ERuDeF Assists 30 Schools With Materials Worth 2 Million

ERuDeF with financial support from UK Charity Tusk Trust has given out textbooks, exercise books, and school fees worth 2 million francs cfa to some 30 primary schools in Lebialem Division, South West Region.

By Regina Fonjia Leke

The textbooks comprised all primary school subjects such as Mathematics, English, French, Geography and so on.

The donation was part of ERuDeF’s School Environmental Fund which promotes education in forest adjacent communities.

The ceremonies organized by ERuDeF’s Education for Sustainable Development team took place from October 15-17 on the campus of three schools.

The first took place at Government Schoool (GS) Essoh-Attah bringing together parents, pupils and teachers from eight schools.

ERuDeF’s Manager for Education, Akeh Nug, said the goal behind supporting education of children in Essoh-Attah is instilling hope in the young people and making them believe that with proper formal education, they can grow up to be responsible citizens rather than resorting to the forest as hunters as trappers.

“We have given books of general education because we know that with proper education, these young leaders will make proper decisions on protecting the rich forests they live adjacent to,” Akeh said.

Reacting to the donation, the Headmistress of G.S Nzanchen, Azia Barbara, said she was very happy because the donation came at a time when it was most needed.

“When I heard my school had been selected to receive a scholarship from ERuDeF, I thought it was a joke. The school year just began and our library is empty. With the new textbooks, learning will be facilitated as teachers will be able to do research before teaching. This will boost our performance,” said the headmistress.

According to the Headmaster of G.S Njentse-Essoh-Attah, Atabong Simon, the books would promote the protection of the environment.

“The scholarship will stimulate the students to study and aspire to become role models in future rather than resort to nature for livelihood thereby destroying the forest. The uniforms will also permit the students to look clean as they come to school unlike before when they used to wear tattered clothes because their parents could not afford clean ones,” Atabong said.

Tayim John, a father of one of the school pupils who received the scholarship, said, “This gesture has instilled a lot of hope in us. I am a poor farmer with very little to feed my family. I was wondering how I would sponsor my child this year. But I am happy today that ERuDeF has uplifted that load from my shoulder by providing educational materials and also paying my son’s fee.”

Another parent, Aletanu Raphera, said she feels relieved this year as a single parent.

“I was married before, but last year when I suffered from an accident, I lost my hands and my husband abandoned me with four kids to take care of. Today, one of my children has been taken care of and this gives me great joy,” Aletanu said.

She urge members of her community to adhere to environmentally friendly activities and support ERuDeF in the gazettment of the proposed Mak-Betchou Wildlife Sanctuary.

A class six pupil of G.S Essoh-Attah, Leke Irene, who aspires to become a medical doctor said the scholarship gives her more reason to work hard and become a better person in society.

“I started school in September with no books, today I have received not just books but uniform, pens, rulers, pencils and my school fee has been paid,” she said.

The Head Teacher of GS Essoh-Attah, Ngulefac Cyprian, lauded the initiative saying the donation comes at a time when the children needs it most.

He thanked the board and management of ERuDeF for lending a hand to schools in Essoh-Attah. “Aside from the protection of the environment, ERuDeF has gone a long way to support the education of children. The school does not have a library, so these books will help teachers to prepare and students to do homework. The payment of PTA development fees has been a very big problem for most pupils who are often driven from classes. Paying the fees will therefore help a great deal,” Ngulefac said.

In Alou Sub-division, Atem Romanus, Head Teacher of GS Atsombie, said, “The government has not provided us with the minimum package it used to give at the beginning of the school year, so these books will facilitate the teaching-learning process.”

In Wabane Sub-division, the reaction was the same; pupils, teachers and parents turned out in their numbers at GS Bechati to receive books for their libraries.