Professional integration in Bandiagara: A look at the situation of young Malians who became self-employed two years ago

Two weeks ago, I was overcome by an irrepressible need to learn about former project beneficiaries who had become self-employed in the Bandiagara region (central Mali) after having benefited from training and accompaniment for professional integration.
I contacted an ex-collaborator of the project, who had remained close to many of these young people, to hear the latest updates about them.
Was this guided by nostalgia for a project that was now over? Not at all.
​It was just a means of assessing—somewhat crudely—the sustainability of the integration of the young people supported two years after the project ended. 

Because while the implementation of a new project is always exciting, the intervention’s long-term effectiveness is my (and everyone else’s) main focus.

​So, while I welcomed with regret the worrying news concerning the region's security (the old term is "circle"), those reporting the positive evolution of several young self-employed people who have been in business for at least two years have been entirely gratifying, with a few “downsides."

​Let's start with the downsides, which are essentially those cases where self-employed people persevered in their activity but are now witnessing the inexorable loss of part of their clientele who have moved to other Mali regions for their security. If we set aside the legitimate concern aroused by the precariousness of their security situation and the questioning as to their professional future given the displacements, we have to highlight that they have not given up. Indeed, their recent telephone correspondence with Dioncounda (a former collaborator on the project) was aimed at getting advice on overcoming the situation and generating more income from their business.

My recent call also informed me that the other ex-beneficiaries, fortunately exposed to less precarious situations, which include plumbers and photovoltaic installers (the main contacts of Dioncounda  and the two circle mentors last year), restaurateurs, vulcanizers, motorcycle repairers and dressmakers, have set up their own WhatsApp groups, through which they keep in touch, support each other and contact their former mentors, who, like Dioncounda, remain available on a complimentary basis.

However, they no longer call on their former project collaborators for support in solving technical problems because, as the young people have made clear to their former “masters," now they've "mastered"! The contacts are aimed at finding markets, with restaurateur Marietou, for example, regularly contacting them to inquire about planning a seminar in the region, which would allow her to sell her services. Or they call former collaborators with news about the health of their very small business (VSB).

Another piece of good news comes from a welder who, listening to Dioncounda's advice, resolved to save his earnings to buy a welding machine rather than keep looking for the hypothetical partner (or relationship) who could give it to him. A year later—and, we note with amusement, a week before my contact—young Guindo sent a photo of the newly acquired welding machine, which he purchased using his savings.

In short, in the words of Dioncounda, "Based on the information received, the results are good!"

This naturally raises questions. What is it about this project that has given rise to such a commitment in which:
- ex-collaborators continue to support young people well after the end of the project and without being paid?
- local authorities saw it as their duty to provide whatever support they could for the young people in their community, and committed themselves to doing so?
- young people have not fallen back into the vicious cycle of professional integration despite the difficulties encountered ?
- young people continue to call ex-project collaborators without expecting anything in return other than advice or news?

Without going into the details of the intervention, the various players’ involvement with the self-employed young people at the end of their vocational training—and their involvement's impact on the young people's perseverance—demonstrates the relevance of such psychological theories as self-determination (Deci & Ryan).

An individual’s motivation to perform a behavior (in this case, the self-employed's perseverance in their activity despite challenges) results from the degree of satisfaction of three fundamental needs:
- autonomy (the need to make independent choices)
- competence (the ability to deal with the challenges in the environment)
- social proximity (in particular, being the object of consideration and attention, but also being able to express both)

If we consider that all three of those needs were facilitated by access to the project, isn't it interesting to note that the young people's perseverance in their self-employment is concomitant with their desire to continue to enjoy social proximity with former project collaborators? That's the end of the psychology digression.

I'll end this post with the second priority objective that prompted me to write it: to say thank you. A very big thank you to you, Dioncounda Dabo, for your commitment, your adjusted and constant support for young people, and the will that we share to make young people aware that they can make it.

Thanks also to mentors Tembely and Dicko for supporting young people with your advice because—as I know you've said—in one way or another, these young people are your parents; you naturally wish them the best!

And, of course, well done, young people, and Aw ka hɛrɛ sɔrɔ!!! ("good luck!")

​Catherine Ukelo, September 2023