About the Fund
MISSION STATEMENT: Our goal is to assist 500 women acquire a trade at our learning centre, Centre Pour le Developpement Des Femmes, within the first year. Eventually we hope to expand our program to rural villages, as well as other major cities in Mali.
By providing a learning facility that shares knowledge and teaches sustainable trades, which are designed to help our students start and maintain their own business, we will enrich the lives of less fortunate women and children.
For mothers, who would otherwise be unable to attend our classes, childcare is available on the premises.
About The Mali Fala Fund
Jane Drew is the founder of the MALI FALA FUND – a non- profit corporation established to benefit the women and children of West Africa.
While initially being drawn to Mali’s incredible music, she also has a strong desire to do something positive for Africa. After raising $6,500 at a benefit in Los Angeles, where she lives, Jane made her first visit to Mali in October 2005. There, she used the funds to help provide clothing, basic medical needs, and school supplies for an orphanage in Bamako, as well as rice, millet, and sugar for the local villages.
After organizing the Mali Fala Fund’s 2nd benefit, a silent auction held at the Ghettogloss gallery in Silver Lake, she returned to Mali in March 2007 where she purchased much needed school supplies for the village of Kangola, which is 35 kilometres from Bamako. It was during this trip Jane recognized her efforts would best be served by starting a learning centre for women: One where they could acquire skills, enabling them to pursue a trade, and thus help to provide for their families.
In September 2007, Jane organized the Mali Fala Fund’s 3rd fundraiser. Held at Rudolpho’s Bar and Grill in Silver Lake, this silent auction and music event featured local musician Robert Berryman. Along with some of his original material, Robert and his band performed traditional Malian music.
Jane’s 4th fundraiser, in January 2008, was a guided tour of Mali. Escorting eleven persons on an extensive adventure, Jane covered several major cities, including Essakane, Timbuktu, for the Festival of the Desert, the most remote music festival in the world.
The fifth fund raiser was held at Fix Coffee Shop in Echo Park on October 10th 2009. African Cowboy played Malian music to the well attended event of friends and supporter. For more entertainment there were Senegalese drummers lead by Pape Diouf. The money raised from the silent auction and tickets sold was used to buy sewing machines and tables and chairs which Jane purchased on here visit to Mali in January 2010.
Once again African Cowboy and their ever advancing musical talents, performed for the 6th fund raiser.
Yacine Kouyate played traditional Malian music captivating our guests with his guitar and voice, his music and verse.
The drum circle with Malik Sow was a big success!
With all these incredibly talented musicians this made for the best fund raiser yet!
The money raised from generous donations will be used to purchase needed supplies for the Centre Pour le Developpement des Femmes in Mali.
Jane met co-founder, Oumar Diane, on her first visit to Mali in 2005. Together, they organize all events and oversee all aspects of the Mali Fala Fund. A native of Mali, Oumar lives in Bamako with his wife Assie.
LEARNING CENTRE:
CENTRE POUR LE DEVELOPPEMENT DES FEMMES (CDF-MALI)
Before
After
Money collected from the last fundraiser was used to build a gazebo like structure and to install a vegetable garden at the learning centre.
This structure will provide extra work areas for the women and enable them to grow much needed food staples.
At the centre we will be able to train around 500 women a year.
Trades taught at the centre will include:
Midwifery – Many women and children die during childbirth.
Recycling - Recreating plastic bags into useful and profitable items.
Soap Making – Needed for personal hygiene, laundry and many everyday uses.
Composting – Utilizing waste to promote healthy vegetation.
Chicken Farming – Providing information to ensure an on going chicken chain for both meat and eggs.
Shea Butter – Sharing the production techniques for local sales and exporting.
Dress Making – A trade that is always in demand.
Fabric Dyeing – Keeping the tradition alive.
Jewelry Making – Trinkets made from recycled materials.
Preserves/Jam making – A profitable business.