On December 29, 2017, the Government of Mali by Presidential Decree has rewarded 500 persons with the Silver Star of Remuneration (‘Etoile d’Argent du Mérite’). One of the honored persons is Soumana Coulibaly, National Director of Enda Mali, partner organization of Kinderpostzegels and implementing partner of Stop Child Labour. Soumana received the reward because of his tireless work and engagement with regards to the rights and wellbeing of children in Mali.

When Soumana Coulibaly informed us of this joyful fact he told us that he never would have received this medal of honor if he had not been supported over the years by Kinderpostzegels and more recently by the Stop Child Labour coalition.

Since 1996 Enda Mali is receiving financial support from Kinderpostzegels for many different child focused projects in Mali.

In the period May 2014 – April 2017 Enda Mali has successfully implemented with financial support of Stop Child Labour/Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands (Out of Work and into School Programme) a child labour free zone project in Markala district of Segou Region, Mali.

At this moment Enda Mali is implementing, again with financial support of Stop Child Labour/Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands (Getting down to Business Programme), a social corporate responsibility (CSR) project in Sikasso (July 2017 – June 2019).

On 27 February 2018 during an official ceremony the rewarded persons, including Soumana Coulibaly, received the Medals of Honor out of the hands of General Amadoe Sagafourou Guèye, «le grand Chancelier des Ordres nationaux du Mali».

We are very proud of Soumana and hope he will continue working towards creating child labour free zones and realizing children’s rights in Mali.