(Anglais à suivre)

Depuis 2012, la République du Mali connaît un conflit armé qui affecte plusieurs régions du centre et Nord, telles Mopti, Gao et Tombouctou. Pour échapper à la violence, de nombreuses familles ont fui vers des zones sécurisées à l’intérieur et à l’extérieur du Mali, laissant derrière leur communauté et leurs moyens de subsistance. Les enfants, et particulièrement les filles, n’ont plus l’opportunité d’aller à l’école et voient leur avenir compromis.

Le Projet DÉFI, financé par Affaires mondiales Canada et mené par Alinea et ses partenaires, appui le Centre d’Apprentissage Féminin (CAFé) de Kalaban-Coura, à Bamako. Le CAFé offre plusieurs programmes de formation aux jeunes femmes non scolarisées et déscolarisées afin de les alphabétiser et leur enseigner un métier leur permettant de générer des revenus et de prendre en main leur avenir.

DÉFI appuie la formation de 24 femmes, dont 10 déplacées provenant des zones affectées par les conflits au Mali, dans le cadre des programmes offerts par le CAFé.

Pour plusieurs jeunes filles, les CAFé sont un dernier recours pour bâtir un avenir meilleur. Ces dernières font face à de nombreux obstacles à leur autonomisation comme les grossesses précoces et le manque de moyens pour subvenir à leurs besoins de bases, tels les services de garderie, la nourriture et le transport.

Adiaratou Sanogo, avec son amie Oumou Sidibé, étudiantes en deuxième année du programme de transformation agroalimentaire, nous partage qu’elle suit le cours “pour être autonome”. Oumou est enceinte de plusieurs mois, mais elle sait déjà qu’elle pourra revenir avec son bébé pour continuer sa formation, grâce aux formatrices et à ses collègues étudiantes qui s’entraident pour prendre soin des bébés pendant les cours.

Les formations pratiques, ainsi qu’un environnement d’apprentissage adapté à leurs besoins, leur permettent, dès la fin de leur première année, de pouvoir mettre leurs apprentissages à profit et de gagner de l’argent à travers leurs métiers.

Aissata Konaté assistante-formatrice a terminé le cours avec succès et est revenue pour aider. « Je suis très fière de ce que j’ai pu accomplir grâce à ce que j’ai appris ici. ».

Literacy and learning a trade: Malian girls displaced by conflict take their future into their own hands with the support of DÉFI

Since 2012, the Republic of Mali has been experiencing a conflict that has affected several regions in the center and north, such as Mopti, Gao and Timbuktu. To escape the violence, many families have fled to safe areas inside and outside Mali, leaving behind their communities and livelihoods. Children, especially girls, are denied the opportunity to go to school and their future is compromised.

The DÉFI Project, funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by Alinea and its partners, supports the Centre d’Apprentissage Féminin (CAFé) in Kalaban-Coura, Bamako. The CAFé offers several training programs for young women who are not in school to teach them literacy and trade that will allow them to generate income and take control of their future.

DÉFI supports the training of 24 women, including 10 displaced women from conflict-affected areas in Mali, in the programs offered by CAFé.

For many young girls, the CAFé is a last resort to build a better future. They face many obstacles to their empowerment, such as early pregnancy and lack of means to meet their basic needs, like childcare, food and transportation.

Second-year student in the agri-food processing program, Adiaratou Sanogo, and her friend Oumou Sidibé, shared that they are taking the course “to be independent.’ Oumou is several months pregnant, but she already knows that she will be able to return with her baby to continue her training – thanks to the trainers and her fellow students who help each other take care of the babies during the course.

The practical training, as well as a learning environment adapted to their needs, allows them to put their learning to good use and earn money through their first year.

Aissata Konaté, an assistant trainer, successfully completed the course and returned to help. “I am very proud of what I have been able to accomplish because of what I have learned here.”

alinea’s whistleblower policy

1.1 Purpose

The following Whistleblower Policy has been established to provide guidance to Alinea International employees and sub-contractors on how to deal with known or suspected improper conduct within the organization. The objectives of this Policy are to:

Create awareness of the Policy and available whistleblower protections
Act as a reference guide to potential whistleblowers wishing to make a disclosure
Define the structure of the whistleblower system, including reporting and investigation procedures, whistleblower protections, and confidentiality, among others
Improve the communication and transparency in the processes associated with whistleblowing and assure protection against derogatory consequences, namely reprisals and detrimental action
Complement the current communication channels between employees, sub-contractors and immediate managers, and hierarchical channels flowing to the President and Senior Management team
Provide guidance to all parties involved in either whistleblowing or whistleblower protection.

1.2 Scope

Alinea requires all employees and sub-contractors to observe high standards of business and personal ethics in the conduct of their duties and responsibilities. All employees and sub-contractors of Alinea are required to comply with applicable laws and regulations of Canada and the countries where we operate. Any allegations of known or suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources will be dealt with in accordance with this Policy, and reasonable steps will be taken to protect those who come forward with allegations. Alinea’s Whistleblower Policy covers both internal and external whistleblowing, and establishes the controls and procedures for dealing with allegations of malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. This Policy is intended to encourage employees and sub-contractors to report known or suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources and to enable Alinea’s Senior Management team to address and correct inappropriate action. It is the responsibility of all Board of Directors’ members, the Senior Management team, employees and sub-contractors to report concerns about known or suspected malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. This Policy is applicable to all employees and sub-contractors of Alinea International.

1.3 Reporting Procedures

Alinea recognizes the value of transparency and accountability in its administrative and management practices and supports the making of disclosures that reveal improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources. Our internal controls and operating procedures are intended to detect and prevent malpractice, fraud and violations of our code of ethics and/or laws or regulations that govern our operations. As detailed in Alinea’s Employee Policy and Onboarding manuals, employees and sub-contractors are encouraged to share complaints and/or concerns regarding ethical or legal violations with their immediate managers. If the employee or sub-contractor is not comfortable speaking with their immediate manager or is not satisfied with the response, they are encouraged to speak with the Gatineau or Calgary Office Managers, the Vice Presidents or, as required, the Chief Financial Officer. All members of the Senior Management team are required to report complaints and/or concerns about suspected ethical or legal violations in writing to Alinea’s Ethics Committee who has the responsibility to investigate all reported complaints and/or concerns. In the event that the complaint and/or concern is about the President, it should be raised by the employee or sub-contractor to their immediate manager or the Ethics Committee who will determine how the investigation will proceed. All reports will be promptly investigated and appropriate corrective measures will be taken if warranted by the investigation. Alinea’s Ethics Committee is responsible for acknowledging receipt of the suspected violation and notifying the whistleblower of the outcome of the investigation. Anyone filing a written complaint concerning suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources must be acting in good faith and have reasonable grounds for believing the information disclosed indicates a violation. Personal grievances or complaints related to employment are not covered under Alinea’s Whistleblowing Policy. For cases such as this, employees and sub-contractors are advised to first refer to Alineas Employee Policy and Onboarding manuals when considering a disclosure under the Whistleblowing Policy. Any allegations that prove not to be substantiated and which prove to have been made maliciously or knowingly to be false will be viewed as a serious disciplinary offense.

1.4 Confidentiality

Maintaining confidentiality is crucial to ensure reprisals are not made against the whistleblower. Alinea is committed to safeguarding the identity of the whistleblower and to protecting the whistleblower against detrimental action taken in reprisal for allegations of suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources. The Ethics Committee is responsible for ensuring whistleblowers are protected from direct and indirect detrimental action, and that the culture of the workplace is supportive of suspected allegations being made. Any employee who retaliates against someone who has reported a violation in good faith is subject to discipline up to and including termination of employment.

1.5 Review

Alinea is committed to implementing ‘best practice’ policies and procedures for dealing with allegations of suspected improper conduct or mismanagement of organizational resources (as defined by this Policy) and the management and protection of whistleblowers making allegation(s). This Policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure it meets the objectives of relevant legislation and remains effective for Alinea, and may be changed at the discretion of the Board of Directors at any time. For allegations of fraud, securities law, or human rights concerns, or when you are not satisfied or uncomfortable with following the Company’s open door policy, individuals should contact the Company’s Ethics Committee directly.

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L’alphabétisation et l’apprentissage d’un métier: des jeunes filles maliennes déplacées par les conflits prennent leur avenir en main avec l’appui de DÉFI