Spiritual mother of ‘Les Petits Génies’ in Mali

From embassy secretary to founder and director of a public school with 300 pupils in Bamako, Mali: this is Dominique Faucq's remarkable story. Her life's journey has been as bumpy as an African road, but thanks to her tenacity, she has achieved something she can be proud of.

Adventure as a guide

In the early 1980s, Dominique studies information and communication sciences at the ULB. This leads her unexpectedly to the Embassy of Mali, where she starts working as a secretary. Because she is curious, completing visa formalities without knowing anything about the country of destination does not satisfy her. She decides to drive to Mali in a Peugeot 504. She is 25 years old and very adventurous. “That would no longer be possible today,” she says immediately, referring to the jihadist groups currently occupying the country.

After she crosses the Sahara twice (“It leaves its mark on you!”), Mali never lets go of her. She travels back and forth several times before finally settling there. She gains her first work experience as a sales representative for a marble quarry run by a Belgian. “After one year, the project is terminated by the coup d'état of 1991; with seven more to follow!”

Dominique then marries a Malian man who becomes Minister for Energy, Mines and Water for 5 years, and Minister for Transport and Infrastructure for another 5 years. When seeking a school for the eldest of her three children, she is unable to find one that meets her expectations. So, in 1995, she decides to set up her own school. This is the birth of ‘Les Petits Génies’ (in French) (New window)): a school that has a name full of hope and confidence in a capital city with a population of four million. It all begins with a pre-school class of just eight pupils. Today, the school teaches 322 pupils from pre-school to the first years of secondary school.

A school with a mission

“The vast majority of pupils and teachers are Malian,” Dominique explains with a sense of pride. “The children usually stay with us for around ten years. Our friendly, family atmosphere ensures that everyone knows each other. Our job is to prepare them in the best possible way for their further school career in the higher classes and beyond." And the proof of success: “A large number of former pupils gain a university degree in France or Belgium.”

The curriculum, which is taught in French, follows national guidelines and is enhanced by ideas from France, Belgium and Canada. "I used to invite newly qualified teachers from these countries to share their knowledge with us for a year. Since the visas expired in 2012, the school has been completely autonomous and only employs local teachers."

The school is not only independent in terms of content, but also financially. "We don't receive any subsidies. Everything is paid for from the contributions of the parents." So is the school only for privileged children? “No,“ explains Dominique. "It's a school for middle-class children whose parents are looking for better quality than the public education system. Some of our own employees' children even receive free tuition. I don't want to attract more pupils at any price, because the quality of our education is paramount and that means small classes."

Recognition in difficult time

Unfortunately, quality does not mean that everything runs smoothly in Mali, a country with a population of 24 million. Like the rest of the country, the school faces various challenges. "Before having solar panels installed, we suffered power cuts for up to 18 hours a day. Water shortages are not unusual either. In addition, student protests against the state of public education were frequent, with stones being thrown at us and threats being made." Despite all these difficulties, the school stands firm. As a special highlight, Dominique received the Médaille de la Francophonie 2025 this year, an honour that was followed by a visit from the Belgian ambassador Patrick Deboeck.

Plans for the future

After more than 30 years as head of the school, Dominique is pondering the future. Selling the school? “I'm considering it, but it's difficult to part with my ‘baby’.” In her opinion, the main challenge for the school is to continue on its current course, to stay motivated and perform well despite setbacks. Staying in Mali? “It's a country of extremes: on the one hand, the incredible friendliness of the people and the rich traditional culture (music, cuisine, traditional dress, Dogon culture ...) that they want to preserve. On the other hand, the difficult living and working conditions and the extreme climate.” Is there any question of cancelling the annual visits to Belgium in order to settle there permanently? “The Atomium on my desk reminds me of Belgium, my cultural homeland. But I wouldn't rule out emigrating again: with the support of the OSS, many things are possible,” she says with a smile.

Her dream? “A tea room in Kyoto!”