Build a future for children in a conflict zone

We are glad to share with you the September 2024  academic year report, the report covers our activities with Mah Di’s Christian Bilingual Nursery and Primary School (CBNPS) in Kumba and Hope Alive Foundation (HAF) Charity School in Tiko this September 2024.

The first week of the 2024/2025 academic year kicked off smoothly on the 9th of September. Still, it was interrupted by a 03-week lockdown from September 9 to September 24^th and another lockdown on Tuesday, October 1^st in the North and Southwest region of Cameroon. Most schools in this region started the academic year on October 3^rd, 2024. the two Schools resumed after this lockdown, Mah Di’s Christian Bilingual Nursery and Primary School (CBNPS) registered a total enrolment of 180 pupils comprising 110 girls and 70 boys and still counting. This enrolment is made up of 40.28% IDPs (displaced from other communities), 30% returnees (previously displaced children from the host communities who have come back to the community), and 29.72% community children (those who have never been displaced). For Hope Alive Foundation, a total enrolment of 100 children and still counting (46 boys and 54 Girls) has been registered with 31% of the total being IDPs. These lockdowns have slowed the academic calendar but teachers are struggling to cover their syllabus, especially for those in class 6 who are preparing to write the Government Common Entrance and the First School Leaving Certificate Examinations. they will start organising extra classes for these pupils

The Project team from Reach Out will pay a visit to HAF and Mah Di in the weeks ahead. This year, Reach will continue to pay the monthly stipend for two teachers from each of the schools.

Both schools continue to face challenges that include a shortage of teachers, parents not being able to afford exercise and textbooks for most of the pupils, the schools are also in need for didactic material to facilitate teaching and learning the need for a more permanent structure with bigger classrooms, especially for HAF which is experiencing increasing enrolment each academic year. 

As always, Reach Out is grateful to our donors for their continuous support and selfless donations which are keeping these schools running. 

We are pleased to share the results of your donations to the community schools in the southwest region, thanks to the kind and attractive contributors from the esteemed GlobalGiving platform, Reachout NGO. Our work with the Hope Alive Foundation (HAF) Charity School in Tiko and Mah Di's Christian Bilingual Nursery and Primary School (CBNPS) in Kumba is covered in the report from April to June. 

Like the prior school year, this one was marked by several activities. The pupils had an excellent academic year and enjoyed their Easter break in April. However, class 6 students in both schools did not have a break because they were all preparing for the end-of-course exams, which included the First School Leaving Certificate and the Government Common Entrance Examination in Form One. As per the Academic Calendar in Cameroon, Pupils who have completed their sixth year of education are required to take the First Leaving School Certificate (FLSC), a test designed and conducted by the Ministry of Basic Education (MINEDUB). Every year, exams covering 12 required subjects are conducted in May and June. To graduate, students must have a minimum overall score of 10 out of 20, or 50%, determined by their weighted score in each course. Students must take and pass a separate entrance exam to continue to secondary general education or vocational school.

In early May when the pupils returned from the two-week Easter break they were all involved in serious bookwork, since the third term is the shortest in the Academic Calendar this term is mostly chartered by revision of what they have studied the entire academic year. In preparation for their final year exam for the next class. Based on the reports from the school authorities their performance this term had improved greatly from 10% the previous term to 15% this term for the other classes. Class 6 in Hope Alive and Mah Dis had 100% at the Government Common Entrance Examination. We are still waiting on the result of the FSLC

Another thing that kept these kids busy during this time was getting ready for Hope Alive's end-of-year graduation, where they celebrated everyone's accomplishments and gave testimonials to the graduates of Nursery 2 and Primary 6. The kids were also ecstatic to return home because they had been allowed to show off their talents.  To motivate others to work hard in their studies, those who did so well academically were awarded prizes after the term. Youngsters participated in debate ballet, acting, singing, dancing, quizzes, and parades. These exercises are designed to help kids ready for the future by showcasing their strongest skills. These endeavors also assist parents in directing their offspring's professional paths. The kids had a month off from school, which went well because everyone returned and everything was going according to plan.

Mah Di's Christian Bilingual Nursery and Primary School (CBNPS) has 200 students enrolled in total, 95 of them are girls and 105 of whom are boys. 37% of the children enrolled are community children (those who have never been displaced and orphans), 18% are returnees (children who were previously displaced from the host communities and have returned to the community), and 45% are IDPs (displaced from other communities). 170 children—80 boys and 90 girls—have been enrolled with the Hope Alive Foundation, with 35% being internally displaced people. 

 Reach Out Project team will keep providing two teachers in both schools with a monthly stipend.

Both schools still face several issues, such as a teacher shortage, the need to provide gifts to students that could inspire them to learn, such as educational tolls; the need for didactic materials because some students' parents cannot afford to buy them school supplies like textbooks and backpacks; and the need for a more permanent building with larger classrooms, particularly for HAF, which is seeing an increase in enrollment each academic year. 

Reach Out is once again indebted to our supporters for their unwavering help and contributions, which enable these schools to continue operating and provide these kids with a better future by enabling them to complete their elementary education.