During her participation at the 65th UN General Assembly, the First Lady had time to link up with other First Spouses and to learn farming techniques.

For the second time at the United Nations General Assembly as the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Education and Social Inclusion, First Lady, Chantal Biya, has not only gone beyond her interest to link the foundation of charity she is spearheading in Africa and Cameroon in particular but also to acquire tutorials on how to educate children about the sources of their food and also how to prepare them to cater for the land that provides it. The UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Education and Social Inclusion also used her stay in New York not just to exchange ideas and foster the spirit of mutual assistance with other First Ladies but also “lighted it Up Blue” against a complex brain disorder as well as going through a practical session in a farm yard on how to curb obesity in children.

Giving her interest in the healthcare of her compatriots particularly that of children and women, Last Friday, September 24 in New-York, Mrs Biya neglected the comfort of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel which hosted her and President Paul Biya during their stay in New York for a farm yard some 25 km North of New-York just to learn tips on better ways of growing food and healthy eating pattern. The First Lady of Cameroon was down on the farm at the Stone Barns Centre for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills, which is a non-profit farm and education centre alongside over 15 First Ladies. Mrs Chantal Biya during her over four hours tour of the Stone Barns learned a lot from the United States First Lady’s eating initiative which is aimed at raising a healthier generation of kids. Cameroon’s First Lady agreed with Mrs Obama that childhood obesity is not just an America challenge. Chantal Biya has joined Michelle Obama in her healthy eating initiative to help children learn directly about the food they eat. Chantal Biya will henceforth continue to partner and have conversations so that the local campaign spearheaded by Michelle Obama becomes a national conversation.

Also outstanding during her stay in New-York was her participation at the third Annual World Focus on Autism which came in the shadow of the UN General Assembly. Knowing that autism is a childhood brain disorder, the First Lady together with her mates joined the “Autism Speaks” initiative not as officials but as parents and supporters of families to share the plight of patients and families taking care of such children and also to spread the word about autism’s warning signs. Being part of the Autism Speaks advocacy, the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Education and Social Inclusion will henceforth be extremely armed on how to handle children with brain disorder particularly those under her care at the Chantal Biya Foundation (FCB).

Meeting and getting along with other First Ladies such as Mrs Lilita Zatlere of Latvia, Mrs Rosella Nestor King, First Lady of St. Lucia, First Lady of Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Keosaychay Sayasone and that of Sri-Lanka has again shown the extend to which she is ready to blow the wind of solidarity from across Africa to Europe and America.