Many students from towns and villages can only reach primary schools within walking distance from their homes, and in order to continue their studies beyond sixth grade they must live in larger cities. Some stay with families in the cities and must perform a large share of the household work to earn their keep. Others can't find homes and so can't continue their schooling. Aminata Ouologuem, a teacher and woman leader, recognized the struggles of these students and identified with them because of the difficulties she herself had faced in getting an education. Along with her women's association, Amba Obi, she created the "Internat Scolaire," a home in the city for students from villages outside of Bandiagara. The kids study, play, and work together on chores such as cleaning and irrigating their vegetable garden. In order to be sustainable, the Internat needs to construct its own building and thus avoid rent costs.