Emotions of joy and gratitude were high as members of the Circle of Friends of Cameroon, CERAC, led by its Coordinator, Linda Yang, once more brought hope to survivors of the 1998 Nsam Disaster. Present were members of the diplomatic corps and cabinet ministers, who in song and dance, hailed First Lady Chantal Biya for her humanitarian assistance. It was during a ceremony to present stationery to the survivors that held last Friday at the CERAC headquarters in downtown Yaounde. The event was aimed at preparing the student survivors for the 2010/2011 academic year.
According to sources at CERAC, seven survivors in primary school will have their school and examination fees paid for while those in higher institutions will see their tuition fee, rents, books and utility bills all settled by CERAC.
The President of the Social Affairs Commission of CERAC, Mrs Maguiom, in a report, noted that though some of them did not perform well in the previous academic year, a good number of them impressed the body by their brilliant results. She said out of the more than 30 pupils and students that CERAC started taking care of psychosocially, morally and materially since 1998, the remaining 19 did well in their examinations last year. Out of the seven children in secondary school, 75 per cent were promoted. In the higher education level, nine are doing well in school, with one undergoing postgraduate studies in Economics. Three others are learning different trades. She however, regretted that some children had dropped out of school as a result of stubbornness.
Since 1999, CERAC trained many of the victims in hair dressing, computer sciences, carpentry, automobile driving, and auto mechanics. “Nsam victims have been fed, sent to primary/secondary schools and universities and also trained in trades with the help and affection of CERAC and its Founder, Chantal Biya,” she explained. “These children are already looking forward to being employed and it can only be done if the private sector joins hands with CERAC,” she pleaded. She therefore called on all to open up to the victims and give deserving ones a chance to help contribute in nation building.
The victims, through their representative, Christelle Amombo, did not hide their gratitude to First Lady, Chantal Biya, who they refer to as ‘Mother of Humanity’. “Thanks to the First Lady, we were treated and continue to be supported morally and materially. We have benefited from exceptional care which makes us privileged among the vulnerable,” she said with smiles. She however pleaded on behalf of her group for their applications for employment to be considered.
The ceremony, graced by musical punctuations from the victims, was attended amongst others, by the Ministers of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Youth Affairs, Basic Education, Employment and Vocational Training and the Deputy Director of the Civil Cabinet at the Presidency.
