Gloria's Story

Dear Educare-Africa,

Where do I start from? Who says there are no miracles or that miracles were of the past? God has used you to show His powers to me, my family and my schoolmates. God is wonderful and He uses but a fellow human being to manifest His glory. May you be blessed.

It all started when I got into Form one in the G.S.S. Tatum then. Life wasn't easy for my family and I. Things were so bad that I could not get a pen for a hundred francs (about 20 cents). I thought I was going to drop out for the fact that we could not afford food in our house.

When I reached Form three in 1996, God sent us a guardian angel, a Peace Corps teacher, Madam Pavla Zakova and a few years later an NGO, Educare-Africa, that Madam Pavla started after her Peace Corps, in 2000. Oh God, thank you! I have tears of joy in my eyes right now as I am writing this to you.

If I am able to read and write today, able to serve my community and country, it is thanks to Educare-Africa. I do not really know where to start or end. Thank you very much!

It started with pens and continued with books, school fees, housing and other essential school related needs. It was not only the material assistance but also the spiritual and moral support.

Right now, I serve as a librarian in the Nkum Council Public Library. Whatever I am able to do now as far as education is concerned, all I have to say is thank God for Educare-Africa through our dear mother Madam Pavla.

So, with my GCE Ordinary and Advance Level, I wish to tell you people that if not for you in the name of God and His will, I couldn't have achieved all these goals. I do pray that you continue in that loving spirit for it is only our Creator Who will reward you for your good work. Whatever I am today and will be tomorrow I will always say it is you and will always pray that what you did to me shall be done to others as well. With your good example, I am able to help two of my younger ones in school. Thank you Educare-Africa for your inspiration.

May you be blessed.

Njoben Gloria Mainimo

Educare-Africa, My Mother

Oh sweet Mother, don't cry
it has been a wonderful journey
Console yourself your children are mature
You will soon reap the fruit of your labor
And like your self, we will have many children
Three children, four children, five children.

Together you taught us the lessons of life
Now we can see people with the loving eyes of God.
That there is no difference between us.
All of us from every nation are one.
And together like a great army
We can form a strong chain of love and support.
It did not kill you as you toiled day and night.

Looking for food to nourish your tender ones.

Now I know, No one dies from being good.

It doesn;t kill to share with the neighbor.

Neither does it in doing a kindness.

It brings a wonderful blessing of joy.

You have shown to us all it takes to be fulfilled

You shared our loving moments, sad moments,

happy...
What a loving mother you remain to us.

We wish to remain children but

We need to go out to the world

And bring forth your grandchildren

So you see your labor has not been in vain.

Beatrice

I am Ngong Beatrice Kernyuy, a third level mathematics student in the University of Yaounde I, found in Cameroon. I am 23 years of age and the 1st in a fmaily of four. My parents Mr./Mrs. Ngong Vitalis live in a small village in Bui Division. I grew up with them together with my younger ones who now are in the secondary and primary schools.

Being where I am today is a miracle. It amazes me whenever I look back and see what God has been doing to me especially through Educare-Africa.

During my secondary education, I had scholarships where some of my school needs were brought and other offers from friends and relatives. One beautiful day in form five, I had a prize from Mrs. Pavla Zakova-Laney as the best female science student. It was my first time meeting Madam Pavla. Little did I know that the story of my life was about to change that year. I passed the ordinary level GCE exams in 11 papers with good grades and was the best in our center. A year later I had a prize from Mrs. Chantal Biya, the 1st lady of the republic. I was encouraged and excited as I traveled to Yaounde, the capital of our country for the 1st time.

While in lower sixth, I met some students from Tatum who had been with Madam Pavla. Celsius, a very good friend and brother invited me to meet her during her annual visit to Cameroon. I had the opportunity to talk with her later and I explained how the gift had encouraged me. Madam decided to assist me together with my parents. In addition, I benefited from Educare-Africa mobile library. In upper sixth, I was given money to register the entrance examinations into professional schools. I succeeded in the Advanced Teacher Training Exam where I have benn in the last three years for studies.

Educare-Africa, my mother, has been there always. I had the opportunity of having a kind and generous sponsor, Ms. Marian Angele. Also, while at ENS Bambili, I was blessed by staying with Dr. Frida Sunjo from whom I learned many lessons of life. Educare-Africa has touched all parts of my life. I appreciate them all many of whom I have not met but who are out there concerned about our needs. Ms. Marian sends me stories, funds for my educational needs and encourages me. I learnt so much from her life and her own experiences. I never dreamt that I would live like other children, go to school and have a job.

Here I am today, just graduated from the Teachers Training School, and by God's grace in a little while I will be posted by the state to teach. I have been lifted from nothing to something. I owe Educare-Africa so much abd I believe soon I shall do to others what they have done to me. It is really a wonderful experience to live, love and be loved unconditionally. It has been an amazing time never to be forgotten. Fresh memories remain in me and some day will yield many blessings for others.

Love you all,

Beatrice

Educare-Africa and Me

My name is Tangko Julius Ngala, 26 years young and the son of Tangko Manases and Agnes Mangu, all late, who were residents in Douala, Cameroon.

I attended primary school in Mbot, a village in the Donga Mantung Division in the North West Region of Cameroon where I obtained my First School leaving certificate. Here I lived with some relatives while my parents went out to provide for us, including our education.

In 1996 I entered into the secondary school at G.S.S. Tatum. At that time things started changing negatively in the family and polygamy came in to break it apart. My mum was the only one struggling for all the five of us in the family. I loved studying right up to the university but the challenge here was that she started getting tired when I was still in the second year of the secondary school. God being so kind provided for us Madam Pavla Zakova-Laney, my class mistress from form one to three and Peace Corps volunteer. She was and has remained a kind loving and cheerful mother to us, thereby justifying the saying that "the Lord does everything with a reason." She provided most of the textbooks I needed to succeed and supported me financially especially in form five when the situation became critical. I was able to register, write and obtain my Ordinary level GCE in nine subjects, thanks to the support from Madam Pavla and my mum. This not withstanding, I also received a scholarship from the Cameroon Government in forms two and three for which I was very grateful too.

In 2007, I transferred to G.B.H.S. Kumbo where I continued in lower and upper sixth. My mum was able to assist me with the house rents, food and textbooks while Educare-Africa assisted me with the school fees for my two years in high school. Again, I must confirm that it was thanks to these two parties that I was able to succeed in all the 3 subjects, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology in the advanced level GCE exams.

After high school life became a nightmare. I had to stay at home for two years trying to get something doing that could help me proceed with studies but success was rare. Nevertheless, Madam Pavla and Educare-Africa came in as usual and registered me into the first year in the University of Yaounde I where I read Animal physiology with the hope of being a health care worker one day. Madam Pavla also provided spiritual booklets which together with the moral support I get from the Joy and Success Club that was also founded by her, has helped to restore my faith and hopes. Mid way in level two I lost my mum and life once again seemed too meaningless to me, but Educare-Africa continued to support me over the year and today I can boast of being in year 3, a high point toward achieving my goal.

I cannot quickly conclude that from Educare-Africa and Joy and Success Club I have only received material and financial assistance but I want to confess here that I have also been educated morally and on how to choose a career, an important feature in the life of a student.

My family and I are very grateful for what Educare-Africa has been doing to me and to other students like me. From Educare-Africa on one hand and the Joy and Success Club on the other hand, we have drawn more than one lesson about Love, devotion and encouragement. We pray God to bless Educare-Africa abundantly and give its staff long lives.

TJN

Brief Summary of the 10th Trip

By Pavla Zakova-Laney, President of Educare-Africa

1. On May 14th, 2009 I arrived successfully in Yaounde, Cameroon. Mr. Emmanuel Sunjo, our country coordinator, picked me up at the airport and drove me to a rest house. The following day I picked up our funds.


2. On May 18th, Mr. Sunjo and I traveled to Limbe to visit one of our former students, Verbe Ajime Tina, who was posted there to teach biology at the Government Secondary School Bonadikombo. We met the principal, Mrs. Dorothy and the staff, talked to the students in all four classrooms and observed the interaction of Tina with her students.


3. Basic school supplies for 96 best students from G.H.S. Tatum, G.S.S. Nseh and G.H.S. Ntumbaw were purchased and given during prize giving ceremonies on May 28th and 29th. Donated toothbrushes, toothpastes and other donations were distributed to 58 students. 14 Joy & Success Clubs in various schools received donated spiritual books and Daily Word magazines. 38 students received financial assistance for their immediate needs such as school fees, G.C.E. registration fees, rent, kerosene food, school uniforms, shoes and transport to their villages. 100 students received pens and pencils. About 85 staff members from G.H.S. Tatum, G.S.S. Nseh and G.H.S. Ntumbaw received pens for encouragement. Science lab equipment for G.H.S. Ntumbaw was purchased and during the summer some essential textbooks will also be purchased for the students from the funds set aside from trip 2009. Funds for students on our priority list and other students were set aside to pay school fees directly to the schools in September. Ywo Wellesley College Book Awards were given to the best females science students from G.H.S. Ntumbaw and G.B.H.S. Kumbo.


4. On May 23rd I arrived in Tatum. On May 26th I went to G.B.H.S. Ndu and G.B.H.S. Nkambe to inform the students about re-applications and scholarship applications for new students. On May 28th and 29th Mr. Kevin and I drove to G.S.S. Mbu-Warr, G.S.S. Nseh, G.H.S. Ntumbaw and G.H.S. Tatum, where we also distributed prizes in the last three of them.. On Saturday, May 30th, we met with our students at G.B.H.S. Kumbo, arranged for our new representative there and presented a Wellesley Book Award to the best female science student.


5. On June 6th we met with our students in Bamenda and at Bambili, on June 24th with university students in Buea and on July 1st with students in Yaounde. In Tatum, we met and discussed with students and parents on June 15th, 16th, 17th, 19th and 20th. During my trip we chose 135 students to assist. We will continue to look for more females.


6. On June 7th, Wirba Pascal and I visited Mbinkar Victor, one of my former students, at Bangante, West Region of Cameroon, where he now owns a small bakery. In addition, he provides holiday jobs for needy students and looks for ways to help stray animals. For that purpose he found a veterinary nurse and a veterinarian so that together in collaboration with S.P.A.L.E. they can assist more animals. I gave them some of the donations in-kind too. All our activities have been documented with photographs and some video clips and you can view most of them on our blog.


7. During our annual board meeting on June 11th in Bamenda, we decided to make some changes in the way we recruit new students in order to make the process more efficient. In addition, to inspire more outstanding female students to apply, we will award a special monetary prize next year to a female student from Form Three with an average of at least 18.6/20. Our goal is to assist 60% female and 40% male students. We gave an opportunity to 50 new students to apply for scholarship in the 2009/2010 year. Our first fundraising event in Cameroon is planned for November.


8. On June 18th, a short wave radio donated by a new non-profit group in North Carolina called the Ears to Our World was handed over to a teacher at G.S.S. Mbu-Warr which is located in a remote part of the Northwest Region of Cameroon. It was the first of many to come sometime this summer.


9. Since the Cameroon government established Tatum as a Subdivision, new offices will be coming in and new buildings built. Most other building projects have been stopped until further notice including our Educare-Africa Center. We continue to set aside some money for our first vehicle each time we send funds to Cameroon. Our first choice is a Toyota Hilax double cabin pick up but we may find it necessary to start with a smaller vehicle. We need about $8,500 to purchase the pick up and $2,800 for registration, necessary documents, insurance, tires, fuel, maitenance and unforseen expenses for the first year.


10. As a side project, Justin Tagne from the Cameroon Baptist Center in Bamenda and I organized the handing over of donations in-kind from the Reid Veterinary Hospital, Albany Animal Hospital, Periwinkle Pet Clinic in Albany and Hopes Haven Rescue group in Salem. Justin will continue to work with veterinarian, Dr. Munki Julius Nfor, who is a coordinator for a non-profit group S.P.A.L.E., P.O. Box 5170 Nkwen Bamenda, Cameroon; Tel: (237) 75-14-92-85, which also assists stray dogs. Dog Whisperer DVDs have been shown to many dog owners and other interested individuals in Bamenda and Tatum. About 45 dog owners, breeders, veterinarians and children participated.
    

UPCOMING ASSISTANCE

We hope to assist about 125 secondary/high school students and about 25 university students. Approximately $10,000 by mid September 2009 would take care of these students' essential educational needs. Since the dealine for payment of school fees is in mid September, it would be desirable to have the funds available before September 15th. When the school fees and the GCE exam registration fees are not paid in time, students are often sent home from school, which has a detrimental effect on their exam results.

Dear Friends and supporters,

On behalf of the students in Cameroon I want to thank you very much for your loving care and continuing generous support. Appreciation of our assistance by the students, parents, teachers and the whole community has been immense. Let us continue in this spirit and let us work together to help those less fortunate...

Love, Pavla

"I am dedicating myself to the love of God and the love of my neighbor as myself. I am dedicating myself to serving 'the least of these my brethren,' and the greatest along with the least."

Joel S. Goldsmith, Consciousness Is What I Am

Pavla's side project - Helping stray animals

Justin Tagne from the Cameroon Baptist Center in Bamenda and Pavla organized the handing over of donations in-kind from the Reid Veterinary Hospital, Albany Animal Hospital, Periwinkle Pet Clinic in Albany and Hopes Haven Rescue group in Salem. In addition, Justin organized public viewing of the Dog Whisperer show with Cesar Millan at the Center and Pavla did something similar in Tatum for neighbors and their children. At the end the DVD will be donated to Tatum Public Library. About 45 people participated including dog owners, breeders, veterinarians, dog lovers and children. Justin will continue to work with Dr. Munki Julius Nfor, a veterinarian and coordinator for a non-profit group in Bamenda, S.P.A.L.E.
Mbinkar Victor is one of Pavla's former students. He now owns a small bakery at Bangante, West Region. He also gives holiday jobs to needy students and looks for ways to help stray animals in his neighborhood. You can view video clips of some of these activities below.

Prizegiving Ceremony at G.S.S. Nseh

This year we gave prizes, which consist of basic school supplies you can see here, to the best three students in each class in three schools in the Northwest Region of Cameroon:

1. Government High School Ntumbaw
   


2. Government High School Tatum



3. Government Secondary School Nseh
   

Below are video clips from the ceremony at G.S.S. Nseh, which took place on May 29th, 2009.

G.S.S. Tatum in 2000 and Today

The photograph of Government Secondary school in Tatum you see here was taken in 2000, one year after I completed my Peace Corps. There was no administrative building, no science laboratory and no staff room. At that time, about 400 students attended the school. Today, it is a high school (since 2001) and over 1000 students

were enrolled in 2008/2009 academic year. There is a well equipped science laboratory now, more classrooms, an administrative building and just recently was added a new staff room, which will be completed before the new school year will start. You can see the school how it is today on the video below.

First shortwave radio given to a teacher

Ears to Our World is a new non-profit group in North Carolina that provides shortwave radios to teachers in developing countries to improve teaching and learning. During my 10th annual trip we handed over the first radio to Mr. Ndomi Patrick Ndi, a teacher from G.S.S. Mbu-Warr, in a remote section of the Northwest Region of Cameroon. Below is a short video clip with the handing over.

Interview with Bongnyuy Ivoline Dubila

Ivoline is one of our students, who for the past four years have been a part of twelve In Harmony Scholars assisted by a grant from Dr. Brook MACNAMARA. Last year Ivoline completed high school in Tatum and this year she graduated from Teachers Training College in Tatum. Below is a video clip with this interview made during my 10th annual trip to Cameroon.

New Science Equipment for G.H.S. Ntumbaw

G.H.S. Ntumbaw is a high school but cannot offer any science classes since there is no science laboratory. Therefore, we decided to purchase some equipment this year during my 10th annual trip. You can view the handing over on the video below.