By Justin Forzano alias K-Man | Executive Director
School’s our for summer…
But what our kids learned in CFDP programs during the last few months will stay with them forever. Thanks to your donation to our project on Global Giving, we successfully completed our third year programs for boys and girls in Kumba. With your support, CFDP clubs operated effectively in 11 schools, 2 sporting academies, 1 neighborhood, and 1 village. In each of these communities, 20 to 30 students gathered each week to learn and play with volunteer leaders who served as educators, role models, mentors, and most of all: FRIENDS.
The CFDP Session
Every CFDP session includes ice breakers, warm ups, soccer drills, a small group discussion, an activity or game, and a small scrimmage. CFDP has seized this opportunity to transform the unique atmosphere which encompasses soccer fields in Meme Division, South West, Cameroon into a safe learning environment by infusing soccer drills and games with educational discussions and activities. Every week from January through April, boys and girls gathered in their respective areas with a volunteer leader, be it a teacher or a coach, to learn and play in the CFDP session.
This past semester we focused on topics such as adolescence, reproductive health, HIV prevention, and gender equity. Before students go home from every session, they collectively agree on a “take home message” and how they might apply whatever was discussed in the session in their everyday lives.
CFDP Partners
CFDP partnered with 15 institutions to successfully reach nearly 400 kids each week. Girls made up more than 30 percent of registered participants. Sessions were held with each club on various days of the week.
Director of our upcoming Youth Enrichment Football League (YEFL), Wallace ran two programs on Wednesday: first at Cameroon College of Arts and Sciences (CCAS) and then he joined Ngong Ivo at Government Secondary School Nkamlikum.
Kumba City College hosted CFDP sessions on Wednesday afternoons after school, too.
Government Bilingual High School, a site with some of the most girls involved, ran on Friday afternoons and was led by CFDP staff Caroline, who has been working with the organization since Day 1.
CFDP team member, Martin, led sessions with boys from Olympic Fruiting Sporting Academy Friday afternoons and Presbyterian High School on Saturday mornings.
Other leaders who participated in training sessions in the summer of 2012 continued to run educational programs in their respective communities thanks to your encouragement via GlobalGiving.
End of Year Celebrations!
On May 15th, more than 100 youth – 26 girls and 79 boys, precisely – came together representing 11 of our 15 partner institutions in a friendly competition to see who would come out on top for the 2012-2013 school year. The teams, most of which had 10 representatives from their CFDP clubs, moved around 13 stations which combined an activity or game of skill with an educational topic previously covered in a session this semester.*See links below* The groups were scored on their ability to successfully complete the activities and respond to questions.
The Winners
College of Cameroon Arts and Sciences (CCAS) won First Place in the Educational/Enrichment Component
Mile One Community won First Place in the Sporting Component
All members of first place teams were awarded jerseys and soccer shoes (WOW!) donated by friends in the USA. Teams who placed in second, third, and fourth were also awarded prizes in the form of soccer equipment.
Looking Ahead
NOTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER BEEN DONE IN KUMBA! WITH YOUR HELP, WE ACHIEVED SOMETHING GREAT THIS YEAR!
A whole new bunch of institutions have already submited requests for partnership next year. We look forward to building upon the great success of this year and expanding in our fourth year of after school programs. Until then, please check our website to see what other exciting activities we have planned for the summer! Thank you!
Links:
By Justin Forzano | Executive Director
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