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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
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2005 Trip Summary
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Of my 6th trip to Cameroon from May 18 to July 13, 2005.
By Pavla Zakova-Laney, President of EDUCARE-AFRICA
- On May 19th, 2005 I arrived successfully in Douala, Cameroon with 1 excess backpack of donated clothes, shoes & school bags. At this time there were no charges for either excess baggage or weight. Our local director Gilbert Vise, several Tatum and Nkum people representatives, a few students and friends waited for me at the airport. Gilbert & I took an overnight bus to Bamenda, provincial capital. Gilbert and I arrived in Tatum on May 25th.
- Basic school supplies for 72 best students from two different schools were purchased in Bamenda. I prepared prizes for the best 4 students in each class from G.H.S. Tatum and from G.S.S. Nseh. Prizes were given during a ceremony on Graduation days, June 2 nd & 3 rd. Donated clothes, and a few other donations were distributed to 26 students. Two book Awards from Wellesley College were awarded to two best female science students. Over 55 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. 40 staff members from G.H.S. Tatum & G.S.S. Nseh received board erasers and pens for encouragement. More basic science laboratory equipment was purchased. All blackboards in both G.H.S. Tatum & G.S.S. Nseh were painted with parents & students assistance. First 12 “In Harmony” Scholars were chosen for 2005/2006.
- Since the new principal came to school three years ago Gilbert and I have been concerned about the increased number of student pregnancies, dropping of the GCE exams results and the financial exploitation of the students by the school administration. Our director Gilbert made investigations and the results were published in several provincial newspapers. The principal arranged for Gilbert’s arrest for “Character deformation” and Gilbert was taken to jail at Kumbo during our meeting with the P.T.A. (Parents Teachers Association) on May 27 th. Parents & I got him out on bail the next day and he had to appear again in front of the State Council on July 20 th. From the statements some of the victims and their parents gave it became clear that the principal is the number one culprit in impregnating students. One student was impregnated twice by him and both children died shortly after they were born. Ten other staff members including both discipline masters have been involved as well. We want to protect the children from sexual abuse and financial exploitation. Gilbert was almost crucified because of that. This was not planned but with time, many students will benefit from what had happened this year.
- Gilbert and I traveled to Yaounde, capital of Cameroon on June 18th and during the next few days we visited the Canada High Commission to check on our Library complex project proposal, the U.S. & Japanese Embassies and British High Commission to request new applications for support. We met the secretary of state and discussed with her about our concerns. She called the Minister of the Secondary education and we met with him shortly after. He immediately asked his technical adviser to investigate and said if it is true that all the staff members responsible for the abuse would be sent away. In addition, we also went to the Peace Corps office to let them know about our concerns as well. My former APCD, Dr. Enyong is involved in the Human Rights group and told us that he would check what he could do. The Peace Corps director told us that it happened at the right time when they are launching a huge campaign against so called “sugar daddies.” Lastly, we went to the Ministry of National Territory and Administration to check on registration of Educare-Africa as a non-governmental organization in Cameroon . The person in charge neglected to send an inquiry on our director to the Police. It will still take some time. Then on June 16 th Gilbert & I traveled to Buea to meet with some university students we have been supporting.
- At this time, we visited four villages – Mbu-warr, Ntumbaw, Nseh and Tatum. This year again we used Scholarship application forms for students applying for support. We set 7 days aside for parents to come with their children and their report cards to discuss their children’s education. Over 370 parents came and we chose over 260 students we want to assist next year if we would have the necessary means.
Many of these students are from Government High School Tatum but more students are from Ndu area and several other schools such as G.B.H.S. Kumbo. G.T.H.S. Kumbo, G.B.H.S. Bamenda, P.C.H.S. Kumbo, E.N.S. Bambili and Buea University in the Southwest Province .
UPCOMING ASSISTANCE : We chose about 15 very good students from primary schools to be assisted by Educare-Africa with school fees and school uniforms to continue in secondary school in September 2005. In addition, we want to assist about 200 secondary/high school students and between 15-30 high school graduates, who would like to continue their education and about 15 university students. Approximately $20,000 by the end of September 2005 would take care of these children’s essential educational needs.
We still need a filing cabinet, lap top computer, chairs and other basics for our “office” in Cameroon so that we can assist more children and work more efficiently. Our country director could use a good motorcycle for reaching the students in various villages in the rugged mountainous terrain.
Pavla Zakova-Laney,
Albany , July 20, 2005 Founder, President, Executive director &
Full-time volunteer of EDUCARE-AFRICA
Dear friends,
I would like to thank you very much on behalf of the students in Cameroon for your loving support. Appreciation of our help by the students, parents, teachers and the whole community has been immense. Let us continue in this spirit and let us work together to help those less fortunate.
Love,
Pavla Z. Laney
“I am dedicating myself to the love of God and the love of my neighbor as myself. I am dedicating myself to serving ‘the least of these my brethren,’ and the greatest along with the least.”
Joel S. Goldsmith, Consciousness Is What I Am
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