EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Of my 9th trip to Cameroon from May 17th to July 7th, 2008.
By Pavla Zakova-Laney, President of EDUCARE-AFRICA
1. On May 18th, 2008 I arrived successfully in Yaounde, Cameroon. Mrs. Gladys Sunjo, wife of our country coordinator, picked me up at the airport and drove me to a rest house. There were two holidays in a row so I was not able to go to the bank until Wednesday, May 21st.
2. On May 22nd Mr. Kevin, our field coordinator, and I traveled by public transport overnight to Bamenda, where the Moneygram finally released our funds. Thanks to Ericka LaManna, a dedicated teacher from Texas, we received 18 boxes with donations of school supplies and school bags. More blessings are on the way and will arrive in Cameroon around mid-July. Among them are 50 boxes with university level textbooks, some school supplies, two filing cabinets, a new printer and office supplies for our office.
3. Basic school supplies for the 90 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 29th and 30th. Donated school bags, toothbrushes and other donations were distributed to 65 students. 6 Joy & Success Clubs in various schools received donated spiritual books and Daily Word magazines. 41 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 back to their villages. About 100 staff members from G.H.S. Tatum, G.S.S. Nseh and G.H.S. Ntumbaw received pens and some colored chalk for encouragement. More science lab equipment for the Science Laboratory in Tatum was purchased and we learned that for the first time, science students from the examination classes were able to do the practical exams at the school lab. Some textbooks for higher classes will be purchased in August from the funds we set aside from Trip 2008. Funds for 25 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 two best female science students from G.B.H.S. Ndu and G.B.H.S. Kumbo.
4. On May 28th Kevin and I arrived in Tatum. On May 29th and 30th we went to five schools to inform the students about re-applications, scholarship applications for new students and we also distributed prizes in three of them. On Saturday, May 31st, we went to school for the P.T.A. (Parents Teachers Association) meeting to inform the parents and the staff about all the blessings and our planned activities.
5. During our annual board meeting on June 16th in Bamenda, we decided to raise the annual required averages for all the classes. In addition, to inspire more outstanding female students to apply, we will prepare a special monetary prize next year for a female student from form three with an average of at least 17.5/20. Our goal is to assist 60% female and 40% male students. For the 2008/2009 academic year, we gave an opportunity to 20 new male and 40 female students to apply for scholarships.
6. On June 13th we met with our students at Bambili, on June 29th with university students in Yaounde and on July 1st with students in Buea. In Tatum, we met and discussed with students and parents on June 20th, 21st, 23rd, 24th and 25th. We met with In Harmony scholars on June 22nd. During my trip we chose 126 students. Kevin will continue to meet and discuss with the students I was not able to meet with. Our list for 2008/2009 will be finalized by August 15th, 2008.
7. A project proposal with an estimate for the first phase of building the Educare-Africa Center in Tatum is almost completed and will be mailed to our office in the United States within the next four weeks. It will consist of a public library, computer and internet lab, our office, a few guest rooms, a small girls’ dormitory, a housekeeper house & a guest family apartment for rent, a farm, garden, poultry, fruit trees, animals, several dogs and a garage. We purchased a piece of land above the school farm. We also decided we will begin setting aside some funds each time we send funds to Cameroon for our first vehicle Toyota Hilux double cabin pickup. We need about $8,500 to purchase the vehicle and $2,800 for registration, necessary documents, insurance, tires, fuel, maintenance and unforeseen expenses for the first year.
9. As a side project, Justin Tagne from the Cameroon Baptist Center in Bamenda and I drove around town on Sunday, June 15th with a veterinarian he works with and we saw 24 dogs and their owners Justin has been assisting in one way or other. Justin has also been helping stray dogs. The Reid Animal Hospital in Albany donated again some equipment, vitamins, de-worming tablets and flea treatment. These will arrive on a sea container sometime later in July. Justin will continue to work with veterinarian, Dr.Munki Julius Nfor, who is a coordinator for a non-profit group SPALE, P.O. BOX 5170 NKWEN BAMENDA, CAMEROON; TEL(237)75 14 92 85, which also assists stray dogs. I will contact other veterinary clinics in Albany to see if they would be willing to help as well.
UPCOMING ASSISTANCE: We want to assist about 130 secondary/high school students and about 30 university students. Approximately $18,000 by mid September 2008 would take care of these students’ essential educational needs. Since the deadline for payment of the school fees is in mid September, it would be the best 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.
As soon as we will have a project proposal and an estimate for our Center in Tatum, we will inform you.
Pavla Zakova-Laney,
Founder, Full-time volunteer President & Executive director of EDUCARE-AFRICA
Of my 9th trip to Cameroon from May 17th to July 7th, 2008.
By Pavla Zakova-Laney, President of EDUCARE-AFRICA
1. On May 18th, 2008 I arrived successfully in Yaounde, Cameroon. Mrs. Gladys Sunjo, wife of our country coordinator, picked me up at the airport and drove me to a rest house. There were two holidays in a row so I was not able to go to the bank until Wednesday, May 21st.
2. On May 22nd Mr. Kevin, our field coordinator, and I traveled by public transport overnight to Bamenda, where the Moneygram finally released our funds. Thanks to Ericka LaManna, a dedicated teacher from Texas, we received 18 boxes with donations of school supplies and school bags. More blessings are on the way and will arrive in Cameroon around mid-July. Among them are 50 boxes with university level textbooks, some school supplies, two filing cabinets, a new printer and office supplies for our office.
3. Basic school supplies for the 90 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 29th and 30th. Donated school bags, toothbrushes and other donations were distributed to 65 students. 6 Joy & Success Clubs in various schools received donated spiritual books and Daily Word magazines. 41 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 back to their villages. About 100 staff members from G.H.S. Tatum, G.S.S. Nseh and G.H.S. Ntumbaw received pens and some colored chalk for encouragement. More science lab equipment for the Science Laboratory in Tatum was purchased and we learned that for the first time, science students from the examination classes were able to do the practical exams at the school lab. Some textbooks for higher classes will be purchased in August from the funds we set aside from Trip 2008. Funds for 25 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 two best female science students from G.B.H.S. Ndu and G.B.H.S. Kumbo.
4. On May 28th Kevin and I arrived in Tatum. On May 29th and 30th we went to five schools to inform the students about re-applications, scholarship applications for new students and we also distributed prizes in three of them. On Saturday, May 31st, we went to school for the P.T.A. (Parents Teachers Association) meeting to inform the parents and the staff about all the blessings and our planned activities.
5. During our annual board meeting on June 16th in Bamenda, we decided to raise the annual required averages for all the classes. In addition, to inspire more outstanding female students to apply, we will prepare a special monetary prize next year for a female student from form three with an average of at least 17.5/20. Our goal is to assist 60% female and 40% male students. For the 2008/2009 academic year, we gave an opportunity to 20 new male and 40 female students to apply for scholarships.
6. On June 13th we met with our students at Bambili, on June 29th with university students in Yaounde and on July 1st with students in Buea. In Tatum, we met and discussed with students and parents on June 20th, 21st, 23rd, 24th and 25th. We met with In Harmony scholars on June 22nd. During my trip we chose 126 students. Kevin will continue to meet and discuss with the students I was not able to meet with. Our list for 2008/2009 will be finalized by August 15th, 2008.
7. A project proposal with an estimate for the first phase of building the Educare-Africa Center in Tatum is almost completed and will be mailed to our office in the United States within the next four weeks. It will consist of a public library, computer and internet lab, our office, a few guest rooms, a small girls’ dormitory, a housekeeper house & a guest family apartment for rent, a farm, garden, poultry, fruit trees, animals, several dogs and a garage. We purchased a piece of land above the school farm. We also decided we will begin setting aside some funds each time we send funds to Cameroon for our first vehicle Toyota Hilux double cabin pickup. We need about $8,500 to purchase the vehicle and $2,800 for registration, necessary documents, insurance, tires, fuel, maintenance and unforeseen expenses for the first year.
9. As a side project, Justin Tagne from the Cameroon Baptist Center in Bamenda and I drove around town on Sunday, June 15th with a veterinarian he works with and we saw 24 dogs and their owners Justin has been assisting in one way or other. Justin has also been helping stray dogs. The Reid Animal Hospital in Albany donated again some equipment, vitamins, de-worming tablets and flea treatment. These will arrive on a sea container sometime later in July. Justin will continue to work with veterinarian, Dr.Munki Julius Nfor, who is a coordinator for a non-profit group SPALE, P.O. BOX 5170 NKWEN BAMENDA, CAMEROON; TEL(237)75 14 92 85, which also assists stray dogs. I will contact other veterinary clinics in Albany to see if they would be willing to help as well.
UPCOMING ASSISTANCE: We want to assist about 130 secondary/high school students and about 30 university students. Approximately $18,000 by mid September 2008 would take care of these students’ essential educational needs. Since the deadline for payment of the school fees is in mid September, it would be the best 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.
As soon as we will have a project proposal and an estimate for our Center in Tatum, we will inform you.
Pavla Zakova-Laney,
Founder, Full-time volunteer President & Executive director of EDUCARE-AFRICA
Albany, July 13, 2008
