Project presentation
Despite their proximity to Mali’s capital, the peripheral neighborhoods of Bamako face rising violence and worsening existing inequalities. These neighborhoods are overcrowded due to population displacements caused by armed conflict. Housing and urban planning challenges are intensifying, the transport network is poorly developed (it takes an average of 2 to 3 hours to reach downtown Bamako), and access to employment, education, and training is limited. Isolation and marginalization reinforce hatred, delinquency, and the radicalization of young people. There is a genuine need for economic development and local solidarity. Gender inequalities, already highly prevalent in Mali, are further exacerbated. Women earn their livelihoods through informal, low-paying, and energy-intensive activities and are almost absent from public spaces, making them invisible in a society where gender issues are often overlooked.
In response to this situation, the NGO SEED (Solidarity, Equity, Empowerment, Development) and its local partner Street Movie have developed a project that uses culture and cultural activities as an economic and social lever to increase women’s incomes, strengthen their role within their community, and place gender equality at the heart of these neighborhoods’ priorities. Community culture in Mali presents a real opportunity for economic development, allowing young people to maintain a connection to their community while also envisioning a future for themselves.
