The 31st edition of Mali's Solidarity Month and Fight Against Exclusion has been celebrated in the Bougouni region with the distribution of 10 tons of rice to 200 vulnerable individuals. The event, which began in 1985 and was institutionalized by decree in 2001, aims to promote social solidarity and inclusion. The beneficiaries include widows, single mothers, people with disabilities, elderly individuals, and guardians of orphaned children.
The Solidarity Month is a symbolic gesture of the Malian government's commitment to honoring elderly citizens and promoting solidarity towards vulnerable groups. The event also included the distribution of nine motorized tricycles to people with disabilities. Regional sponsors Ichaka Souleymane Diakité and Abdoul Karim Koné emphasized that solidarity should not be limited to a single month but rather be a permanent value that encourages daily support for those in need.
The 31st edition of the Solidarity Month was placed under the theme "Solidarity, a lever for promoting culture and civic education." The event was organized over four thematic weeks, including the week of elderly people, the week of women and children, the week of people with disabilities, and the week of youth, employment, and entrepreneurship. The regional governor, General Ousmane Wélé, was present at the event, along with other local authorities.
As part of the Solidarity Month, the regional steering committee, led by the governor and prefects, visited elderly people in ten circles of the region. The committee also distributed symbolic gifts and donations of food and non-food items to vulnerable individuals and internally displaced persons. A radio debate and a conference on the law related to the rights of people with disabilities were also organized.
The event concluded with the distribution of certificates of recognition to individuals who had demonstrated their commitment to the service of the nation during the Solidarity Month. The governor, accompanied by local authorities, symbolically handed over the keys of the motorized tricycles and food items to the beneficiaries. The event was widely covered by local media, including L'Essor.
The Bougouni region has been actively engaged in various development initiatives, including the distribution of furniture and office equipment to four prefectures in Gao. Additionally, a mining accident in the Kangaba region resulted in six fatalities, highlighting the need for improved safety measures in the mining sector.
In related news, the Malian government has been working to strengthen its social programs, including the distribution of 400,000 textbooks to students in the fundamental education sector. The government has also been engaged in efforts to promote social inclusion and combat exclusion, including the organization of national surveys to monitor livestock and improve data collection.
