My 18th trip to Cameroon was unusual but still successful.
Educare-Africa Resource Center Tatum: Roof was completed on our first building.
On Saturday, May 6th Thomas Maika, one of our former students and current volunteer board member of Educare-Africa and I met with several former and current students to discuss how they could assist with our Tatum project. An additional meeting was planned for June 30th.
On May 7th Thomas and I traveled to Bamenda. I met with Mr. Kwinji Kevin, our field coordinator, then picked up funds, purchase more science lab equipment and prepared for our journey to Tatum. On May 19th we traveled to Tatum.
On May 23rd science laboratory equipment was donated to G.H.S. Nseh thanks to a grant from VWR Foundation. On May 24th more science laboratory equipment was handed over to the principal of G.H.S. Mbu-Warr, again thanks to a grant from VWR Foundation. Thanks to other kind donors science laboratory equipment was also donated to G.H.S. Lus.
Thanks to Labdoo NGO in California, two laptop computers were donated to G.T.C. Tatum and to I.S.S. Nseh. Six more laptops arrived in a sea container and will be distributed later together with 9 short waves radios donated by Ears To Our World NGO from North Carolina, 15 solar lamps purchased by one of our generous board members and 3 solar panels with batteries and lights. Not all donated items arrived in Bamenda before I left.
In June 3 microscopes were donated to three rural secondary schools: G.S.S. Ntaba, G.S.S. Mbawrong and G.S.S. Mbonsoh. On June 4th we invited several former students for a meeting concerning our Tatum project. Every day during our stay in Tatum Mr. Kevin went to our project site to check on the progress. During that time the roof was completed, inner walls next, fireplace, window and door protectors, a foundation for a few rooms and an outdoor kitchen was completed, thanks to many kind donors including a grant from the $10 Club. On June 18th we traveled to Bamenda and on June 24th we met with some former and current students from Bamenda to discuss our Tatum project, its progress and funding.
On Wednesday, June 28th Thomas and I traveled to Yaoundé. The following day the two of us visited the Peace Corps office to greet the staff. On June 30th we met again some former and current students to discuss various strategies how we could raise more funds and future of Educare-Africa.
Below a few more photographs from our Tatum project:
As a side project, Justin Tagne from the Cameroon Baptist Center in Bamenda and a member of an NGO called Born Free Cameroon, and I organized the handing over of donations from the Reid Veterinary Hospital and SafeHaven Humane Society in Albany, Oregon on Saturday, May 13th. On Sunday, June 25th Justin and I rented a car and visited many dog owners and breeders in Bamenda to check on their dogs.
UPCOMING ASSISTANCE: We hope to assist about 180 secondary/high school students and about 20 university students. Approximately $15,000 by mid-September 2017 would take care of these students' essential educational needs.
We will keep you informed about our building project in Tatum. We will certainly need more funds and materials to make greater progress. You can check how the work continues on our blog. Feel free to email me any questions.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOU CONTINUING KIND AND GENEROUS SUPPORT!
You can view some of our activities on the following video clips:
