Year 2: EASI Partnership
2016 - 2017
Letter from the Director
ScholarShop Africa recently finished its second year in Cameroon. Its focal point, the North West Region was one of two English speaking regions rocked by an on-going crisis last academic year. The school year was seriously affected giving the youth plenty of to become involved with risky behavior.
In a bid to leverage the youth away from the tempting bad behavior of conflict, early pregnancy and HIV/AIDS, etc. We took bold steps to provide outlets to learning trades through entrepreneurship, life skills learning and leadership training amongst the youth. These activities took aim while taking advantage of the students?ample free time, but were also impact-driven. The youth found the programs interesting and started taking up leading roles among their peers. They championed an HIV/AIDS free society, preach gender equality, and have begun to understand what it means and takes to be an outstanding citizen.
As a result of the crisis, ScholarShop adapted its model from strictly entrepreneurship and business to food security/orchard planting. Our students were able to earn farming equipment for their family to assist in planting and harvesting. We also taught the importance of eating a balanced diet and ways to be more food secure to live a healthier and happier life. The students graduated from ScholarShop with newfound knowledge and better eating habits, but more importantly a new sense of civic responsibility and social consciousness. I am very proud of our students and staff's dedication, accomplishments, and desire to make a better Cameroon especially during the crisis.
EASI & LITC
ScholarShop Africa and Lionheart in the Community (LITC) partnered in September 2016 as part of a shared effort to provide more opportunities for young people in Cameroon. Dubbed EASI (Entrepreneurship, Sports, IT) the programs are working with the 'NEET' (Non-employed, educated, trained) population. Through the sport for development model, the EASI volunteers train youth in life skills, leadership building, civic responsibility, respect, conflict management and STI/HIV awareness using the Tackle Africa manual.
150 youths between the ages of 16-25 have directly benefited from the program while more than 1000 others have been impact ed indirectly. The youth receive a Tackle Africa certificate after completing the 10-week course which can be used to help gain employment throughout Cameroon. After the program, they sensitize their peers and neighborhoods of the knowledge they learned from the program. Two football participants were awarded a 6-week internship at Kadji Sporting Academy, one of the premier academies in Cameroon producing the likes of Samuel Eto'o, to shadow the football coaches.
The computer component trains young girls ages 9-15 in coding using Scratch and Python through the Raspberry Pi model. 62 girls have learned basic com put er skills and coding. One of the EASI participants was selected to participate in a two-week advanced course at GeniusCenter, learning application building and web page design, again one of the top institutions in Cameroon.
“One day I left my laptop on the kitchen table and went to the parlor to watch TV. To my surprise, upon arriving back to the kitchen my daughter had turned on my laptop and began manipulating it working with Microsoft word. I did not know she even knew how to use the mouse.”
-Father of an IT participant
“I never knew my son could act or speak in public. He is a very quiet and reserved person, but because of the sports for development program I have seen him become more bold and outgoing with his peers. He used to come home from school or the field and enter his room. However, he is always eager to come home and tell his siblings and us what he has learned for that day and even has invited many friends to the house. I never knew my son could be so friendly and outgoing amongst his friends.”
-Father of a sports participant
“My favorite thing during my 6-week internship was playing football. The biggest help I received was how to give good precise passes and also how to correctly control the ball. The coaches always taught us to have courage when dribbling the ball around defenders or being attacked. Some lessons I learned was how to be time conscious. I realized the importance of being on time even if it is to eat at the refectory, going for siesta, or even for leisure.”
-Kadji Sports Intern
Community Orchard
In 2017, ScholarShop Africa tilted its focus to a more sustainable impact driven activity. A community orchard using vegetative propagation techniques that not only would generate income for the local health center and the secondary school in Upkwa. but also help improve the health of the community by providing fruits helping aid the malnourished population by providing necessary vitamins and nutrients. 32 students underwent training in food security, community service, environmental protection and entrepreneurship.
With the help of director Jacob Moore, co-facilitator Buba Sulle Dicko, and a local expert on land of 1HA (2.47acres) donated by the community, ScholarShop Africa mobilized community leaders and students to clear the land, nurse the trees, and plant. The fruit trees were composed of an improved "bush" mango, avocado, and guava. Using improved methods, marcotting and grafting, allow the trees to bear fruits in half the time a normal tree would bear using the old traditional direct seeding method. Not only did the participants benefit from the training, but the entire community during the two-day seminar.
ScholarShop Africa prides itself on the diversity and flexibility of its manual. Being able to adapt from the current crisis in Cameroon was extremely important to help give the community exactly what they needed.
Leaders of Upkwa discussing the plot of land donated by a community member.
One of our grafted mangoes looking to provide another source of income and nutrients
Buba, helping students put dirt in polytene bags for the nursery. Watching is the tree expert, Pa Acha.
“I have never imagined in all my life that a branch from a tree can be taken off and planted to make another tree. I am very happy that my people are able to learn this technology and I will work hard to ensure security of the trees planted here. I pray that many more similar initiatives should spring up in other areas.”
-Community Elder
“I want my son to succeed. I can only help him achieve so much, but when an opportunity arises like ScholarShop I must do my best to allow him the chance to move farther.”
-Father of an Entrepreneurship student
Bill Cook Foundation
ScholarShop Africa was pleased to host Dr. Bill Cook, founder of The Bill Cook Foundation (www.billcookfoundation.org). Bill is a world traveled and took time out of his busy schedule to visit each of ScholarShops three schools. During his visit he saw a need in aiding the students and The Bill Cook Foundation has pledged to assist helping deliver their needs. Two schools are in need of more classrooms while the other has no electricity. With the help of the Bill Cook Foundation we hope to provide solar panels which will allow students to learn how to use computers helping the youth of Cameroon receive an education suitable for the 21st century. We will put updates on our website to see the progress of his generous pledge.