March 31, 2009

Educare-Africa and Me




In every thing, let’s give thanks to God. For he made us to Love, serve and praise Him always. It is only when we trust in Him and feel His presence that we know that God is as good as good can be. The key of the Lord can open all doors.
I am Kiven Yuntir Ethel a third year student in the University of Yaoundé 1, in the faculty of arts , letters and social sciences , department of Psychology, 24 years of age and a mother of a girl, Frida Micheal. I am the only child in the family of late Mr. and Mrs. Ngoran Avitus.
I started my secondary education is G.S.S. Tatum in 1996 in form one B where Madam Pavla Zakova-Laney happened to be the Class mistress. Our class was called the chosen class because of the privileges we enjoyed as a result of her being our class mistress.
It all started gradually when she discovered that students could barely afford basic school needs. She then took this as a personal engagement to give us exercise books, pens, pencils, rulers, textbooks especially in biology which was the subject she taught. In form one she took us to The Ndu Tea Estate for a field trip that was mostly done by form five students, in form two we went to Lake Oku where most of us saw a lake for the first time. In forms three we went out of the North West region to Buea, Limbe and Douala, very important towns in Cameroon. This was the most enjoyable trip out of the others because most of us saw the beach, entered a bus and saw some big towns in our country for the first time. Along side these trips, Madam Pavla continued to assist many students with their needs and even paid school fees and part of their rents. It was from this her caring character that she founded Educare-Africa. Educare-Africa has done much for me (paid part of my fees, provided me with writing materials, clothing...) and because of this support I did so well in school that I received many encouragement prizes at the end of each year. When madam Pavla usually gave prizes to the first 3 to 10 best students in each class, I also received scholarships from the Cameroon government and the American government to the best female student. The Joy and success club and the dance club which she also founded where a source of joy to me.
When I completed high school I had no means to continue my education, as a result of that I stayed out of school for a year. I was full of joy when the then coordinator of Educare-Africa came to me and asked me to go to the teacher’s training college. I could not at the time due to limited funds, but later I received assistance from Mr. Libor Krupica, a kind donor. Thanks to this support I could pay my fees and do other school preparations. During my stay in this college, Educare-Africa assisted me with rents, part of food, daily needs, books, and teaching aides. Our principal knew the good intentions of Educare-Africa, and so assisted me some times in school as well. Upon completion from this school, I was given the golden opportunity to go to the university thanks to my kind sponsor Mr. Krupica through Educare-Africa. I made the choice to study Psychology which is in line with the teaching a child. Since 2006 I have been in Yaoundé where I am now in the final year to have a first degree in Psychology.
Thanks to Educare-Africa I obtained my G.C.E. ordinary level certificate in 2002, Advanced level certificate in 2003, Teacher’s grade one certificate in 2006 and now towards having a degree, God willing in 2009. I am really indebted to the organization, president and founder madam Pavla, and most especially to my kind sponsor Mr. Libor. I pray that more students shall have the opportunity to have such support so as to feel happy too.
May God Bless you all abundantly.
Kiven

March 30, 2009

Write Your Own Story - Part I




“If you have not had what you want, it is because you have not decided on what you want”

I am called NDZEIDZE THOMAS MAIKA. I was born on the 6th of June 1980 and the third in a family of four. By God’s grace, I am the only child from this little family to have crossed the walls of primary education. While in primary two, there was a break up in my family and my mother took the “bull by the horn” to provide for my education. My two elder sisters remained in the house after their primary education because she was not viable enough to provide for the continuation of their education. Thank God, I was fortunate to continue on the rungs of the academic ladder.
In 1996/97 (while in form three, in Government Secondary School Tatum), I caught up with someone (at the time a US Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon) who not only assisted me to achieve my aspirations but also acted as a role model to me because of her wonderful character and love for humanity––Madam Pavla Zakova Laney.
There was no way I could hide in the crowd because I was one of the best and first in class on academic basis. This gave me the opportunity to “gather” a large percentage of gifts she offered to the best students during the end of year graduation ceremony. The story was the same in form four but for the fact that I was elected sanitation prefect for the entire school and I rule for two years till my final year. I made eight papers at the Ordinary Level Certificate and the best student in my center. I was also awarded a ministerial prize for academic excellence.
Madam Pavla left Cameroon after my final year in secondary school. Thereafter, she formed the NGO Educare-Africa Cameroon (EDAC) dedicated to improving the learning and living conditions of needy and bright students in Cameroon.
While in high school (Government Bilingual High School Kumbo), I received substantial support from the NGO to provide for my school supplies.
The campaign on sensitization (May-July of 1999) of the rural masses on the importance of education was one striking adventure that we undertook. We visited several neighboring and distant villages. I played the raconteur in which I thrilled the crowds with stories of encouragement. We had no car but our legs, no microphones but out mouths, we walk under the rain, in the mud, we ate all kinds of foods, slept with the mosquitoes, we got tired but kept on moving just in a bit to add value to somebody’s life.

The purpose of our lives is to add value to the people of this generation and those that follow.

It was in high school that I was introduced to yet another wonderful benefactor–Dr. Brook MacNamara (a partner to the NGO). She has been no-nonsense figure in my life since then. She has been no less than a mother to me.

You can get anything you want in life if you help other people get what they want

I completed high school in June 2001, succeeding in all the four science subjects I registered for. In September of 2001, I took the TOEFL and SAT with the hope of continuing education in the U.S.A. Unfortunately, I succeeded in the SAT but not in the TOEFL. Though I spent one year at home after high school I was not deterred anyway. During this period (2001-2002), I embarked on the EDAC sensitization campaign and went on one errand or the other.
In Sept. 2002, EDAC assisted me to go to the university. Here, I was again introduced to another caring mother–––Madam Dena Palmemaysa. Mom, you put a smile in my heart!!!
The undergraduate program was one of the most exciting times in my life. I majored in Microbiology with the aim of entering into the food/animal production field.
In my third year in the university, I discovered that while I was doing great in school and receiving abundantly from the NGO, there was no group or club to cater for the increasing numbers of students under the umbrella of EDAC. I went ahead and formed EDAC Buea Branch and became the president by balloting. It was a great group indeed!!!
I graduated in 2005 with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.31 on a scale of 4.00 and the 5th in a class of 80 students.
After this I was offered a place to teach in a secondary school. However, I turn down the offer because I wanted to obtain a masters degree and because I thought I was going to distort my dream if I accepted the offer.
I was given a place to do a master program in Microbiology. However, I failed short of reaching the deadline for payment of tuition. Who knows how God does His things––Madam Dena sent the tuition several weeks after classes had begun. I was allowed to register after writing appeal letters to the Vice Chancellor. I must say the NGO had been the brain behind these beautiful strikes. Again, I settled down as adviser to EDAC Buea Branch (for three years now). I was also appointed the student coordinator of a Christian Movement called Campus Crusade for Christ with a membership of more than 60. Presently, I am the adviser in that ministry.
Though the master program has not been interesting as I expected, I look forward to defending the work in a month’s time or two.
With all the experience I have had so far and the internship with the Takui animal project (for two months), I started an animal farm (cow farm) and I am looking forward to expanding it.
While I look forward to applying to some food producing bodies in Cameroon I am also applying for scholarships to do a program in biotechnology out of Cameroon. I am still soliciting the support of my wonderful benefactors in the event of any scholarship.
I am very proud of and grateful to the BENEFACTORS under EDAC who have provided a cozy path for me to go this far and to move me from grass to grace. May the rich Lord water them even as they continue to water others. I also want to say, the sumptuous support did not only assist me but members of my family as well as others students.



LONG LIVE EDUCARE-AFRICA AND ITS BENEFACTORS!!!

Proverbs 11:24 says “One man gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want”

April Newsletter

Planning for another trip
Pavla is planning her 10th trip to Cameroon in May 2009. She will be in Cameroon for about seven weeks and will travel alone again. Thanks to your kindness and generosity, her ticket is already paid for. Her goal is to raise $10,000 for the trip. So far, we have $2,500.
During her trip, she wants to purchase basic school supplies for many students and some science lab equipment, depending on available funds. In addition, Pavla will work with our coordinators in Cameroon to plan concrete steps for building of our Educare-Africa and Community Center in Tatum and fundraising in Cameroon. She also plans to assist many students with essential school related needs, meet with parents and students to discuss their current situation, check report cards and choose eligible students for assistance in 2009/10 academic year. Two Wellesley Book Awards will be given to the two best female science students from two different schools in rural Cameroon. Pavla also plans to visit a bakery in Bangante, owned by one of her former students and a school in the Southwest Region, where one of her former students now teaches.

Other Possibilities/Wish List

Other possibilities
  • Remembering Educare-Africa in the last will is another way how to provide more support for the children in Cameroon. For more information you can contact Mike Reddy.
    Mike’s phone: (541) 485-6676
    Mike’s email: mike.tiplace@gmail.com;
  • Pavla is also looking for more opportunities for presentations for any interested group: Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs, Women’s and Youth groups, middle, high school or University classes, Zonta, Altrusa International and other groups.
  • Another possibility for raising more funds and support would be for supporters to write to Oprah’s Angel’s Network about our work in Cameroon. If you are interested, contact Pavla for more information.

Wish List
  • Digital video camera to document our activities especially in Cameroon
  • Stamps 41 and 90 cents (there will be an increase in postage sometime in May 2009)
  • Prayers for all our activities including travel and for our planet earth with all its inhabitants.

How You Can Assist/What Your $$ Do for Students

Assisting students
There are many ways to assist students. Interested individuals or groups can support individual students and will receive letters from the student, updating them on her/his progress in school.
Or, people can send monthly donations, which will assist many students. Or, a donation can be made once a year, either for an individual student or several students. It depends on the donor’s preferences. Everything is greatly appreciated!


What Your $$ do for students
$1 – 4 pens or about 18 pencils
$13 – school uniform or school bag or school shoes
$16 – scientific calculator
$35 – secondary school fees or
House rent for 10 months
$40 – high school fees
$50 – GCE exam registration fees
$60 – secondary textbooks
$80 – high school textbooks
$50 – helps a student to register at a university (One year costs about $1,100.)
These prices were calculated when the exchange rate was $1=450 CFA francs. Exchange rate fluctuates.

News/Updates

  1. Science Laboratory –$5,000 is needed to purchase more lab equipment.
  2. Thanks to our Lord almighty and kind donors, Pavla was able to send $2,800 in December 2008 and $2,100 on in January 2009 to assist many students. We have many angels among us.
  3. You can now donate to Educare-Africa using your credit card on line. Go to www.JustGive.org and type in Educare Africa as your charity of choice and proceed from there. They give 100% of your donation to each group you choose.
  4. Thanks to Loyan Roylance, we now have a new, much more flexible website, a blog: http://educareafrica.blogspot.com/ , where you can find photographs from Pavla’s last year trip and other interesting information including a few success stories from our former students.

March 29, 2009

My Walk with Educare-Africa


I am Bongteh Grace Leinyuy , born on August 6th 1985, as 7th child to Mrs. Mbuum Josipher and late Mr. Bongteh Mumba who were both resident in Kishong. Kishong is a village in Bui Division in the North West region of Cameroon where I attended primary school and obtained the first school leaving certificate.
My parents considered sending only some of us to secondary school out of the income they got from selling some produce and coffee. While in secondary school, our needs usually out numbered the available means , but I thank God that my class mistress at the time was Mrs. Pavla Zakova-Laney who found interest in supporting excellent and needy students , providing textbooks, fees, school bags and spiritual books like daily words and organizing excursions for students.
The love she had for the students moved her to found Educare-Africa after her extended stay as peace corps volunteer in then Government Secondary School Tatum, My good performance in school and conduct permitted me to be selected for assistance and to be moved to Bamenda where I could concentrate more on studies.
In Government Bilingual High School Bamenda, Educare-Africa continued to support me in school and my brother did his best to provide food and accommodation. I got a scholarship from FESA (Female education in Science and Mathematics in Africa) and I succeeded in the maximum 11 of passed papers for the GCE ordinary level, in 2001. In 2003, I succeeded in 5 papers, which is the maximum at the advanced level GCE exams. These were already great achievements in my life thanks to Educare-Africa and my family.
Shortages of funds made me stay out of school for an academic year but because of the hard work of Educare-Africa’s founder and president, Madam Pavla Zakova-Laney, Mr. Kenneth and Mrs. Mavis Tuten decided to support me in my education through Educare-Africa. Their financial assistance permitted me to study and obtain a certificate in Data processing from Paul’s Computer institute obtaining the Prize for the best Student in Microsoft Windows, this was another step forward as computer knowledge is now very importance in the global village that the world had become.
My success in the Advanced levels and the financial assistance allowed me to register in to the University of Yaoundé 1 where I am presently studying Animal biology and in level 2. With Wildlife management as my focus, I carry out internship with the Cameroon Wildlife Aid Fund (CWAF) to gain experience while going on with my studies, thanks to the moral support and orientation of Mr. Sunjo Emmanuel, National Coordinator of Educare-Africa and to our Zoo keeper, Mr. Frederick Leydufe, among others. I hope for a brighter future and it is evident that with out the hard working staff of Educare-Africa I would not have been where I am today.
Beneficiaries of Educare-Africa and friends in their various institutions of learning, find interest in coming together to share useful ideas, some of which are; Trusting God our source of success (Joshua 1:7-8), learning to live with others regardless of our difference (temperaments) we also seek to help one another as much as we can, lessons that remain for life, God’s word is a rich source of inspiration to us. I am so glad this is possible through the Joy and success Club founded by Mrs. Pavla.
The devotion of all the staff and other benefactors is of great importance to us. I am very grateful and pray for God’s ever present love in their lives.

March 19, 2009

Invitation

We invite you to read the following letters. Our students will like to share; their experience expression of thanks, how they have benefited so far, their spiritual journey, what it means to them to be where they are now, success stories, Club activities and challenges.
Have a blessed time and enjoy the rest of your day.

THANK YOU EDUCARE-AFRICA!



Our dear benefactors and benefactresses, well wishers and board members of Educare-Africa,
It is with so much joy to convey my deep and sincere feeling of gratitude for the great support you have given to my life. Without your tremendous support I should never had been here and thanks to your great love I am here .
I am Shang Celsius Ndze, born on the 8th of January 1984 in Memfu , a village in Bui division of the North west Region of Cameroon, son of Shang Denis Seka and Nsaikila Veronica. I am a physics student at the University of Yaoundé I with energy physics and fluid mechanics as my main options.
I continue to regard 2000/2001 academic year as an epoch in my life; first for the double promotion from forms one to three upon my admission in to G.H.S. Tatum and the tremendous encouragement prizes I received from Educare-Africa that year. I came to Tatum because I learnt that Educare-Africa could assist me if I will have excellent academic results and behave well. The prizes gave an additional momentum to my determination to study. From then till this day you cover all my school needs (exams registration, rents, food, water and light bill) with the love and help of Madam Jindra. This in turn permitted me as it still does to be among the very best student in my class and the examination centers where ever I took the final exams from then till 2005 when I left high school, multiplying my level of thoughts and aspiration to study, and focusing on my goal of becoming an Engineer, researcher, and Teacher in Energy Physics.
My infinite gratitude to you too for the benignant effort to change my life through the comforting and assuring presence of Madam Pavla Zakova-Laney, the founder and President each year. This tells me that you are always there. The time I spent with her in form of reflection is so wonderful to me, the comforting messages we receive each time from her letters refresh my mind and assure me all the times. I am full of joy that you made me to set a goal for my life, a thing many students do not do here at the level I did. Educare-Africa remains my greatest motivator and friend for life. Thanks to you I have become a global citizen.
The spiritual and the inspiring books you give to us is another wonderful blessing to me. These books lightens my spirit and permit me to have a firm hold of my goals through the faith they build in me, form a positive attitude and act as a never ending motivator in my life .
I cannot forget to mention the Joy and Success club, which is another wonderful source of inspiration. It gives us the opportunity to meet and discuss with other students and live like a family here, giving us room to think deeply on every thing we do.
Your continual assistance is a sign of trust in my potential and in my ability and I am very grateful to you.
I am exited for the wonderful impact you have on our entire country of Cameroon, Africa as a whole and the world at large. Your thoughtfulness and ability to make others happy is deeply appreciated.
For the special way you always care about our needs, for the way you take those caring thoughts and turn them into deeds for our sake, for the manner in which you go out of your way to brighten up our lives. Thanks for you support.
May the almighty Lord bless you more and more to share your unconditional love, joy, peace and understanding. You make me happy.
Bless you
Celsius

March 07, 2009

My Success Story

My Success Story: Wirmvem Mengnjo Jude



I was born on Tuesday, April 14, 1981 at Mbam Health Centre, to the family of Lanyuy Roland Wirmvem and Kibong Perensia who live in Ngendzen village, Bui Division in North West Region of Cameroon (Africa). I attended Government Primary School Ngendzen for 7 years, from 1988. In 1995, I was admitted as a student into the then Government Secondary School (G.S.S.) Tatum, now a Bilingual High School. Every morning I trekked for a distance of about 5 km, from Ngendzen village to Tatum, in order to attend classes as there was not enough money for me to rent a room. Despite the tedious trekking, my passion for education gave me courage to keep going. During my second year (Form 2) in G.S.S. Tatum, the school was enormously blessed with a pioneer American Peace Corps Volunteer, Mrs. Pavla Zakova-Laney. She was a Biology teacher. I must say that this was my first time to be taught by a white. Though I enjoyed her teaching, at first, it was difficult to understand since I was never before taught by someone with a different accent.

That notwithstanding, I did exceptionally well in her subject and others too. This created a good relationship between Mrs. Zakova-Laney and me. Each time she was teaching, she would look at me from time to time, which was strange to me, and I told my mother this ‘our white teacher is always looking at me when teaching’. My mom laughed and said “maybe it is your luck”. She later on found out that I lived far away from school and wrote a letter asking me to come and stay with her alongside one other student (Kila Comfort) still from my village. This was strange for me to live with a white person. I could not imagine that. I informed my mum and dad about it, telling them that I was not ready to do that. My loving mum persuaded me that it was my blessing from God. Finally, in late 1996, I packed, from my village, to live with Mrs. Zakova-Laney about 0.4 km m from school.

I was now free from long treks to school though I was very worried about my friends and others who still had to trek. Even today, some still walk further than I did and also from other villages. From that time, my life changed. For the first time, I read at nights with an electric light. While living in the village, I read with a bush/kerosene lamp. When my parents could not afford 0.5$ to buy kerosene, I would either use a candle especially during exams or just read during the day. With Mrs. Zakova-Laney, I had enough school materials (pens, pencils, ruler, etc.) textbooks, food, time and all that a student needed.

Mrs. Zakova-Laney with her sympathetic heart realized that I was not the only desperate student and so bought school materials like shoes, books, pens, pencil, rulers; paid fees, sew uniforms, paid house rents, electric bills, bought fuel for bush lamps used by some students. More than 95% of the students were in need, and she could not satisfy all. Even some teachers were also needy, and she also offered them assistance. ‘What a huge task’. While living with her my performance improved, and I received allowances/scholarships from Form 3 (1997) to Form 4 (1998)for academic excellence from the Cameroon government. I was happy with my results. I should say that I was worried when Mrs Zakova-Laney was to leave. I could not imagine how I could live without her support. Before leaving Cameroon in 1999, we knew that she loved us very much and that she would not forget us. She then, in year 2000, created an NGO called EDUCARE-AFRICA (http://educareafrica.blogspot.com/). Through this organization, I benefited a lot as before, but this time she was able to help more students, thanks to the loving care and generous support from many kind donors.

With this continuous surge of help, I was able to register the Ordinary Level Certificate of Education exam in 2000 (Form 5) and I passed in 6 subjects (Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Mathematics, Economics and English language). Since there was no high school then, I moved to Government Bilingual High School Kumbo. Mrs. Zakova-Laney continued through Educare-Africa to assist me and many other students with our school needs. My accommodation was partly taken care of as well as other essential needs. With the collective efforts of Mrs. Zakova-Laney through Educare-Africa and my parents, I registered the Advanced Level Certificate of Education exam in 2002and passed in two subjects (Geology and Chemistry).

My parents were unable to sponsor me in the University. The number of needy students kept increasing, and Educare-Africa could not fully take care of all my needs. I had to suspend my education. With the two certificates achieved thanks to Educare-Africa, and with the spirit of concern for others, inspired from Mrs. Zakova-Laney, in 2003, I coordinated student activities in my village and later founded NESA (Ngendzen Elite Student Union Association) which was later named NGEDA (Ngendzen Development Association). The main objective was to coordinate village developments activities. And thanks to this, my village is fruitfully drinking potable water.

In 2004, my parents assisted me to register at the University of Buea, Cameroon where I read Geology. During holidays, I would work at one industry in Douala to raise money for school. Educare-Africa again came to my salvage and paid part of my accommodation fee in 2005. With this support, I did so well in studies as usual and in 2006, I again received financial assistance for academic excellence from the Cameroon government. With more support, I successfully graduated in 2007 with a second class honours degree in Geology with a minor in Environmental science, scoring a GPA of 3.25 on a scale of 4 (16.3/20).

After one year at home, coupled unemployment, I decided to register for a master’s programme at the University of Buea after raising some money from my temporary local jobs in Douala. I read Applied Geology from 2008 to 2010 and graduated with a first class Master of Science degree in Applied Geology, scoring a GPA of 3.80on of 4 (19/20).

My supervisor during the master’s programme, Professor Samuel Ndonwi Ayonghe, advised me to apply for a PhD programme through the Japanese Government MONBUKAGAKUSHO Scholarship (MEXT). Out of 8 pre-selected students, I was selected among the two successful candidates after exams and interview. By the grace of God, I will graduate in 2014 with a PhD of Science with a specialty in Hydrogeochemistry and Application of Environmental Isotopes in Hydrology. Though I still have one more year to go, I have so far published several papers (http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=NqMp3ZcAAAAJ). I hope to complete my studies and return home to help my beloved country, Cameroon. I hope my story will be a source of inspiration for others. In life, never give up.