Year 3: Supplying Today- Securing Tomorrow
2017 - 2018
Letter from the Director
Dear Team, I would like to personally thank each and every one of you for your continued support throughout ScholarShop Africa's three years of existence. ScholarShop started with a simple question asked by co-founder, Sean Gray, to programs coordinator Buba Dicko: "Why is Africa, namely, Cameroon, not growing even though it's receiving billions of dollars of aid each year?" This one question sparked a discussion that would shape the lives of hundreds of Cameroonian youth for the years to come.
In 2013, Sean and I first implemented the Innovative Conditional Supply Transfer model ScholarShop delivers today. ScholarShop’s approach to development seeks to break away from traditional aid models using experiential learning techniques. The model engages the local population at every step, giving the students and community a sense of ownership in the program and their future successes. Communities are involved in the decision-making process! Through these techniques students transform from ‘passive charity recipients’ into ‘community change agents’ forging the next generation of socially conscious entrepreneurial scholars!
Last year, ScholarShop received funding from The Bill Cook Foundation, along with continuing the partnership with UK Based, LITC (LionHeart in the Community). LITC and ScholarShop formed the 'EASI' project where at-risk youth take part in sports for development curriculum (Tackle Africa), an all-female computer coding course, or a social entrepreneurship training (ScholarShop Africa's model).
This past year July '17- July'18 64 ScholarShop Scholars from two schools contributed 743 hours of community service, 107 students participated in the 10-week sports for development program, averaging 6-hours per week, and 89 females logged ~10000 total hours in computer coding. In all, 260 youths recorded more than 20000 extra-curricular hours! Alongside the curricula, our youth learn core values such as civic responsibility, self-discipline, anger management, volunteering, conflict resolution, and gender equality.
We are glad you are part of the ScholarShop Africa team! Without your support and well-wishes ScholarShop Africa would not be possible. More than 75% of donations go back to operations on the ground and help shape the youth of Cameroon. We hope you enjoy reading about the successes you made possible! With love,
Bill Cook Foundation
Dr. Bill Cook, Bill Cook Foundation, visited ScholarShop Africa and its work in Cameroon in September of 2017. The Bill Cook Foundation currently serves some of the poorest youth in 23 countries around the globe to 'help some of the world's poorest children to get the best education possible' and we are honored to be one! After his visit, Bill Cook, chose to fund a solar project for one of the most at-risk communities in Cameroon, Upkwa.
The village of Upkwa is 95% Muslim and 5% Christian -- many of whom are refugees displaced from natural disaster. Upkwa and its surrounding villages have no electricity nor running water! In the evening, nurses at the local health center administered drugs, IV's, and admit patients using candlelight or flashlights. Pregnant women walk or ride a motorcycle~10km (>6mi) to the nearest hospital for childbirth.
Thanks to the Bill Cook Foundation and the installation of the solar panel, the health center now has 13 rooms with lights -- even a television in the waiting room for the community. The grant from Bill Cook and his foundation not only improved the health, education, and social welfare situation of Upkwa, but the neighboring communities as well, totaling some 3000 inhabitants. From the ScholarShop staff and the community of Upkwa we are eternally grateful for the generous donation from Bill Cook and the Bill Cook Foundation. You may find more about the work of Bill Cook at: www.billcookfoundation.org.
-Mr. Nchia Victor, chief of Upkwa village
“I was passing one evening to greet a patient admitted at the hospital. All of a sudden, I discovered everywhere was lighted. I stood for some seconds... I was so happy that Upkwa has gotten something that is the first of its kind in Wum. Since then, the community has increasingly used the hospital.”
EASI: SPORTS
107 total students completed the 10- week Tackle Africa training during the year. These students nearly doubled their average scores from the pre-test to post-test, with a total average increase of 29.5%. To keep excitement within the program, EASI's sports coaches enter our students into the local soccer tournaments. Averaging less the 20 years of age EASI FC always fields the youngest team. Last year EASI FC finished 0-1-2 and did not qualify for the knockout stage. This year the team won our first two matches qualifying for the knockout stage and lost in the quarterfinals! The coaches and EASI staff always encourage teamwork, good sportsmanship, and discipline over wins and losses. The players work ethic caught the eye of the public and EASI FC won the Mayor's award for the most DISCIPLINED TEAM! After receiving the Tackle Africa certificate our students are able to enter the workforce as a sports instructor for private schools. This is one way EASI is helping curb youth unemployment in Cameroon. Furthermore, two of our students were accepted to a 6-week internship at Kadji Academy shadowing their coaches. Kadji produced the likes of Samuel Eto'o arguably one of the best African soccer players of all time!
EASI: Computer Coding
Computer coding focused on young girls between the ages of 11-17. It provided them with basic computer training skills and progress until the students very simple coding techniques. During the year, five girls reached the advance class studying deeper coding concepts that will eventually lead them to performing complex code. A total of 89 girls have been trained on basic computer concepts and coding using SCRATCH, C++ and HTML. The goal of the program is to transform young girls to have a love for the STEM subjects.
Many of our older and better coders took up the initiative to help train and mentor younger girls by peer tutorship. Eleven year old, Anang Blessing, excelled in this exercise volunteering to help teach her peers code on a daily basis. 90% of the girls trained did not know how to use a keyboard or a mouse when beginning the training. 100% now know basic CODING! Tem Yoland, pictured beside, received a two-week internship at one of the most prominent computer schools in Cameroon, Genius Centers. Yoland, learned the French keyboard in two weeks before attending the internship and excelling! Since then Yoland has been accepted to the prestigious African Leadership Academy where she hopes to continue to learn how to code. Learn more at africanleadershipacademy.org
