Educare-Africa Center / Community Resource Center

As was mentioned in my brief summary we now have a project proposal you can view now. Just click on "Tatum Project" . We would appreciate any suggestions concerning fundraising for this important project. We need a total of $71,000 but if we could have $33,000 to start with, we could complete the living quarters. Then we could finish the offices, library and the rest of the building. We will update this post so you can check on our progress.

Update: so far we have $5,000

Thank you all very much on behalf of the people of Cameroon for your consideration and any support of our volunteer work in Cameroon!

Fondly,
Educare-Africa Staff

Brief Summary of 2012 Trip

My trip to Cameroon was very enjoyable and without any adverse challenges. Mr. Emmanuel Sunjo, our country coordinator, picked me up at the airport and drove me to his house. On Thursday, May 3^rd I picked up our funds which were sent through Moneygram.

On May 4^th Mr. Sunjo and I visited St. Stephen’s International College in Yaounde.

 On May 6^th in Yaounde we met with our students from Buea and Yaounde.

 On May 9^th I traveled to Bamenda in a new air conditioned bus. We purchased basic school supplies and science lab equipment and prepared for our journey to Tatum. In addition, thanks to a grant from the Riverside Church in New York, we also purchased school bags for 175 students. Additional bags were purchased later. Tailors in many villages were given some funds to purchase material for sewing new school uniforms also thanks to the Riverside Church grant. On May 16^th we drove to G.H.S. Kedjom Keku to give prizes for the first time and also to distribute school uniforms and school bags. On May 18^th we traveled to Tatum.

On May 22^nd we visited a newly created Government Secondary School at Ngendzen and met with three of our former students who are now teachers. In the afternoon we visited G.H.S. Kitiwum but even though it was the last week of school, which is always very busy, we found only students and a day watchman there There were no administrative staff or teachers present. We left our brochure there for the principal but he never contacted us.

Thanks to the Riverside Church grant over 200 students received new school uniforms and about 250 received new school bags. Basic school supplies for the 94 best students from G.H.S. Kedjom Keku, G.H.S. Talla, G.B.H.S. Tatum, G.H.S. Nseh, G.H.S. Taku, G.S.S. Mbu-Warr and G.H.S. Ntumbaw were purchased and given during prize giving ceremonies between May 23^rd and June 2^nd. Donated toothbrushes, toothpaste, additional school supplies and other donations were distributed to 79 students. 23 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. About 100 students received pens. About 170 staff members from G.H.S. Kedjom Keku, G.H.S. Talla, G.B.H.S. Tatum, G.S.S. Nseh, G.H.S. Taku, G.S.S. Mbu-Warr and G.H.S. Ntumbaw received pens for encouragement. Each school also received four boxes of chalk. New science lab equipment was purchased for G.H.S. Ntumbaw. So far four schools contributed funds to assist with transport. Funds for students on our priority list and other students were set aside to pay school fees directly to the schools in September.

Two Wellesley College Book Awards were given to the best female science students from G.B.H.S. Kumbo and G.B.H.S. Ndu. G.S.S. Njilah and G.H.S. Taku received new short wave radios donated by the Ears to Our World NGO from North Carolina.

On Saturday, May 26^th, we met with students and parents at G.B.H.S. Kumbo. On June 6^th we had discussions with students and parents at G.H.S. Taku. On June 7^th we distributed school uniforms and school bags at G.S.S. Njilah. On June 9^th we distributed school uniforms and school bags at G.S.S. Mah. In the afternoon we participated briefly in a P.T.A. meeting at G.H.S. Talla to inform them about our building project. On June 12^th we met with the mayor of Tatum, new P.T.A. chairlady from G.B.H.S. Tatum and Mrs. Josephine Berinyuy, our former student who now teaches in Tatum. From June 11^th until June 15^th we met with students and parents in Tatum. On June 13^th we met parents and students at G.H.S. Mbu-Warr. On June 17^th we traveled to Bamenda and on June 19^th we met with students from Bamenda and Bambili. During my trip we chose 133 students to assist in 2012/2013 school year. We chose over 30 new outstanding students for the next academic year.

Finally we have a project proposal for the first phase of Educare-Africa/Community Resource Center in Tatum. The Tatum Council which included the Mayor promised 30% support for our building project. The first building will include our office with conference room/library/reading and computer rooms, several guest rooms, indoor kitchen and so on. We plan to use local materials. We will need to raise $71,840. Community contribution will be about $10,000 mostly in manual labor and some local materials.

We were encouraged by Tatum people to go ahead and invite one of our board members, who have been interested for quite some time, to come next year to Tatum. They will provide a place for her to stay so she can participate in some of our activities, meet local people and enjoy the beauty of the surroundings.

Thanks to our neighbors’ generosity we were able to use their TV during the week of discussions with parents and students. While people were waiting for their turn they had an opportunity to watch great DVDs such as the BBC Planet Earth series, Elsa’s Legacy and the Dog Whisperer. They enjoyed this tremendously and encouraged us to get even more educational and     inspirational DVDs for next year and also to get our own TV so many more could benefit wherever we go, including in our Bamenda office.

As a side project, Justin Tagne from the Cameroon Baptist Center in Bamenda, also a member of a  newly created NGO called Born Free Cameroon, and I organized the handing over of donations from the Reid Veterinary Hospital, Periwinkle Pet Clinic in Albany and Hopes Haven Rescue group in Salem. About 12 dog owners, breeders and veterinarians participated. On May 13^th Dr. Ghogomu, Justin and I rented a taxi and went around town to treat and check on 25 dogs in need.

UPCOMING ASSISTANCE: We hope to assist about 125 secondary/high school students and about 25 university students. Approximately $10,000 by mid September 2012 would take care of these students’ essential educational needs. Since the deadline for payment of school fees is in mid September, it would be desirable to have the funds available before September 10^th. 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.

We hope to start with the building project as soon as possible. The first step is to build a road to the building site. We can start as soon as we will have some funds.

You can view some of our activities during 2012 trip on the following video clips:

Prize Giving and Riverside Project at G.H.S. Ntumbaw

On May 23rd, 2012 prizes were given, a new science lab equipment donated and new school uniforms and school bags distributed at G.H.S. Ntumbaw.

A Short Wave Radio Reception at G.S.S. Njilah

G.H.S. Taku and G.S.S. Njilah benefitted this year from donations of short wave radios from Earth To Our World non-profit group based in North Carolina.

DVD Viewing a Great Success

Many parents and students enjoyed tremendously watching DVDs such as BBC Planet Earth series, Elsa's Legacy, All Creatures Great and Small and the Dog Whisperer. They wish to see more next year.

Prize Giving and Riverside Project at G.H.S. Mbu-Warr

Prize giving and the school uniforms and school bags project at G.H.S. Mbu-Warr took place on May 24th, 2012

Riverside Project at G.S.S. Mah

On June 9th, 2012 Mr. Kevin and I executed the school uniforms and school bags project at Government Secondary School Mah in the Northwest Region of Cameroon.