Kumbo Kids: January 2012

Monday, January 16, 2012

Help to the Needy

This is someone's "house" in one of the remotest areas of the Diocese of Kumbo. This house serves as a kitchen, a bedroom, a parlor, a store room etc. The roof is made of grass which dries up during the dry season and leaks when the rains come. My appeal is not to build houses for these people, but to educate the neediest children. Education is the only thing that will give a bright future to the future generations. Please, your support will be highly appreciated.

On December 25th 2011, Christmas Day, while in Carroll, Iowa for the Christmas break, someone from my former Parish, St. Kizito's Parish, Sabongari, Diocese of Kumbo, Cameroon, called me on phone excitedly to tell me that he and his children were able to eat some slices of meat because it was Christmas Day. I could not control my tears, thinking of where I was at that moment, living in affluence as I can say because I have never lived such a life before, where I have what I need almost at every time I need it. Out there, were people "boasting" of having eaten meat on Christmas Day, and perhaps they will eat meat again only the next Christmas. I felt like not to eat again, but this would not be the right attitude; for I need to be strong in order to help others.

All I can do is to channel the little I have, the little I am given for the education of the neediest children in my village, parish, diocese and country. How am I going to do this without any means? I have been doing it, and it is working because there are a number of generous people out there who are sympathetic, and who want to help. May God reward and replenish your efforts.

I trust in the power of God, who will lead willing hearts to donate to the support these numerous children in their education.
May God bless you all.

Mission Statement

The “Help Cameroonian School Kids” initiative is an outreach program for the underprivileged and vulnerable children living in the most interior and remotest areas of the diocese of Kumbo. The goal: to help children get an education.

We intend to provide the tuition, books and fees necessary to allow these children to attend school. By completing and furthering their education, the children will be able to bear witness that education brings light to a community. Impoverished families may see that education improves the standard of living, allowing people to acquire decent jobs and work towards achieving economic self-sufficiency.

In order to create a sustainable program, the community itself must also acquire certain basic skills such as: 1) Development skills where those who achieve higher education give back to the community and help to promote progress; 2) Initiative skills that teach resourceful and creative problem-solving; and 3) Technological skills to manage ever-changing innovations. To this end, we intend to create a Community-based Collaborative Group in each village involved in our outreach program. Each Group would be comprised of trained men and women who will disseminate information and dispense the available help to the children in need.

We realize that initially classes may need to take place in temporary locations. However, with the support of our donors and in collaboration with the local community, we hope to aid in the construction of durable school buildings where learning may take place. With the help of God, we pray and bestow our blessings upon all those who will support this venture.