On Saturday, May 9th Thomas and I met with several former and current students. They decided to create an Educare-Africa Alumni group on Facebook to support our work in Cameroon. On May 10th Thomas and I traveled to Bamenda. I met with Mr. Kevin, our field coordinator, we picked up our funds, purchased basic school supplies and science lab equipment and prepared for our journey to Tatum. On May 19th we drove to G.H.S. Kedjom Keku to give prizes. On May 21st we traveled to Tatum. On May 13th we visited one of our former students Hilary Kpuntir at Bafang, where he is teaching English language classes at St. Paul College. While visiting him we met two other former students, who are teaching at the same school.
Basic school supplies for the 103 best students from G.H.S. Kedjom Keku, G.H.S. Talla, G.B.H.S. Tatum, G.H.S. Nseh, G.H.S. Mbu-Warr, G.H.S. Taku, and G.H.S. Ntumbaw were purchased and given during prize giving ceremonies between May 19th and May 29th. Donated toothbrushes, toothpaste, additional school supplies and other donations were distributed to almost 300 students. About 220 staff members from these seven schools received pens for encouragement. Each school also received four boxes of chalk. Thanks to several kind donors new science laboratory equipment was purchased for G.H.S. Nseh. Thanks to Labdoo NGO in California, four laptop computers were donated to G.H.S. Nseh, G.S.S. Ngendzen, G.H.S. Mbu-Warr and G.B.H.S. Ndu. 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. Kuintar received a solar panel. G.H.S. Nseh and G.H.S. Taku received new short wave radios donated by the Ears To Our World NGO from North Carolina.
On Tuesday, May 26th science laboratory equipment purchased thanks to VWR Foundation was donated by Educare-Africa to G.H.S. Talla. It was an all-day event that included songs, traditional dances, speeches, fundraising and handing over of the science laboratory equipment. On Saturday, May 30th, we met with students and parents at G.B.H.S. Kumbo. On June 4th we visited Mr. Egbe, former principal of G.H.S. Mbu-Warr, who was transferred to G.H.S. Lus, close to Nigerian border. It took us three and half hours to get there on a terrible road. On our way back Mr. Kevin’s car broke down. On June 3rd I had a great meeting with Natalie, a current Peace Corps teacher at G.B.H.S. Tatum. She is very much interested in working with Educare-Africa. From June 15th until June 20th we met with students and parents in Tatum. On June 17th we met parents and students at G.H.S. Mbu-Warr. On June 22nd we traveled to Bamenda and on June 26th we met with parents and students from Bamenda. During my trip we chose 155 students which included over 30 new outstanding students to assist in 2015/2016 school year.
On Saturday, June 27th Thomas and I traveled to Yaounde. On June 28th I met with three former students and we discussed ideas for next year's get together of former Educare-Africa students. On June 29th Thomas Maika and I met with Mrs. Marie-Therese Obama, a professor of Pediatrics in the Medical school in Yaounde and also Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family since 2009. Mrs. Obama and I are both Wellesley College alumnae. That is our connection. Mrs. Obama told us about her work at the Ministry. Then we spent an hour sharing about our work. She is very supportive of our work in Cameroon.
As a side project, Justin Tagne from the Cameroon Baptist Center in Bamenda and a member of a nonprofit group called Born Free Cameroon, and I organized the handing over of donations from the SafeHaven Humane Society and Reid Veterinary Hospital in Albany, Oregon.
UPCOMING ASSISTANCE: We hope to assist about 145 secondary/high school students and about 25 university students. Approximately $12,000 by mid-September 2015 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 9th. If the school fees and the GCE exam registration fees are not paid on time, students are often sent home from school, which has a detrimental effect on their exam results.
We will keep you informed about our building project in Cameroon. You can check on our progress on our blog.
You can view some of our activities on the following video clips:
