Educare Africa

Pavla Zakova-Laney founded Educare-Africa in 2000 after three years of service as a Peace Corps volunteer teacher at a secondary school in Cameroon.

EDUCARE-AFRICA CENTER, Tatum, Northwest province, Cameroon

Goals

To improve living and learning conditions for the students and teachers in Cameroon today so that the students can successfully complete their education and then can help their country. In addition, to promote peace, cross-cultural understanding, love and unity of all people.

Objectives

1. Assess the needs and set priorities for one school at a time.

2. Help each school to prepare project proposals and budgets. Provide building materials.

3. Provide necessary textbooks, basic school supplies, school and activity clothing, and laboratory equipment.

4. Assist excellent students in applying to US colleges.

5. Establish this program as a model for helping other villages in Cameroon to improve education of their students.

Board Members:

Linda Lees, Vice President
Robert Kaufman, CPA, treasurer
Louise Claassen, Secretary/Publicity director
Jindra Brandejska
Pavla Zakova-Laney, President/Executive director; graduated in 1995 as a Davis Scholar at Wellesley College.

Activities

We raise funds in the U.S.A. to buy building materials in Cameroon, assist with transportation of these materials to the building site and oversee completion of each building project.

Parents of the students and community would do the labor. When a dormitory will be built we will provide necessary living allowance for the staff of the dorm until they become self-sufficient. If necessary we will assist in purchasing land for some essential school building projects, for example a dormitory (or a hostel).

We assist in getting electricity and water to each school.
We raise funds to provide textbooks for the needy students. Textbooks are available only in Cameroon. We will use funds to provide all the necessary school supplies for needy students. All these supplies can be purchased in Cameroon, which will reduce shipping cost.

We use raised funds to purchase used clothes for needy students in Cameroon. We will use our funds to assist brilliant Cameroonian students in applying to American colleges and we will check on their progress in school.

Why did we decide to establish this Center? This year, two rooms in the house that we have been using for the past 3-4 years were already rented when we arrived so we were forced to use a large parlor, which was without ceiling, very drafty and had many leaks. That was a hint that we needed to look for our own place.

Why do we need a vehicle? For security reasons, for the past two years we have often used private vehicles for transportation which was very expensive. Public transport is time consuming because the vehicles do not leave unless they are full and overloaded. To make it profitable drivers put too many people inside and children, bags, heavy bags with potatoes, beans, corn, containers with palm oil, kerosene, live animals, etc. go into the trunk or on the top. There is no way one can safely carry science lab equipment in such conditions. In addition, drivers often go too fast on bad dirt roads. It will be cheaper, faster and more secure to have our own vehicle, with which to carry books, school or building supplies or whatever else we need,

Why do we need to hurry to secure the land? The village of Tatum has been upgraded by the government to a Sub-Division, which means that many government offices and services will move there along with many new people. They will want to build and will need land. The land that we have selected is very desirable which may lead to greater demand for it along with higher prices. Therefore we need to act soon.

Home About Educare Africa Newsletter Ways To Help '05 Trip Summary '06 Trip Summary '07 Trip Summary Links: One Ummah Foundation Ways to contribute to Educare Africa: EDUCARE-Africa P.O. Box 3278 Albany, OR 97321 U.S.A. Phone: (541) 924-9290 Fax: (541) 928-0352 pavlazl@comcast.net Pavla Zakova-Laney, President		About Educare Africa
		Pavla Zakova-Laney founded Educare-Africa in 2000 after three years of service as a Peace Corps volunteer teacher at a secondary school in Cameroon. EDUCARE-AFRICA CENTER, Tatum, Northwest province, Cameroon Goals To improve living and learning conditions for the students and teachers in Cameroon today so that the students can successfully complete their education and then can help their country. In addition, to promote peace, cross-cultural understanding, love and unity of all people. Objectives 1. Assess the needs and set priorities for one school at a time. 2. Help each school to prepare project proposals and budgets. Provide building materials. 3. Provide necessary textbooks, basic school supplies, school and activity clothing, and laboratory equipment. 4. Assist excellent students in applying to US colleges. 5. Establish this program as a model for helping other villages in Cameroon to improve education of their students. Board Members: Linda Lees, Vice President Robert Kaufman, CPA, treasurer Louise Claassen, Secretary/Publicity director Jindra Brandejska Pavla Zakova-Laney, President/Executive director; graduated in 1995 as a Davis Scholar at Wellesley College. Activities We raise funds in the U.S.A. to buy building materials in Cameroon, assist with transportation of these materials to the building site and oversee completion of each building project. Parents of the students and community would do the labor. When a dormitory will be built we will provide necessary living allowance for the staff of the dorm until they become self-sufficient. If necessary we will assist in purchasing land for some essential school building projects, for example a dormitory (or a hostel). We assist in getting electricity and water to each school. We raise funds to provide textbooks for the needy students. Textbooks are available only in Cameroon. We will use funds to provide all the necessary school supplies for needy students. All these supplies can be purchased in Cameroon, which will reduce shipping cost. We use raised funds to purchase used clothes for needy students in Cameroon. We will use our funds to assist brilliant Cameroonian students in applying to American colleges and we will check on their progress in school. Why did we decide to establish this Center? This year, two rooms in the house that we have been using for the past 3-4 years were already rented when we arrived so we were forced to use a large parlor, which was without ceiling, very drafty and had many leaks. That was a hint that we needed to look for our own place. What do we plan for the Center? Educare-Africa office, of course Public library with public internet services A dormitory for 12 outstanding female students Computer lab for teaching students, teachers and the public Several guest rooms Housekeeper, who will live on the grounds and take care of things, work on the farm, garden, etc. with our students’ assistance; Couple dogs for security and great company; Farm, Vegetable garden, fruit trees, poultry, some animals to raise food and generate some funds to keep the place sustainable; Why do we need a vehicle? For security reasons, for the past two years we have often used private vehicles for transportation which was very expensive. Public transport is time consuming because the vehicles do not leave unless they are full and overloaded. To make it profitable drivers put too many people inside and children, bags, heavy bags with potatoes, beans, corn, containers with palm oil, kerosene, live animals, etc. go into the trunk or on the top. There is no way one can safely carry science lab equipment in such conditions. In addition, drivers often go too fast on bad dirt roads. It will be cheaper, faster and more secure to have our own vehicle, with which to carry books, school or building supplies or whatever else we need, Why do we need to hurry to secure the land? The village of Tatum has been upgraded by the government to a Sub-Division, which means that many government offices and services will move there along with many new people. They will want to build and will need land. The land that we have selected is very desirable which may lead to greater demand for it along with higher prices. Therefore we need to act soon. View the List of Individuals & Groups that have Benefited from EDUCARE-AFRICA Assistance (pdf format)
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