Safe Center for Vulnerable Children in Douala

Discussion and preparation for the 2nd term

 All the young people from the AGAPE center returned to school on Monday, January 04, 2021, after 12 days of rest related to Christmas holidays and the end of year celebrations. Usually, we usually organize an evaluation session with the young people at the start of each term, in order to motivate them and set the goals for the term. The organization of this working session was not easy, because it was difficult this time, to have all the young people at the same time. We finally found a date that suited everyone. Considering the mixed results of the first quarter, the various constraints could not prevent us from carrying out this reframing in order to put the young people back in front of their duties and responsibilities.

Beyond the impact of Covid-19 on the school performance of young people, they themselves noted certain attitudes unfavorable to the production of good school performance, namely the excess of distraction, interest in video games, and inadequate use of computers and social media. We also noted that young people need to be constantly motivated so as not to lose sight of their goal

 We have therefore decided to increase these collective interviews, to further galvanize them. And in order to create a healthy emulation between the young people, we rewarded all the young people who performed well during the quarter 1. We then set together the objectives for the quarter 2, with the promise to reward any child who will have reached his goal.

As a result of this interview, we observed a better engagement on the part of the young people, who became even more studious.

The new AGAPE Center in Japoma

A visit to the construction site shows the progress of the work. The escape of the great hall began on January 13 and will continue in all the other rooms of the basement of the building. The plastering of the walls of the other rooms had already been done. It is now a matter of squirting the walls of the traditional kitchen and installing the level cleats.

The preparatory work for the paving of the basement is completely done. The trails are laid with a view to leveling the paving. The team is waiting for electricians and plumbers for the passage of pipes and ducts before laying concrete on the ground.

The material for the paving is already available. These are cement, sand and gravel.

Connection work has started on the ground floor. It is more precisely the removal of planks passed through the walls whose purpose was to assemble the scaffolding. Once the boards have been removed, the holes are filled with concrete.

 Planning to integrate the Center in Japoma during the school vacation period, we requested the services of a dowser who was to locate an abundant water crossing point, since we are considering the installation of a borehole.

The start of Alberto's electrical training

Alberto, is one of the young people supported by the AGAPE center. Like most of these young people, he is drawn to money. He preferred to opt for training in either electricity or refrigeration and air conditioning in order to obtain a qualification that will allow him to quickly take charge of himself, to integrate into working life and the professional world. The research here and there enabled us to entrust it to Mr. Georges, an electrician within the company Universal Logistic. He started his training on Wednesday January 13, 2021.

Note from MINAS (Ministry of Social Affairs) on children placed in institutions

During the month of January, we received a note from MINAS (Ministry of Social Affairs) indicating that all social centers which house children must separate from those who have already spent 5 years or more and whose family background is known. This aims to unclog social centers and give other children in distress a chance. Three days later following this correspondence, that is to say on Thursday 22 January, the CESO (social center) of New Bell Bassa, made a working visit to the AGAPE Center. It was intended to verify and focus on the implementation of this ministerial measure. This working session was not exclusively focused on exhorting the application of these directives, but it also enabled CESO to verify whether our request to the hierarchy for a tax exemption in favor of the company in charge of the construction of the future AGAPE Center, had a favorable outcome. The head of the CESO of New Bell Bassa did not fail to extend his encouragement to the team on site, and to congratulate them for the work done.

Ndip Yanick at CAO for welding training

the AGAPE Association works in a multidimensional manner in the care of vulnerable children; this with the aim of facilitating their socio-educational and professional reintegration. It is with this in mind that We accompanied Ndip Yanick, one of the minors taken into care at the AGAPE Center. He was placed at the Bépanda CAO on Wednesday March 3, 2021, for better support and training in metal welding.

Draw the kids attention after the resurgence of Covid 19

The resurgence of the a corona virus pandemic prompted us to organize an interview with the young people of the Center. During this interview, we insisted on the implementation of barrier measures, namely systematic hand washing, wearing a mask, respecting physical distancing as much as possible. We are seeing more and more deaths of people in our more or less immediate environment linked to Covid-19. This reminds everyone of the need to take this threat seriously. Young people should therefore start putting the hand washing device purchased in March 2020, when the pandemic first appeared on Cameroonian territory, at the entrance of the center.

External children must do everything in their home environment to put into practice all the barrier measures enacted. And we will support them in this process.

In addition to the corona virus pandemic, we also discussed their studies and the goals that have been set. The purpose of this point was to allow young people to stay the course and stay focused.

Finally, it was about getting the young people to realize their lack of interest and involvement in the maintenance of the Center, which suffers from their neglect. We reminded them that sustainable development involves the preservation and safeguarding of resources for the benefit of future generations. And if they start to degrade what they have today, what about the future center and those who come after? It made them think and so invest again, as they did in the past.

The organization of an open House day at the AGAPE Center

The AGAPE association organized an open house day in its Center. The objective of this activity was to make the center, its functioning, its activities and its projects known to visitors who came there for the first time. As for those who already knew the center, the goal was more to make them appreciate the evolution of things, young people as well as the various projects underway. We took the opportunity to market plantain chips, bissap, baobab juice and kebabs. We also sold masks to visitors who did not have them. All measures were taken today to block the road to the corona virus: masks, hydroalcoholic gels, water and soap for washing hands and respecting physical distancing .

The AGAPE Center is still alive today, thanks to the multifaceted support of people, groups of people and sporadically to a few companies. The end of the year being a period when people are more inclined to openness to others, to compassion and to sharing ; the last and fourth quarter of 2020 at the AGAPE Center was first marked by the resumption of classes, with visits from Cédric and Lionel, Diane and the visit of the Young 4 Ever, Arc-en-ciel and Ladies Care associations. Then, in a context more marked by the expression of love and sharing, we had the chance to receive various groups : Don't Give Up, the Tientcheu family, workers from Cameroonian customs and the Lions Club Abeilles. This period finally ended with the progress of construction work on the AGAPE Center in Japoma and with the results of the first quarter.

The young people have returned to school well, after having spent many months at home for the most part. This recovery took place in a completely new formula in Cameroon. Public establishments at the secondary level, which always welcome a few more pupils, have set up a part-time system. Instead of going to school as has always been the case from 7:30 am to 3 or 4 pm, young people now go in two waves. One from 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., and the other from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. The goal is to be able to respect physical distancing. Young people try to adapt as best as possible to this new system, which requires more effort and investment on their part, since class hours are very short.

The passage of Cedric and Lionel

Cédric is a young student, who came accompanied by his friend Lionel, to give us a package at the request of his aunt. She lives in the United States and in her intention to support a work like ours, she looked on the internet and on Google Map to carry out a search. This is how she was able to send her nephew, telling him that she spotted a reception center in the area where she would like him to drop provisions for her. The young man told us that it was not a piece of fun for them, but they still managed to accomplish their mission.

Diane's visit

Diane is a young professional hairdresser, who wanted to make her contribution to the life of the center by bringing provisions. She told the young people that she has been through difficult situations in life, and that she has an idea of what they can also go through at the moment. She managed to find a job and told herself that you don't always have to wait until you have a lot to make a gesture. She shared this idea with one of her colleagues living in Ngangué, and it was he who directed it to us.

The passage of the associations Young 4 Ever, Arc-en-ciel and Ladies Care, within the framework of the festival of solidarity

The associations Young 4 Ever, Arc-en-ciel and Ladies Care, each come to the aid or campaign in their own way, for the support and assistance to people in difficulty, destitute and vulnerable. As part of the festival of solidarity which was held from 13 to November 2020, this group of associations decided to take a tour of the AGAPE Center, to materialize this spirit of solidarity. Arc-en-ciel offered to talk to girls about the importance of studies, which will allow them to free themselves in a certain way in order to assert themselves as accomplished, autonomous, respectable and respected women. She also emphasized the need for entrepreneurship. But as far as today's girls are concerned, the main thing would be to succeed in their school year and their orientation. As for Ladies Care, it is interested in issues affecting women, namely : the menstrual cycle, contraceptive methods, abstinence and sexually transmitted diseases. Young 4 Ever organized everything. She became very close to the AGAPE Center, and it was she who had brought back their member Synthia, candidate for the Miss Health Cameroon 2020 election, who returned to greet the young people wearing her crown and her Miss de la scarf. Littoral region. In addition to these numerous exchanges, these associations brought products intended for young people, namely : toothbrushes, tubes of toothpaste, soap, toilet paper, sanitary napkins.

Visit of the Don't Give Up group

The group, led by Carine, started its activities more than a year ago. It is a charitable group. it consists of people working in various fields, and who have given themselves the mission of carrying out social actions, to participate in the relief and development of people in difficulty. He contributed to his height, the return to school of some young victims of the armed crisis in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon. He chose to pay a short visit to the AGAPE Center, to meet the young people and talk to them. Because for him, the most important thing is not only the gifts he brings but above all, the message of hope.

The passage of the Tientcheu family

This is a family from Ngangué not far from the center, one of whose sons lives in London today. Among the significant events of his return to his country, he thought of assisting an organization helping the underprivileged. Luckily, we were in the same neighborhood where he grew up, and where his family still lives today. He thus came with many provisions, accompanied by members of his family and friends. He shared the experience of his life with young people, he for whom everything was not rosy but who still managed to get by. This is the reason that leads him to share the little he has with others.

The visit of Cameroonian customs workers

One of the Cameroonian customs workers lives in the same neighborhood as us. She belongs to a group within this organization, which has become accustomed to providing support at the end of each year, to a support structure for young people or those in need. She in turn passed with two of her colleagues, provided with many provisions to the delight of young people.

The passage of the Lions Club Abeilles

The Lions Club Abeilles has been visiting us more or less once a year, for a few years now. At the end of the year, he did not deviate from this rule, bringing ready meals, some impregnated mosquito nets and clothes for the young people. They were very happy.

The construction situation of the new AGAPE Center

Regarding the AGAPE Center in Japoma, the dream will soon no longer be a dream, but a reality. The work is progressing and despite the great global health crisis, it has continued. All this thanks to the combination of your multiple efforts. We owe you, without exception, the success of this project. And in particular, to the construction and public works company KALFRELEC. Because if it hadn't been for KALFRELEC, we're not at all sure we'd be where we are today. Given that this company has decided to do its utmost to advance the work, without being certain that it will be immediately paid. All this in order to avoid an interruption of the work. So we count on you again and again. Know this, we're almost there. And it will still require some effort: for the ceiling, closing the openings with anti-theft devices, doors and windows, for the floor and its tiling, as well as for painting, the construction of the fence and the landscaping of the yard.

First term results for academic year 2020 / 2021

The young people did not produce a satisfactory enough job this first quarter. Everything suggests that most of them got stuck in this state where there was no school, as if their minds are still on vacation. Only the girls and a few come out with a score greater than or equal to 10, like: Laura, Viviane, Olia and Jean Claude. Oliseh retains his first place in the class in second C, with a score of 14. Emile and Désiré returned to this rank, when Dieudonné in turn entered the circle of the top of the class. It is not good overall, and we will work doubly to rectify this situation.

Thanks

The association and the AGAPE Center reiterate to you its friends, supporters, donors, partners, visitors, volunteers and sympathizers of this noble cause, its deepest and sincere thanks, for all that you have done, done and for all that you will do over and over again.

2020 was a very difficult year, but you were always present and ready to support us both in terms of the management of the center and in terms of construction. Following the various measures put in place by the government to block the road to Covid-19, it was impossible for us to receive visitors and donations. But immediately after the entry into force of the easing measures, we have faced your gradual return, at the very moment when our resources were almost completely dwindling.

We cannot thank you enough, for your many efforts and gestures of attention towards us. And once again today we will use the simplest word that comes from the depths of our hearts : Thank you.

Happy New Year 2021 to all of you, in health, joy and peace !!!

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