In 2024, the Agape Self Sufficiency Charity (ASSUF) organized a transformative Summer School in Cameroon, focusing on orphans and vulnerable children affected by the ongoing socio-political crisis in the country’s Northwest and Southwest regions. The program aimed to provide a supportive and healing environment to help these children cope with their experiences and prepare for the upcoming academic year. This blog post highlights the key findings and achievements of the Summer School, underscoring the importance of such initiatives for children living in challenging circumstances.
Understanding the Crisis
Cameroon’s Anglophone crisis, which began in 2016, has led to widespread displacement, violence, and a breakdown in education. Over 598,000 people have been forced from their homes, with more than 2 million requiring humanitarian assistance. Many children have been left orphaned, homeless, and burdened by trauma, making access to education a significant challenge. The ASSUF Summer School sought to address this need by offering a safe space for learning and emotional recovery.
The Children Who Attended
The 2024 Summer School hosted 51 children, each with their own story of hardship. These included:
- 26 children who lost their fathers and struggled to meet basic needs.
- 11 orphans with no support for their education.
- 7 children with mothers facing mental health challenges, abandoned by fathers.
- 5 children who fled to safer areas amidst violence and now live with strangers unable to fully provide for them.
Program Overview
The Summer School ran from July 16th to 30th, 2024, with the primary goal of preparing children for the 2024/2025 school year. Key components included:
- Counseling and Trauma Healing: Focused on helping children process grief and emotional distress.
- Educational Support: Covering subjects like English, Mathematics, Music, and ICT to bridge gaps from long periods away from school.
- Extracurricular Activities: Aimed at building confidence, social skills, and providing a mental break from daily struggles.
These activities were pivotal in helping children regain a sense of normalcy and hope.
Stories of Success
The program’s impact is best seen through the individual stories of transformation:
- Marie, a 12-year-old orphan from Widikum, had never attended school and initially struggled with basic language and math skills. By the end of the Summer School, she could solve simple math problems and construct short sentences, expressing a strong desire to continue her education.
- Terry, a 17-year-old who lost his parents in the crisis, had spent years surviving on the streets. After attending the Summer School, he mastered foundational math skills and is now ready to continue his education.
- Daniel, a bright 12-year-old orphan, was the top student in his class despite having dropped out of school for two years. He dreams of becoming a dentist, a goal now within reach thanks to the program.
The Power of Emotional Healing
One of the Summer School’s most significant achievements was the emotional progress of the children. Many arrived withdrawn and detached, but left with renewed enthusiasm for learning and life. The trauma-healing workshops, combined with the educational sessions, provided a therapeutic outlet, helping them to rebuild hope.
Looking Forward: Challenges and Goals
The program, which cost approximately £100 per child, was a resounding success, leading to increased demand for it to become an annual initiative. However, scaling up the program to reach more children will require greater funding and resources. ASSUF remains committed to continuing this vital work, with the hope of reaching even more children in need.
