From its headquarters in Bamako, the Academy Mali has expanded to eleven branches: Bankass, Bandiagara, Bougouni, Douentza, Macina, Mopti, Ségou, Niono, San, Tombouctou and Gao. These branches are closely connected with one another and together form an active network of coordinators, coaches, trainers and reporters.
The coordinators of the branches regularly meet for training and consultation. Coaches and trainers exchange experiences, knowledge and research data with one another. There is also a continuous exchange between the different positions within the Academy and among the students themselves. Where physical meetings are not possible, young people and staff can find one another online through, among others, WhatsApp and Facebook. In this way, not only has a network of branches been created throughout Mali, but also a network in which knowledge, experiences and ideas are continuously shared between young people and mentors across the different regions.
Watch Mariam introduce the Voice4Thought Academy Mali in this video
V4TArchive.org
V4TArchive.org is the digital archive of Voice4Thought, in which research data and knowledge productions from different projects and programmes of the organisation (V4T) are collected and preserved. The archive contains a wide range of materials, including photographs, video and audio files, transcripts, translations, reports and other research documents. The collected research data, documented in the archive, forms an important basis for the development of new knowledge productions, such as articles, blogs, audiovisual productions, podcasts and theatre performances.
Outside of V4TA Mali, the archive is intended for different users, including researchers, journalists and students. Part of the collection is publicly accessible, while other research data is not publicly available due to its nature or sensitivity. Access to certain parts can be obtained upon request.
The foundation of Voice4Thought
Voice4Thought works through co-creation and shared knowledge production. We build on the knowledge and experience within V4T and further develop these together with local partners and other stakeholders. An observation, an issue or a development forms the starting point for a joint process of research and learning. We do not determine the outcome in advance. Instead, together with young people, we explore what is happening in their communities, what different perspectives exist and what knowledge emerges from this process. By bringing together different forms of knowledge — including art, science and journalism — along with experiences and stories, new knowledge emerges that is rooted in the local context and creates space for perspectives that are often less heard. In this way, we can also critically reflect on our own ideas and understanding, and we hope that everyone who engages with the productions that emerge from our projects will be encouraged to do the same.
PGLR+
The V4T Académie Mali is part of the PGLR+ programme, which is implemented by a consortium consisting of SNV, Oxfam Novib, ICCO/Cordaid and Voice4Thought, and funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Mali.
