Empowering and developing inspirational leaders
A core component of One Global Village’s mission is empowerment, and a central belief is the importance of partnership and collaboration. Success happens when local partners, collaboratives, and representatives “on the ground” are given the tools and support to define their own needs and participate in developing solutions. That participation can become a catalyst for growth and personal development, enhancing innate capabilities and adding new skills, confidence, and knowledge. One person’s growth can have ripple effects that benefit entire communities.
Highlighting two impressive examples from OGV’s Mali team: Mme. Korotimi Haidara and Wafo Diarra.
Mme. Korotimi Haidara, Mali Director
Mme Haidara, Koro, began working with the OGV US team in 2012 as a translator, and quickly became indispensable: first as Siraba School Coordinator, and then as Mali Director, leading the local team and serving as a role model for girls and women in Dagabo. She joined her local Rotary chapter as OGV’s representative, and over the years gained increasing skills and relationships through that organization, plus exposure to other Malian and global NGOs, and via her work with local governments on behalf of Siraba School. Koro’s development has enabled incredible growth in OGV’s programming to address needs in Dagabo as well as expanding to additional villages. She continues to create innovative partnerships and activities that directly benefit OGV’s constituents – students and women in Dagabo, graduates in Piébougou and Ouéléssébougou – plus the broader community that surrounds them.
Photos above and below are from one example. Koro has joined a consortium of women in a program called She Leads, sponsored by Plan International Netherlands and African Women’s Development and Communications Network, which focuses on increasing influence of girls and young women in decision-making and transforming gender norms. Koro organized a conference in Ouéléssébougou and gathered local leaders to discuss preventing gender-based violence to women and girls. 12 women from the Dagabo Women’s Committee attended, and Koro was a lead speaker at the conference as well.
Wafo Diarra, Nurse
Wafo is another example of how education and participation can empower and enhance life opportunities, and how one person’s personal growth can impact an entire community.
Wafo was a graduate of Siraba School who One Global Village helped support to attend nursing school. She began to assist Dr. Tammy during the US team’s medical missions – at first hesitantly, distributing worm medication to children, and soon confidently providing injections and other care. Three years ago, after completing her nursing program, she shadowed Dr. Tammy as she visited the pregnant women and new mothers in Dagabo to discuss the importance of prenatal and early infant care. Wafo showed such aptitude and skills that we asked her to join the OGV team as visiting nurse, focusing on students of Siraba School and new mothers and infants. This year she determined that young mothers in Dagabo needed guidance on transitioning their babies to solid foods, so she designed and conducted training on when to introduce and how to prepare an inexpensive, nutritious fortified cereal-based first food for young children. Wafo’s initiative, dedication, and confidence are truly inspirational, and significantly benefit the community in Dagabo.
