Location: Baguinéda, Bamako, Mali

Centre Host: Association Malienne pour la Promotion de la Jeune Fille et de la Femme (AMPJF)

Status: open

Dec 5, 2010: The Baguinéda Football for Hope Centre opens its doors

The Football for Hope Centre in Mali is situated in Baguinéda Camp, 35 km from the capital, Bamako. Located on the Niger River, over 90% of this rural community are farmers; however, the urban influence of Bamako is increasing. Women and girls, who make up 65% of the population, face particular difficulties with a prevalence of early marriage, a high percentage of drop-outs and only 60% of girls regularly attending school. The community is also affected by many health issues such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, onchocercosis and bilharzia.

Health and educational facilities in Baguinéda are limited and none of the schools in the area has football pitches. There is neither running water nor electricity in the community; the Football for Hope Centre is completely self-sustainable with solar power energy and a water pump. It has a far-reaching impact on the community, directly affecting nearly 105,000 people locally and reaching over 400,000 children and 50,000 families in the wider community and surrounding areas.

AMPJF has been working in Bamako and other urban and rural areas across Mali since 2000 to support and improve the social status and economic empowerment of young girls and women in Malian society. Targeting young women aged 10-25, AMPJF organises girls' football teams with over 400 participants as well as tournaments and cultural festivals. The organisation also provides girls and women with economic and educational opportunities and runs a peer education programme where over 200 girls teach their peers about reproductive health.  

The Baguinéda Football for Hope Centre has a strong community focus. Designed and built in the rural community of Baguinéda, 35 km outside of Bamako, the centre meets some of the community’s most urgent needs. With the centre, AMPJF aims to engage out-of-school youth and vulnerable young people to stay in or re-enter the school system. Tutoring, literacy programmes and internet courses are at the heart of the centre’s programmes. Vocational training workshops on nutrition, gardening, cooking or shea butter production aim to create formal employment opportunities for the girls and women in the community.

Regular football training sessions and courses in refereeing are also on offer. All football sessions begin with health education on topics such as reproductive health, HIV and STDs using peer educators.

Souadou Diabaté
Présidente AMPJF
+223 66 71 47 07 / 73 45 02 56
ampjf@yahoo.fr