RESPECT Cameroon Receives Funds From Issaquah High School
Samantha and her schoolmates from Issaquah High School contacted Nestor Nyoma, RESPECT Cameroon's coordinator, a few months ago offering him their help. Since the students from a small town near Seattle, Washington, USA, could easily gather school supplies and sport outfits, they decided to send some to the refugee students taking part in the RESPECT Global Letter Exchange program.
The students had just joined the RESPECT Global Letter Exchange program. But when the time came, the package was too heavy to be sent by post. Far from giving up, they decided to collect funds and send them to Nestor through RESPECT International.
Nestor distributing the school supplies to the refugees taking part to the RESPECT Global Letter Exchange program in Cameroon.
Nestor received the equivalent of $1,000 CAD (about $896.39 USD or €703.71 EUR) on August 28th which, as agreed with RESPECT International, was allocated to purchase school supplies and a digital camera, as well as the organization of a RESPECT soccer tournament. So, Nestor bought some notebooks of different sizes, some red and blue pens, pencils, rubbers, rulers, compasses and school outfits which were distributed to Marie EugĂ©nie, Maxcel, Germaine, Valentin, Didier, Patrice, Clarisse, and Prosper according to their needs.
The distribution took place on September 4th before the start of the academic year during a gathering organized by Nestor who made sure that the day will be a memorable one for everyone there. All the urban refugees taking part to the RESPECT Global Letter Exchange program were present in the Immaculée Conception de Briquetterie Parish in Yaoundé. Unfortunately, only the parents of two refugee teenagers, who were in charge to represent them, could attend the event.
Everything went well. Nestor said that at the presentation parents told him that they appreciated the initiative and wanted to thank him and RESPECT International. They also expressed the wish to see RESPECT Cameroon grows quickly so that more refugees can benefit from the RESPECT Global Letter Exchange program. Education is a costly expenditure for the urban refugees' parents, most of whom, are in a precarious situation. The help that they received means a lot to them and gave them hope for their children's future.
Nestor (at the back on the left), with refugee students taking part to the RESPECT Global Letter Exchange program in Cameroon and their parents (on both sides).
The rest of the funds was allocated to the purchase of a digital camera and to the organization of the RESPECT Soccer tournament. For this project, Nestor will have to buy some soccer outfits, soccer balls, bottles of water, soccer cups and other gifts for the winners as well as pay for the use of the football ground.
The tournament would involve refugees of different nationalities living in Yaoundé and divided in at least four groups, playing against each other to choose a winning team. Nestor has also asked Yaoundé's United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Cameroonese Red Cross to partner with RESPECT Cameroon and help organize the tournament. This small tournament could be the beginning of a long lasting project.
Indeed, RESPECT Cameroon is also seeing the possibilities of creating a RESPECT soccer club and eventually a RESPECT soccer team. It is not going to be easy to set it up as it requires committed professionals such as soccer managers, coaches and constant funding. However once set up and if a success, it could be another improvement to the urban refugees' life in Yaoundé.
Notebooks bought by Nestor for the refugees taking part to the RESPECT Global Letter Exchange program in Cameroon.
Little by little, RESPECT Cameroon and RESPECT International are finding ways to improve the daily life of urban refugees in Yaoundé and help them not to fall into precariousness. Initiatives like the one taken on by Samantha and her schoolmates, support from RESPECT Cameroon and a project like the RESPECT soccer club, can only help them improve their lives in all aspects. These initiatives will also help students avoid having to work to contribute to the household income before graduating, and will help lead them toward a better future.