ABOUT US
Mali is a large country in the heart of West Africa with 21 million people.
Mali has sophisticated history, a wonderful artistic heritage and some of the nicest people in the world, but Mali is also one of the most food insecure countries.
Two thirds of the country is desert. People rely on livestock and farmland for their food and income but climate change is making rural livelihoods unviable and is forcing people to move. In South Mali most young people have to migrate to find work in neighbouring countries so that their families can survive.
We have worked in rural Mali for over 30 years. We work with two partner organisations and 16 local staff in two of Mali’s poorest regions: Bandiagara in Central Mali and Yorosso in the South. Our focus is on people’s most basic needs of being able to grow food and having access to water. We also support income-generating schemes for women and young people so that they are not forced to migrate and provide training to birth attendants.
Mali is a cosmopolitan country that for centuries was the site of vast empires built upon its ability to trade gold and salt along rivers and camel caravan routes. Mali had one of the earliest universities in the world in Timbuktu and a library of 10,000 handwritten books before Oxford and Cambridge.
OUR TEAM
Joliba can only do as much as it does thanks to the incredible staff and volunteers in Mali.
They direct efforts on the ground, respond quickly to issues as they arise and share so much care with the communities they work with and belong to.
There is tremendous community support to make projects successful and our work is highly regarded and has won awards in Mali.
An outstanding feature of Joliba’s work is that we achieve an enormous amount at low cost with the donations that we receive, and our long experience in the country allows us to target people’s greatest priorities.
Our partners are based in two field offices, in Bandiagara and Koutiala.
Our Field Director, Mariam Ouologuem has worked with us for over 20 years. She is an Agronomist with many years experience in Forestry, income-generation and environmental work in Mali. Mariam is a pioneer of agro-ecology and regenerative farming methods in Mali.
Our Field Director and our 15 staff are indigenous to the areas in which they work. They speak the local languages and live within the communities they work in, rather than visiting from an outside urban area.
Our approach gives an important place to innovation and creativity in beneficiary communities and keeps costs much lower. Volunteers are trained, carry out all the work and implement and manage their own projects. Usually Joliba’s contribution to a project is extremely small involving only an input of materials or training. In the case of wells, we provide only the materials and the services of a Water Technician. The men of the village contribute the main costs – all the building labour, transport of materials – and ongoing management is carried out by the village.
Joliba is the local name for the River Niger which runs through Mali and means ‘riches of life’.
OUR PATRONS
Professor David Goulson
Dave Goulson is one of the UK’s leading environmental scientists, Professor of Life Sciences at the University of Sussex, and author of the essential new book Eat the Planet: A Plateful of Sustainable Food Choices. His work has inspired many people to think differently about biodiversity, particularly insects and pollinators like the humble bumble bee. He connects these incredible animals to the food systems they support, that that we rely on, and shows us the urgent need to protect our natural world.
Caroline Lucas
Caroline is a lifelong campaigner for environmental and social justice. Elected as the UK Parliament’s first Green Party MP she has was voted Politician of the Year by the Observer three times for bringing climate change and green policies into the political mainstream. She is the author of ‘Green Alternatives to Globalisation: A Manifesto’ and ‘Another England: How to Reclaim Our National Story’.
Jon Snow
Jon Snow is one of Britain’s most respected broadcast journalists, best known for more than three decades as the lead presenter of Channel 4 News, where he earned a reputation for independent reporting and insightful coverage of international affairs. Throughout his career, he has reported from across Africa, helping to raise public awareness of issues including poverty, conflict, development, governance, and social change. Now retired, his final report, Jon Snow: A Last Big Story, uncovered a major toxic spill affecting the Kafue River in Zambia.
OUR TRUSTEES
Caroline Hart, Founder
Caroline is the Founder and Co-ordinator of the charity. Caroline has been closely connected with Mali and the Sahel for four decades. She has been privileged to spend time with rural communities over a period of 28 years and has a home in a Dogon village. Caroline initially worked in development education and fair trade and began the charity in the early 1990’s with Apomi Saye, who is now retired. Caroline is in daily communication with the field staff in Mali.
Deborah Hutchinson, Chair
Deborah is a retired Solicitor with 30 years experience of specialising in Private Client matters of Trusts, Wills and Probate and working with charities. Currently a Trustee of four other charities, a Company Director of a number of companies and Honorary Secretary of the High Sheriffs’ Association.
Melroy Mukwaya
Melroy has been closely connected with Joliba’s work since its earliest days and has contributed much to the charity. She worked for many years in social housing with people facing homelessness in the UK.
Trudie Onyechi
Trudie is a Ceramic Artist with many decades of experience of West Africa and Joliba’s work.
Polly Richards
Polly has supported Joliba since 1994. She spent many years undertaking doctoral research into Contemporary Masquerade in many villages in the Bandiagara Region. She has since published a book on the subject: Dogon Masks in Motion.
Richard Savage
Richard has spent time in Mali and our project area. Richard was an English Teacher for many years and is experienced in the field of Development Education. Richard has been a Trustee of the charity from its outset.