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Pensons à Demain - "Let's think about tomorrow"
Founded by the renowned Malian artist Kader Keita PAD works with disadvantaged and disabled young people in Mali’s capital, Bamako, and many of those helped by the association are rescued from the streets.
The project often deals with very vulnerable and traumatized children, many of whom have lost contact with their families, and have no other source of help.
The project uses art, dance and drama to help the children recover and develop. The basic skill which they learn is Bogolan - the indigenous Malian art form of painting with natural ingredients, including mud from the Niger and colourings and fixatives made from plants. Kader Keita is one of Mali’s best known exponents of the art.
The project works intensively with around 20 children and young people for each intake, almost all of whom are accommodated by the project, and they receive education, are linked with health care and enable to learn skills - some return to their families. Others have to make their own way and will have learnt valuable skills.
PAD is well connected with other local services but is especially respected for its dedicated child-centred approach - unusual in West Africa.
Pensons à Demain has been expanding into new premises, providing further education and studio space. A particular focus in 2015 was on Ebola prevention. The project aims to expand the outreach work that it does with street children and is seeking funding for a vehicle to enable this to happen.
You can find out more about PAD at www.kaderkeita.org
MDG is Kader’s main funder and has also assisted with the development of the organisations’s structure and management.
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