A delegation of the association was at Mvengue over the weekend with agricultural tools and other gifts for the population.
As the old adage goes “teach somebody how to catch a fish but not how to eat a fish”. This is just what the Circle of Friends of Cameroon (CERAC), the humanitarian association founded by the First Lady of the country has done to the youths and the rural women in the Ocean Division of the South Region. Instead of handing foodstuffs and other perishable gifts to the rural women of the Ocean Division, the First Lady, Mrs Chantal Biya had something more durable for them. That is why on Saturday, March 23, Beatrice Mathilde Evou Mekou represented the First Lady in a colourful ceremony at Mvengue Sub-Division of the Ocean Division to offer agricultural tools to rural women in Mvengue, Bipindi and Lolodorf all in the Ocean Division as well didactic and computer gifts to youths in Mvengue alongside a water catchment tank rehabilitated and handed to the Mvengue medical centre alongside other medical equipment and drugs.
On behalf of the Mvengue population and the 40 rural women network that benefited from CERAC’s generosity, Marie-Therese Atangana said “1000 times thank you CERAC”. She did not only laud CERAC for the gifts but more for what the gifts will do to them. “The gifts will not only improve the wellbeing of the population in the Ocean Division but will also contribute to the development of the area especially as it touches rural women who are instrumentally in the growth of any country”. While receiving gifts such as machetes, cocoa and maize seedlings, wheel barrows, trucks, grinding mills, spraying cans for farm pesticides, pots amongst others, the beneficiaries said this is a clear sign that the First Lady is teaching them how to catch fish instead of giving fish. With these gifts, the women say henceforth, they will not only improve their out-put but will also increase it thereby helping them to fight poverty, improve their living conditions as well as their wellbeing.
Just like the other speakers during the event, the medical chief of the Mvengue medical centre, Dr Ricardo Toko lauded the efforts of CERAC and their founding president for the constant and extra efforts they put to meet the needs of the most vulnerable people in the society. “May God Bless CERAC and grant them prosperity and good health,” he prayed
Beatrice Mathilde Evou Mekou told the beneficiaries to make proper use of the gifts which are aimed to ameliorate the living conditions of families and the population in general particularly the most vulnerable. According to Mrs Evou Mekou, this kind gesture from CERAC is a call for other goodwill people to always assist those in need.
