Moussa Thera typically spends his days working with children in our emergency education programs in Mali, West Africa. But January 10 was a day he won’t soon forget. Read his blog about fleeing the embattled city of Mopti in war-torn Mali. The Mopti Office staff were temporarily relocated on January 10 as armed rebel forces approached Mopti; they have since returned.
"On Thursday afternoon [10 January], I was planning a distribution of school supplies for children with our local partners. We knew there were tensions in the North, in Konna, so we had taken security measures just in case, but we wanted to keep on working as usual because there’s just so much to do here in Mopti.
Our work was interrupted when the news came in that a city only an hour away from our office had been taken by armed groups.
Soon after, the security situation deteriorated in a nearby town. Then we received a call from our office in Bamako asking us to get ready to be relocated.
As I rushed home through crowded streets to pick up some essentials, I saw hundreds of people running in every direction. Children were shouting .All the women had loaded their belongings on their heads.
Then everybody stopped. Only for a second but it seemed a lot longer. In unison everyone looked up at the sky to see 3 aircraft heading north on their way to battle. Then back to confusion as the crowd returned to panic.
Alongside the road hundreds of men, women and children trundled out of town in unison. Between them and us was a seemingly endless collection of motorbikes.
During a stop, I talked to a few people waiting to take a bus. They told me the price for transportation to Bamako had skyrocketed
By the time we got half-way to the capital it was getting dark. We planned to stop for the night, but all the hotels were fully booked. We were not the only ones heading to safety.
It had been a long day and we were tired and stressed. More than anything, we worried about our students and the wonderful children in our programs.
The children in Mopti need our support to go to school. Our work there provides students with educational kits and supports school gardening and canteen activities. We also identify out-of-school children and help them go back to school. That’s what I love about my job: I know our work gives these children the opportunity to study that they otherwise wouldn’t have.
When a crisis unfolds, education can often be forgotten. But it so important: it’s not only about learning, it also gives the children a sense of normalcy. I believe this is really important in time of conflict, when everything around is upside-down.
It broke my heart to leave. The sooner we can go back the better.
I hope we can go back soon.
Moussa Thera and his colleagues were allowed to return to Mopti and resume their essential work the following week.
Save the Children is currently helping families in the region through clean water, sanitation, education, child protection and health programs.
MALI: THE LONG ROAD TO BAMAKO - Save the Children Voices from the Field Jeremy Scott Adidas
Posted by: Jeremy Scott Adidas | 05/15/2013 at 10:53 PM
MALI: THE LONG ROAD TO BAMAKO - Save the Children Voices from the Field CHAUSSURES CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN
Posted by: CHAUSSURES CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN | 05/15/2013 at 10:52 PM
MALI: THE LONG ROAD TO BAMAKO - Save the Children Voices from the Field Chaussures Christian Louboutin
Posted by: Chaussures Christian Louboutin | 05/15/2013 at 10:52 PM
MALI: THE LONG ROAD TO BAMAKO - Save the Children Voices from the Field louis vuitton outlet
Posted by: louis vuitton outlet | 05/15/2013 at 10:52 PM
MALI: THE LONG ROAD TO BAMAKO - Save the Children Voices from the Field louis vuitton outlet
Posted by: louis vuitton outlet | 05/15/2013 at 10:52 PM
MALI: THE LONG ROAD TO BAMAKO - Save the Children Voices from the Field cheap soccer cleats
Posted by: cheap soccer cleats | 05/15/2013 at 10:52 PM
MALI: THE LONG ROAD TO BAMAKO - Save the Children Voices from the Field SEO SOFTWARE
Posted by: SEO SOFTWARE | 05/15/2013 at 10:52 PM
MALI: THE LONG ROAD TO BAMAKO - Save the Children Voices from the Field Hermes Replica
Posted by: Hermes Replica | 05/15/2013 at 10:52 PM
MALI: THE LONG ROAD TO BAMAKO - Save the Children Voices from the Field Chanel Outlet
Posted by: Chanel Outlet | 05/15/2013 at 10:52 PM
MALI: THE LONG ROAD TO BAMAKO - Save the Children Voices from the Field longchamp bags
Posted by: longchamp bags | 05/15/2013 at 10:52 PM
case you approach with regards to the balancing.
Posted by: cheap jerseys | 05/09/2013 at 06:34 AM
MALI: THE LONG ROAD TO BAMAKO - Save the Children Voices from the Field diablo 3 gold
Posted by: diablo 3 gold | 05/09/2013 at 04:32 AM
My best last couple, alongside this have black and even stone dust designs. hermes handbags happen to be the norm to be able to my favorite attire!
Posted by: hermes handbags | 05/09/2013 at 03:22 AM
MALI: THE LONG ROAD TO BAMAKO - Save the Children Voices from the Field cheap jordans
Posted by: cheap jordans | 05/09/2013 at 01:56 AM
What a stuff of un-ambiguity and preserveness of precious know-how on the topic of unpredicted emotions. bee pollen weight loss
Posted by: bee pollen weight loss | 05/08/2013 at 11:32 PM
MALI: THE LONG ROAD TO BAMAKO - Save the Children Voices from the Field hermes bags
Posted by: hermes bags | 05/08/2013 at 07:42 PM
MALI: THE LONG ROAD TO BAMAKO - Save the Children Voices from the Field lebron 10
Posted by: lebron 10 | 05/07/2013 at 04:37 AM
MALI: THE LONG ROAD TO BAMAKO - Save the Children Voices from the Field 整形美容
Posted by: 整形美容 | 05/06/2013 at 11:51 PM
MALI: THE LONG ROAD TO BAMAKO - Save the Children Voices from the Field miu miu bags
Posted by: miu miu bags | 05/06/2013 at 09:56 AM
[url=http://www.Nd7YzvLZ57oTB9A3C30T27.com/]OfibojZQ[/url]
OfibojZQ
OfibojZQ http://www.Nd7YzvLZ57oTB9A3C30T27.com/
Posted by: OfibojZQ | 05/04/2013 at 09:35 AM
Delighted that you can discovered this website write-up, My party is shopping most of the time concerning this particular. This could be currently certainly exactly what I already are seeking as well as I extremely own book-marked this kind of internet internet site online too, I will frequently be keep returning in no time for you to look at in your personal distinctive brief post.
Posted by: acne | 05/04/2013 at 09:23 AM
I do believe your audience could extremely well want a great deal more stories like this carry around the excellent hard work.
Posted by: acne treatment | 05/04/2013 at 09:23 AM
My brother recommended I might like this weblog. He was totally correct. This publish really produced my day. You cann't imagine simply how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!
Posted by: acne | 05/04/2013 at 09:22 AM
Hello..br /I truly like this internet web-site, And i appreciate for this kind of gud work.. br /Gud luck Chuck!!!!!br /Happy Wishes Hanif...
Posted by: acne | 05/04/2013 at 09:21 AM
Thank you for another informative website. Where else could I get that kind of information written in such a perfect way? I've a project that I'm just now operating on, and I've been around the appear out for this kind of info.....
Posted by: acne cyst | 05/04/2013 at 09:21 AM