Plan International Ireland, funded by Irish Aid, is working with Plan International Mali to deliver the EQuIP Programme – ensuring the delivery of inclusive, quality education to children. While the coronavirus pandemic has presented challenges to the programme’s delivery, activities have been adapted to ensure children can access education and protect themselves from COVID-19.
Mali has been affected by a complex insecurity situation since 2012. Following the outbreak of the conflict, hundreds of thousands of people were displaced and many thousands of children were left without access to education.
Plan International has been working in Timbuktu in the north of the country to ensure children have access to quality, inclusive education via the EQuIP programme funded by Irish Aid.
The project is being implemented in 60 primary schools and 30 preschools in villages in Timbuktu, with a core focus on inclusion for marginalised children, especially girls and children with disabilities, through their participation and that of their communities in educational decision-making at all levels. Partners and participants are also supported to advocate for positive changes in education policy and practice.
As a result of the outbreak of COVID-19 and subsequent public health restrictions, children and their families have been, and will continue to be, affected by the far-reaching impacts of the disease. COVID-19 restrictions initially resulted in the closure of schools and pre-schools, and due to the need for social distancing many other programme activities, like teacher training and community sensitisation, had to be postponed.
Plan International Mali staff worked closely with relevant local stakeholders and communities to figure out ways that the EQuIP Programme could adapt and support educational needs remotely, while also assisting in awareness raising about COVID-19, and prevention and protection measures that could be implemented.
Below you will see some of the activities we have been implementing in Timbuktu since the outbreak of COVID-19.
