In the heart of the equatorial forest located at Mbang Sub-division, in the Kadey Division of the East Region, a delegation of the Circle of Friends of Cameroon (CERAC) on Friday June 29 began a brave journey from Yaounde to Mbang through an un-tarred road for over 160 km to handover the “Baba Simon” social centre, rehabilitated and equipped by the association and its Founding President, Mrs Chantal Biya. The ceremony which took place on June 30, at the Mbang locality, grouped all the dignitaries in the area as well as the villagers who expressed their gratitude to the First Lady and the CERAC delegation through song and dance.
Heading the CERAC delegation on behalf of the First Lady was Mrs Jacqueline Koung à Bessiké who told the population, particularly the Baka pygmies that the First Lady has them at heart and that the social action which has been taken by the association aims at bringing new hope for education, professional training and a better well-being for the population who are mostly vulnerable. The Representative of the First Lady, Mrs Jacqueline Koung à Bessiké officially handed the “Baba Simon” centre to its Director, Senior Sister Monique Gabana of the Sisters of Congregation of the Holy Spirit.
With the little space available to receive Baka children at the centre and without a budget to run the centre, Sister Monique Gabana said the gesture from CERAC which consists of a refurbished building of ten rooms; four for girls, five for boys, a studying hall, an eating hall, a kitchen and a modern toilet, will certainly encourage Baka children to come to the centre which has been re-baptised “Mgr Lambert Van Heygen Centre”. The latter has done much for the promotion of Baka people in the East Region.
CERAC also donated pharmaceutical products and medications, agricultural tools, didactic materials, food stuffs as well as other toiletries and household items to the centre. As usual, the First Lady offered special gifts to the children of the centre which comprised of a flat-screen TV, DVD player and a generator. On behalf of the beneficiaries, Gisèle Bekoua Mobea, just like other speakers, lauded the efforts of the First Lady towards vulnerable people. Celebration in Mbang took place in the presence of Minister Emmanuel Bondé, native of Mbang, the Assistant Director at the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency, Joseph Le, amongst other dignitaries. Nguea Laroute and other local artists added sound to the event.
