Nobel Peace Prize nominee Mariam Sidibé Dembélé will be giving a guest lecture at 6 p.m. Monday, May 9, in the Centralia College Walton Science Center, Room 121.
Dembélé is the founder and director of Muso Dambe, a life skills center for orphaned and handicapped girls in Mali, West Africa.
The mother of six children, four sons and two daughters, she always had a desire to help those less fortunate. She began her center in 1998 and soon began to teach orphaned and handicapped girls how to cook, design and sew clothing, make soap and learn French.
The center produces beautiful, high-quality cloths ranging from rich bazin to colorful batik to traditional mud cloth and indigo.
Dembélé was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2005. She has spoken internationally on economic independence for women and the value of education and job training. Her oldest son, Fily, attended Centralia College 2010-2013. Two others, Sandiakou and Ibrahim, are current students. Dembélé has also referred other students from Mali to Centralia College. Fily is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Brandman University.
Admission is free. Donations will be accepted for Muso Dambe.
