The military coup in Mali, West Africa, has left the Fabric ofLife's trade school in the capital city of Bamako planning forworst case scenarios.

Dedicated to cooperative partnerships that improve people'saccess to affordable credit, education and health care, theFabric of Life is a DBA of the Schillios Development Foundationcreated by long-time credit union and development organizer CarolSchillios.

Schillios started the foundation in 2002 and in addition to theHèrè jè Center, its projects include credit unions in Senegal andVietnam; support for a credit union activist in Zimbabwe; and anonline retail outlet which sells products produced by cooperativeartisans from around the world.

The Hèrè jè Center was created to stop the cycle of begging forgirls and provide sustainable income generating activities. Itoffers skills training, health and nutrition, family planning, AIDsprevention and literacy skills. The skills then lead to developingmicro-entrepreneurs who can generate sustainable income forthemselves and their families, the group said.

Schillios was able to connect with Kaaba, the volunteer programdirector, who reported that her family and Hèrè jè graduates aresafe so far.

Initially, Kaaba and her family blockaded themselves in theirhome for safety. They feared being targeted by rebels becauseof her husband's high-level government position in customs and herposition as CEO of a micro-finance institution.

The coup has been widely condemned by both Western and Africancommunities and international governments have closed embassies andsuspended bi-lateral aid to Mali until democracy is restored.

With thousands fleeing the northern rebel-occupied cities andentering Bamako, the city has been ill prepared to manage the needsof refugees, reports said.

“We are hopeful the situation will not escalate and the safetyof graduates is our priority given the present politicalsituation,” said Schillios. “Kaaba tells me this week theairport has re-opened, however with borders closed, food and fuelprices are doubling in an area already steeped inpoverty. Until we are assured the situation will not escalate,the safety of our graduates is our primary concern so all activityis being suspended. Because Kaaba has limited and potentially noaccess to cash, we are exploring how to get funds to her for Hèrèjè graduates and emergency provisions.”

Ways credit unions can help range from making a donation thatgoes directly for basic food and shelter needs of student graduatesuntil the center can be reopened, to purchasing items from theonline store and using “Goodsearch” as a searchengine.