Mali Health Organizing Project (MHOP)

Mission

The Mali Health Organizing Project (MHOP) is an international 501 (c) 3 non-profit that enables slum neighborhoods in Mali, West Africa to build their own health systems. MHOP’s unique model reconnects slums and their government, both promoting civic engagement and saving lives.

Programs

*Hope: MHOP provides slum residents the chance to create change. Locals are elected to a committee, where they design and implement the health projects most relevant to their lives. *Communication: As a non-biased party, MHOP assists in negotiations and improves communication between the gov. and community. *Participation: Our clinic is funded by the government (45%), residents (20%), and MHOP (35%). *Accountability: MHOP established an accountability system to improve gov./ community trust.

Current Projects on GlobalGiving

Health care for 30,000 slum residents in Mali

Personnel Overview

Caitlin Cohen - US Coordinator/ co-founder
Caitlin Cohen hails from Vermont, and is seeking degrees in international development and medicine at Brown University. She founded MHOP in 2006 because she believes that control over one’s own health is the most empowering and elemental right. An activist for labor rights and divestment from Darfur, Caitlin feels that the impulse for civil society can produce change in a way that money cannot.

Modibo Niang - Executive Director, Mali
Modibo Niang was born and raised in Sikoro, Mali, and worked in financial management in the capital city of Bamako after completing his studies. He has been trained by the national ministry for development in grassroots socio-economic development and microfinance. He is glad to be working to improve the lives of his neighbors, though he occasionally misses cushy chairs and air conditioning.

Chi Abdoulaye Diakite - Engineer
Chi (known as Adou) is the general director of the Malian Society for Civil Engineering (SOMAGEC). He has worked on many projects with the Malian government and with private enterprise. His most recent work involves the city of Bamako’s water system and its potential for expansion. He is working with MHOP at a considerably reduced rate because of his appreciation for community-lead endeavors.

Personnel Statistics

Caitlin Cohen,
US Coordinator
Founded in 2006
Employees: 4
Volunteers: 200

Financial Statistics

Budget (2008): $ 75,000
Budget (2007): $ 15,500
Maximum Budget: $ 140,000
Overhead: 6 %
Other funding sources: Sources Grassroots donations, Brown University, Royce Fellowship Program, The Rhode Island Foundation, the Krach Family Foundation, DoSomething.org, GHETS.org, and others
Religious Affiliation: None