Homeschooling in isolated area

[MamaAsheri]

I will be homeschooling my DS in Mali, West Africa. In that atmosphere I don't expect to have a wide array of socializing opportunities (such as homeschooling coops here). Has anyone else had to navigate homeschooling in an isolated area?

Thanks!
Mama Asheri

[Dar]

Wow! How exciting! Where in Mali are you going, and what will you be doing there? I have a friend who is there now, in Djenne. Do you (and your son) speak Bambara? Or French? 

Since you said you're going to an isolated area, I'm assuming you're not going to be in a city. My understanding is that access to schools in rural Mali is limited for a lot of children, so a number of your sons peers probably won't be in school, either. I imagine that even if they are, they'll be around after school. I know a lot of people who have done fieldwork similar areas with kids and their kids never had trouble finding kids to play with.

[MamaAsheri]

Hi!

How exciting that you know so much about the area. We will be in Sevare. It's not super isolated but not a city like Bamako either. We will be going to France to learn French then Bamako to learn Bambara. We will be serving the illiterate community there, translating material, and doing radio programs in sone of the many languages spoken there.

Thank you for the encouragement! I love your signature.

[elus0814]

Wow, and I thought I lived in a difficult area for homeschooling! It's great to know others are able to do it in even more removed areas. Socializing will certainly be difficult. If you have same language friends are you able to set up an online phone chat type thing as a way for your kids to connect with peers who speak the same language. 

[inky leeuhhh]

that is SO exciting! imagine how much will be learned living in that new culture. do you know how many people are in the area you will be moving to at all? like how populated it is? no real advice since i know nothing about mali. i think though that the experience would be so rewarding for your kiddo i wouldn't worry about socialization right off the bat.

[MamaAsheri]

I think it is a mid sized town. I'm not sure what the population of nationals or expats is for that area. Thank you for the encouragement!

[Dar]

Originally Posted by MamaAsheri 

Thank you for the encouragement! I love your signature.

:) I was updating my sig every time I went to another country, but Rain and I got back to the U.S. in August and other than a possible trip to Mexico next month we're both probably here until summer... but I'm hoping to go back to Tunisia then!

I might almost worry more about finding playmates in France, depending on where you are I guess... but there are no homeschool groups in France, I don't think. I spent last spring there and I never heard of anyone homeschooling - they all thought it was a bizarre thing to do. I guess if you're somewhere with a large expat community that might help...
 

[MamaAsheri]

Yes I agree about France but that's just a year and Mali is long term. Also, I have a friend of 3 who has lived in France and home schooled for a few years now. She won't be close to me but can probably give me some tips. My DS will have just turned 3 when we get to France so the schooling and socialization won't be so important to me yet I don't think.

I sound like I've thought all this out but I haven't.

[Dar]

Oh, he's still little then... I think he'll be fine. Maybe I'll visit you from Tunisia. ;)

[MamaAsheri]

Sounds good. You'll be close!