Scholarships for Children in Cameroon Village

The Collège Sainte Catherine Labouré de Midjivin is a beacon of hope, a Catholic school offering nursery through high school education for girls and boys living in extreme poverty in Northern Cameroon, West Africa. Last year, we assisted 44 children with scholarships to attend primary, middle or high school. This year we seek to support at least 45 children.

This rural, farming community, about one hour's drive from the nearest small city, has lacked basic infrastructure for many years. And yet in this challenging environment, young people and their families show extraordinary drive to get an education, no matter the obstacles. The nuns who run the school and teach are extremely dedicated to this mission. The Collège has an outstanding success rate. One-hundred percent (or nearly so) of students who take the high-stakes national exams pass, which is a major achievement, especially for children living in such dire circumstances.

Every year since 2020, I have been raising funds for scholarships to enable needy children to attend the Collège, and additional assistance has been channeled to the public high school in the village of Midjivin in order to reach more children. Scholarships which range from about $12 to $125 per student are designed to complement what families can already contribute towards tuition, books, school uniforms, and exam application fees.

100% of your donation will go to scholarships for girls and boys in the village of Midjivin (minus the 2.9% GoFundMe fee and a modest wire transfer fee for the aggregated funds). We practice gender parity: half the scholarships will go to girls and half to boys. Every year, the College staff submit a report to me with a full budget of expenditures and the names and exam results of each student receiving assistance.

Backstory: I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in a neighboring region in Northern Cameroon, and later went back to conduct doctoral research in anthropology on the vibrant dance or oral poetry of the Tupuri people. As a result, I know the region well and appreciate the hard-working, warm character of the people of Northern Cameroon. Please join me in supporting the children of Midjivin who will carry their nation into an uncertain future affected by climate change.

Let me know your questions and I will answer here.

Q & A:

1. How much does tuition cost per child per scholastic year?

Nursery and primary school is the equivalent of $40.-$47. Middle school/lower secondary is $120.-$150. Senior high school is $165-$195.

2. What are some of the costs included in the tuition (noted above)?

Books, photocopying, internet, exam fees, school uniforms, and contribution to the Parent Teacher Association.

3. What does the school do about hunger among students which can impair learning?

Each day the younger children are given a bowl of soup enriched with peanut and soybeans.

4. Do the students have access to the internet?

Yes, the school has recently established a computer center for the high school students.