The Spanish contingent in Mali introduces Spanish as a second language to the local population.

• The Spanish contingent in Mali introduces Spanish as a second language to the local population.

EUTM Mali opens its doors to the population that wants to learn Spanish, one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. In this area, the military personnel of the Spanish contingent, framed in the European Force, carries out, in addition to the specific duties of the mission, other activities aimed at the local population.

Teaching Spanish as a second language is one of the activities carried out. This activity has been implemented in order to raise awareness of our language and culture in this area of SAHEL. This is aimed at promoting the use of our language and transferring it to the local population, providing them with new employment and social opportunities for their future, an aspect that is highly valued by the participants.

This activity was initiated by a group of volunteers from the Spanish contingent, both from Bamako and Koulikoro, and began in June, as the academic year was finishing. In this way, the volunteers were able to apply the teaching methods and procedures acquired through one of the lecturers at the University of Bamako, who had a close relationship with the Spanish embassy. The teaching methods were translated into theoretical and practical sessions given by the lecturer so that the Spanish volunteers could subsequently apply them in their classes, in a simple and understandable way for the students.

The volunteers decided to start this small programme, similar to the Cervantes Programme in Lebanon, and to implement it in Anne Coulibaly Academic Centre in Koulikoro and Mary Immaculate School in the capital, Bamako.

The students carry out different activities and day-to-day tasks with the objective of having new opportunities in the future.