunities so they can support their families. Amen.
Monday 17 November
‘Before, it was difficult for us to go and get water because we had to go nearly two-and-a-half miles,’ says Fatoumata. ‘We’d take our cans and fetch 40 litres of water. It was very tiring.’ Lift up those who bear the physical weight of water collection, often walking long distances under the harsh sun.
Tuesday 18 November
‘With this problem, I felt really bad. Sometimes it was hard for me to sleep,’ says Fatoumata. ‘I just felt sadness.’ We pray for the hearts burdened by exhaustion. Grant them your peace that surpasses all understanding, Lord. Mend their spirits, and let them know they are seen, heard and deeply cared for by you. Amen.
Wednesday 19 November
‘The children were going to draw water from the marigots [small streams],’ says Mahamadou, the Principal of Bangouni school in Sanbougou. ‘They risked snakebites, even drowning.’ Lord, we cry out for the protection of children who face danger in their daily tasks. May their childhoods be marked by safety, play and the freedom to learn and grow. Amen.
Thursday 20 November
Tearfund’s partner Organisme de Développement pour l'Espérance/Development Organisation for Hope (ODES) identified Doniena and Sanbougou as communities that would benefit from support. ‘What ODES did for us, they brought us the water tower, and that encourages us to move forward,’ says Fatoumata. ‘That encourages us to do activities as well.’ Praise God for the provision of a water tower, which is making a huge difference to the lives of people like Fatoumata.
Friday 21 November
Balo Ami Djourte, from Sikasso, Mali, says, ‘Before, in church, we prayed in business activities. When we received the business training, it opened our eyes again.’ Pray for the transformative power of education and training to continue to ignite possibilities in communities and empower individuals to discover their God-given gifts.
Saturday 22 November
What touched me the most was how women can now flourish through their own efforts,’ says Mrs Djourte, a preschool teacher and small business owner in Sikasso who took part in Transforming Communities training. Lord, unleash the strength and potential in the women of Mali. Bless their endeavours, provide them with resources and support, and enable them to rise as leaders and change-makers in their communities. Amen.
