Animatrices are local women and community leaders that make an effort to reduce gender bias in education.[1] These individuals generally have experience with social work and teach parents about the importance of equality in Malian education.[4] Additionally, they ensure that girls are regularly attending class and encourage any girls that drop out of school to return to class.[4] In a study about Gao, where animatrices are prominent, researchers found that the number of girls that attended schools nearly doubled in a three year span.[4]