As part of our committment to rewarding excellence and encouraging our students in Mali to go further, Empower Mali donated 10 laptops to 10 student toppers. The laptops were purchased through funds generously donated by the National Speakers Association Foundation. In Mali, the DEF exam (Diplôme d’Études Fondamentales) tests 9th grade students as they graduate from middle school By awarding the nation’s toppers with laptops and a $200 cash gift, we wanted to recognize their hardwork and their parents commitment to their education.