The 2024 Summer School organized by Agape Self Sufficiency Charity (ASSUF) focused on creating opportunities for orphans and vulnerable children in Cameroon, especially those affected by the socio-political crisis in the Northwest and Southwest regions. The key objectives of the program were to provide educational support, trauma healing, and a safe environment for emotional recovery. Below is a summary of the key findings:
1. Impact of the Socio-Political Crisis
Cameroon’s Anglophone crisis, which began in 2016, has led to massive displacement, violence, and disruption of education. Over 598,000 people have been displaced, and more than 2 million need humanitarian aid. The crisis has left many children orphaned, homeless, and struggling with trauma, grief, and emotional distress. These orphans and vulnerable children often face significant barriers to education due to financial hardships and ongoing violence in their regions.
2. Program Overview
The Summer School ran from July 16th to 30th, 2024. The primary objective was to help children prepare for the 2024/2025 academic year by offering:
- Counseling and Trauma Healing: To help children deal with the emotional toll of the crisis.
- Educational Support: English, Math, Music, and ICT training were offered to fill the learning gaps caused by prolonged absence from school.
- Extracurricular Activities: Designed to boost confidence, improve social interactions, and provide a break from the trauma of their daily lives.
3. Challenges Faced by Children
The report highlights the stories of children who have endured significant hardships:
- Ruth (14 years): Struggling to cope with the loss of her father and the constant violence in her village.
- Miracle (9 years): Orphaned and traumatized by the loss of her father, seeking solace and companionship at the summer school.
- Ndifor and his siblings: Internally displaced and traumatized by witnessing their uncle’s murder.
- Marie (13 years): Never attended school, was given away as house help due to financial difficulties.
- Favour (13 years): Unable to speak due to the trauma of losing his parents in the crisis.
These personal accounts illustrate the extent of trauma and hardship endured by these children, underscoring the urgent need for emotional healing and educational support.
4. Success Stories from the Program
The program saw remarkable transformations in the lives of participants:
- Ruth (13 years): Initially rebellious, she became disciplined and learned to read and write basic English.
- Seka Terry (17 years): A street child for five years, Terry regained his educational skills, especially in mathematics, and was ready to rejoin school.
- Marie (12 years): An orphan with no prior education, she learned basic math and English during the program and expressed immense joy at finally attending a classroom.
- Daniel (12 years): A bright student who excelled in summer school and dreams of becoming a dentist despite living in poverty with his grandmother.
These success stories reflect how providing a supportive environment for education and emotional recovery can change the trajectory of a child’s life.
5. Emotional and Psychological Healing
A significant achievement of the summer school was the improvement in the emotional well- being of the children. Children who initially appeared withdrawn and depressed showed signs of emotional recovery by the end of the program. They became more social, engaged in learning, and expressed a desire to return to school. Their guardians also noted significant positive changes in their behavior.
6. The Importance of Trauma Healing
Many children, like Given, a boy whose father was beheaded, were initially withdrawn and emotionally distant. However, by the end of the summer school, these children showed visible signs of recovery. The report emphasizes that trauma-healing workshops, combined with educational activities, provided a therapeutic outlet for children to process their pain and regain hope for the future.
7. Future Goals
The cost of the program was approximately £100 per child, covering transportation, meals, boarding, and teacher fees. The program’s success has created growing demand from children and their guardians for it to become an annual initiative. However, the report also highlights the challenge of securing sufficient funding to expand and reach more children in need.
Conclusion
The ASSUF 2024 Summer School had a profound impact on the lives of vulnerable children in Cameroon, offering them not just education but also emotional healing. The transformation witnessed in these children speaks to the power of providing a safe space for learning and recovery. The success of the program underscores the need for continued support and expansion to meet the growing demand from vulnerable children still suffering from the effects of the ongoing crisis.