We continue our Giving Tuesday series, How I See Change, with the story shared by Schafer Bomstein, a regional grants manager with the Aga Khan Foundation, West Africa’s Bamako office in Mali. See how your support helps people like Schafer work with communities to improve their quality of life. Do you have a story to tell? Share with us how you see change by submitting a #HowISeeChange selfie!

Schafer Bomstein from the Aga Khan Foundation’s Office in Mali Sees Change through Community-Based Savings Groups

How do you see change?

I see change in the community-based savings groups in Mopti. I was able to meet with one of these groups during my second visit to Mali in 2013 as the Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. Program Associate for Market Development and Access to Finance. The group had about 50 members (it had started with 30) and by then had existed independently of the Foundation for over 4 years. To me, that was evidence that the women saw the savings group as an effective way to help them save money to invest in their farms. The savings group also helped them meet emergency needs that might come up.

What first inspired you to get involved with the Aga Khan Development Network?

I was first inspired to get involved with the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) as a young professional in the U.S., when I learned about their commitment to sustainable development. I worked with Aga Khan Foundation in the U.S. before joining the Foundation’s staff in Mali. AKDN is focused on helping communities thrive for the long-term future, not just with short-term aid. To me, the Network embodies what development should be.

What is your hope for the future of this program?

In my work with the Food for Progress project, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, I hope that a significant number of small-holder farmers will gain long-term market opportunities with the value chains for millet and sorghum. By that I mean that instead of producing food solely for their own families’ consumption, farmers will be able to sell a surplus of high quality millet and sorghum to markets where buyers are willing to purchase them. That gives farmers and their families more opportunities.

Is there someone who embodies the program’s spirit or who inspires you about change?

Our drivers at AKF are the silent heroes of the program. Without them, we couldn’t visit the rural populations that we work with. The drivers ensure that we are safe and secure during our travels, and they do their work with a positive attitude.