Brief Summary Trip 2014

My trip to Cameroon was very enjoyable and without any adverse challenges.

On Saturday, May 3^rd Thomas and I traveled to Buea to meet with our students. We returned to Yaounde that same day. After a long day of travel we arrived there around 2 a.m. on Sunday.

On May 4^th Thomas and I traveled to Bamenda. I met with Mr. Kevin, our field coordinator, we picked up the rest of our funds, purchased basic school supplies and science lab equipment and prepared for our journey to Tatum. On May 11^th I met with several former students who now have jobs, to get their information and photographs for our anniversary booklet. On May 15^th we drove to G.H.S. Kedjom Keku to give prizes. On May 16^th we traveled to Tatum.

Basic school supplies for the 105 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 16^th and May 23^rd. Donated toothbrushes, toothpaste, additional school supplies and other donations were distributed to 291 students. About 230 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.H.S. Mbu-Warr and G.H.S. Ntumbaw received pens for encouragement. Each school also received four boxes of chalk. Thanks to several kind donors new science lab equipment was purchased for G.H.S. Mbu-Warr and G.H.S. Talla. Thanks to Labdoo NGO in California, one laptop computer was donated to G.H.S. Ntumbaw and one to Educare-Africa staff in Cameroon. 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, G.S. Mbohnso and I.C.C. Tatum received new short wave radios donated by the Ears to Our World NGO from North Carolina.

On Saturday, May 24^th, we met with students and parents at G.B.H.S. Kumbo. On June 4^thwe visited another former student, Kongnso Clotilde Afoni, who now owns and manages a solar charging station at Mbohnso in the Northwest Region. While there we met a second former student, Chin Emiline, who is a primary school teacher at G.S. Mbohnso. On June 6^th we met with the lord mayor and our Tatum project committee. We met with them two more times and handed over funds to complete demarcation process and obtain a land title for Educare-Africa. From June 9^th until June 14^th we met with students and parents in Tatum. On June 12^th we met parents and students at G.H.S. Mbu-Warr. On June 16^th we traveled to Bamenda and on June 19^th we visited another former student, Mbinkar Victor, at Bangante, where he owns a small bakery. During my trip we chose 155 students including over 30 new outstanding students to assist in 2014/2015 school year.

On June 25^th 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 is also Wellesley College alumna and that was our connection. We spent an hour sharing about our work after Mrs. Obama told us about her work at the Ministry. She is very supportive of our work in Cameroon.

      As a side project, Justin Tagne from the Cameroon Baptist Center in Bamenda and also a member of a NGO called Born Free Cameroon, and I organized the handing over of   donations from the SafeHaven Humane Society in Albany, Oregon. About 12 dog owners, breeders and veterinarians participated. On June 22^nd Justin, a vet technician, and I rented a taxi and traveled around town to check on about 25 dogs in need and had discussions with their owners.

UPCOMING ASSISTANCE: We hope to assist about 130 secondary/high school students and about 25 university students. Approximately $10,000 by mid September 2014 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 9^th. 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:

 

 

 

Call for Action Trip 2014

Pavla is preparing for her 15^th trip to Cameroon on April 29^th, 2014. She will be in Cameroon for two months. We are very grateful that her ticket was for the first time free except for taxes and fees. Her goal is to raise at least $10,000 for the trip and $5,000 toward our building project in Tatum. So far, we have $8,441.

We are turning to you, our kind and generous donors, on behalf of the students in Cameroon and asking for your support so we could reach our goal. Your loving care and generous support will be greatly appreciated.

 During her trip, Pavla wants to purchase basic school supplies for many students and more science lab equipment for two public high schools in rural NW Region, depending on available funds. In addition, Pavla will work with our coordinator, local community in Tatum/Nkum area and other volunteers in Cameroon to complete the road and start with a foundation for Educare-Africa/ Community Resource Center in Tatum. She also plans to assist many students with essential school related needs, meet with parents and students to discuss their current situation, check report cards and choose eligible students for assistance in the 2014/15 academic year. Two Wellesley Book Awards will be given to the two best female science students from two different schools in rural Cameroon. Several short wave radios and small flashlights donated by the Ears to Our World nonprofit group will be handed over to teachers from different schools in remote parts of Cameroon. In addition, thanks to Labdoo, a nonprofit group in California, she plans to distribute several laptop computers to high schools in rural areas.

Please, do not hesitate to email or call Pavla if you have any questions. Checks can be made to Educare-Africa with “Trip 2014” in the memo. P.O. Box 3278, Albany, OR 97321.

Thank you very much on behalf of the students in Cameroon for your kind and generous support!

With much love, joy, peace and gratitude,

Fondly,

Educare-Africa Staff

November Newsletter

Educare-Africa/Community Resource Center Project: our priority

The local community dug part of the road to the site. A caterpillar is needed to finish the job and dig the foundation as well. You can view the complete proposal including a budget on our blog:

http://educareafrice.blogspot.com/

To complete this project, we still need at least $65,000. Together, we shall succeed.

UPCOMING ASSISTANCE:

New School Year Started

The new school year started in Cameroon the second week of September. The hundred and fifty plus students we chose now need our assistance in order for them to stay in school or to register at universities. People who would like to help them can choose one student (secondary/high school or university) or contribute more to send two, ten, twenty or thirty students to secondary/high school. Either choice will make a difference in the lives of these students.

News/Updates

We have sad news to share. Mr. Emmanuel Sunjo, our country coordinator, died on September 21^st after several months of a mysterious illness. He will be missed greatly.

You can donate to Educare-Africa using your credit card on line. Go to our blog and click on “Donate.”

We are very grateful to the Allan & Peggy Tishman Foundation and many other donors for their kind and generous donations.

Wish List

Used/New educational and inspirational DVDs (NatGeo, etc.) to share in Cameroon

Stamps international forever

PC compatible lap top computer for our field work

Prayers

 

What your $$ do for students

$1 – 4 pens or about 20 pencils

$15 – school uniform or school bag or school shoes

$18 – scientific calculator

$35 – secondary school fees or

House rent for 10 months

$40 – high school fees

$45 – GCE exam registration fees

$60 – secondary textbooks

$80 – high school textbooks

$50 – helps to register at a university (One year costs about $1,000.)

These prices were calculated when the exchange rate was $1=460 CFA francs. Exchange rate fluctuates.

Holiday Fundraising

We shall participate in the Gifts for a Better World store in Corvallis, at the First Congregational Church, 4515 SW West Hills Road. The store will be open from November 9^th to December 1^st. We will have hand-made masks, spoons, bottle openers and bags from Cameroon, greeting cards, 8x10 matted photographs, jewelry, dresses, CDs with African music, baked goodies and other items for sale. The store hours: Mon. – Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 12 noon-5 p.m.

Check the information flyer at the end of this newsletter.

Sponsoring students

There are many ways we can assist the students. Interested individuals or groups can sponsor individual students and will receive letters from the student, updating them on her/his progress in school. Or, people can send monthly donations, which will accumulate to assist many students. Or, a donation can be made once a year, either for an individual student or to assist several students. It depends on the donor’s preferences. Every donation is always greatly appreciated!

Other possibilities

▪ Remembering Educare-Africa in your last will is another way how to provide more support for the children in Cameroon. For more information you can contact Mike Reddy.

Phone: (541) 485-6676;

Email: mike.tiplace@gmail.com;

▪Pavla is always looking for more opportunities for presentations to interested groups.

Volunteers and ideas are always welcome and greatly appreciated!

All donations are tax deductible.

Thank you all very much on behalf of the children in Cameroon for your continuing kind and generous support. It is appreciated tremendously!

Have a richly blessed Holiday Season, filled with much joy, peace & unconditional love.