Le rugby s’invite à l’école : ce que la SBA change dans les cours de récréation

/in , , /by

La plupart des élèves n’avaient jamais tenu un ballon ovale. Quelques semaines plus tard, ils savent faire une passe en arrière, relever un camarade tombé, et attendre le coup de sifflet plutôt que de discuter la décision

La Serge Betsen Academy fait vivre le rugby en milieu scolaire. À travers ce programme, de nombreux élèves découvrent la discipline, apprennent ses valeurs et se perfectionnent dans le cadre d’une pratique encadrée et éducative.

Une pratique encadrée, pas un simple loisir

Chaque séance est animée par des éducateurs formés, avec une progression pensée pour des débutants : maîtrise du ballon, déplacements, jeu collectif, puis situations de match adaptées à l’âge. La sécurité et le plaisir de jouer priment sur la performance.

Ce que le rugby apprend en dehors du terrain

  • Le collectif : on ne progresse qu’en passant le ballon en arrière. Avancer suppose d’aider quelqu’un d’autre à avancer.
  • Le respect : de l’arbitre, de l’adversaire, du camarade plus faible ou plus fort.
  • La persévérance : on tombe, on se relève, on recommence. C’est le sport qui l’enseigne le plus littéralement.
  • La place de chacun : au rugby, tous les gabarits sont utiles. Chaque élève trouve un poste où il compte.

Former les champions de demain, sur le terrain comme dans la vie

Tous ces élèves ne deviendront pas rugbymen. Ce n’est pas le but. Le but, c’est qu’ils gardent ce qu’ils ont appris ici : le goût de l’effort, le sens du groupe, la confiance d’avoir réussi quelque chose de difficile.

Vous souhaitez accueillir le programme dans votre établissement ?
Contactez-nous — nous étudions chaque demande.

Bangangté : quand le sport ouvre la porte à toutes les différences

/in , , /by

Il ya des familles qui, pendant des années, n’ont eu personne à qui parler. Le 30 novembre, à Bangangté, elles ont trouvé une salle, des chaises en cercle, et des gens prêts à écouter.

Forum de famille organisé par la SBA et Special Olympics au centre de Bangangté

 

 

Le 30 novembre 2025, la Serge Betsen Academy a eu l’honneur d’accueillir dans l’un de ses centres l’association partenaire Special Olympics , pour un forum de famille et un atelier de sensibilisation sur les bienfaits du sport.

Une journée d’échanges avec la communauté

Aux côtés des riverains et de nos jeunes sportifs de Bangangté, nous avons partagé un moment riche en apprentissages et en émotions. Trois sujets ont structuré les échanges : le bien-être du pratiquant, les métiers du sport, et ce que la pratique sportive apporte concrètement à une communauté.

Un forum de famille sur les déficiences intellectuelles

À cette occasion, nous avons ouvert un Forum de Famille , un espace dédié au dialogue autour des déficiences intellectuelles. L’objectif : informer, sensibiliser, et renforcer la compréhension au sein de la communauté.

Parce que le silence coûte cher. Il isole les familles, il enferme les enfants à la maison, il laisse les préjugés occuper toute la place. Mettre des mots, poser des questions, entendre d’autres parents raconter la même chose — c’est souvent là que commence l’inclusion, bien avant le terrain.

Le sport comme point de départ

Ces activités s’inscrivent pleinement dans la dynamique du programme « Les Pépites du Cameroun », qui vise l’inclusion, l’éducation et l’épanouissement à travers le sport. Sur un terrain, la question n’est pas ce qu’un enfant ne sait pas faire, mais ce qu’il apporte à son équipe. C’est une bascule simple, et elle change tout.

Merci à nos soutiens

Nos remerciements à l’ Institut Français , à l’ Ambassade de France au Cameroun,  à l’ AFD – Agence Française de Développement et à la FEF- Fédération de Etudiant.es Francophones  pour leur soutien constant à nos initiatives.

Ensemble, construisons un avenir plus inclusif pour nos jeunes.

Zoétélé : le jour où leurs rêves ont pris forme

/in , /by

Vendredi le 07 novembre 2025, au Centre de Promotion de la Femme et de la Famille de Zoétélé, il y avait cette émotion particulière des jours qui comptent. Celle qu’on lit sur les visages avant même que les mots ne soient prononcés.

Les jeunes en formation ont reçu leurs fournitures et leurs équipements dans le cadre du projet « Les Pépites du Cameroun ». Pour beaucoup d’entre eux, c’est bien plus qu’une dotation de matériel : c’est le signal que quelqu’un croit en eux.

Trois filières, une même détermination

Esthétique-Coiffure. Secrétariat Informatique. Couture. Derrière ces intitulés, il y a des parcours, des sacrifices familiaux, des heures de trajet, des cahiers remplis le soir à la lumière faible. Cette première remise concerne les apprenants de la promotion IH2 — celles et ceux qui ont choisi d’apprendre un métier plutôt que d’attendre.

Une cérémonie portée par la communauté

Madame la Déléguée d’Arrondissement du MINPROFF de Zoétélé, Monsieur le Directeur du CPFF et Monsieur Aba’a, responsable du centre SBA, étaient présents pour marquer ce moment. Leur présence dit une chose essentielle à ces jeunes : vous n’êtes pas seuls sur ce chemin.

Apprentis du centre SBA de Zoétélé recevant leurs fournitures de formation

Prise de parole du responsable du centre SBA Zoétélé Mr Aba’a lors de la cérémonie

Merci

À la Serge Betsen Academy, à l’Ambassade de France au Cameroun, et à tous les partenaires qui rendent cela possible : merci. Vous ne financez pas du matériel, vous financez des avenirs.

Ces jeunes s’appellent « les Pépites ». Ce n’est pas une image. C’est une évidence pour qui les a vus travailler.

Apprentis du centre SBA de Zoétélé recevant leurs fournitures de formation

Remise des fournitures et équipements aux jeunes en formation au CPFF de Zoétélé, dans le cadre du projet « Les Pépites du Cameroun ».

Cameroon: Feedback on the rugby introductory program in the schools in the Ndé region

/in , /by
Our rugby introductory program in the schools in the Ndé region has grown and we are ever so proud of this. We would like to thank Recycling Rugby, which has been supporting this program for the last year through its Foundation, thus allowing us to pay our coaches and buy rugby equipment.

The first rugby introductory sessions in the Ndé schools began in 2019 at the initiative of young rugby players from our Bangangté rugby team, known as the Nzuimanto Rugby Club. This Club is a group of young rugby players who have been trained by the Serge Betsen Academy (SBA). Upon completing their training, as they did not want to be split in order to integrate various clubs within the national territory, they resolved to set up a team to defend the colours of their own region, the Ndé, at the national level. In 2019, it was apparent that rugby was almost non-existent in the curriculum of the schools in the Ndé region. At the same time, introductory sessions were also conducted by Abaa, rugby manager of the Zoétélé centre in schools near his centre.

In Ndé, since September 2019, our young coaches, Idriss Ketcha, Jacques Toresse and Loïc Zeutsop have massively contributed to the popularisation of rugby in the schools. These actions happened once authorisation had been given by the Cameroonian Rugby Federation (Fecarugby) for the inclusion of rugby in schools. From 2019, Idriss, Jacques and Loïc gave theoretical presentations to make our sport known to school teams and students, handed out rugby balls, and carried out rugby training for young people from 2021. We would like to thank them for their dedication to the development of rugby in the country. It is a pleasure to collaborate with such passionate and diligent young people.

In 2021, 7 schools in the Ndé region benefited from SBA rugby introductory sessions, i.e. 745 children, plus the children from the Eau Claire centre in Bangangté and also those from the neighbourhood. In 2022, the young coaches of the Serge Betsen Academy carried on presenting rugby to the boards of schools in the region, and carried out rugby introductory sessions in 8 different schools and thus introduced rugby to 750 children. Rugby introductory sessions therefore took place in 2022 in the following schools: Nenta nursery school, Group 1 public school, Group 2 A and B public school, Fatgo’o public school, Saint Jean-Baptiste College, Babou Classic High School, Lycée Technique of Banékane and the Japanese Donation Public School, Group I A and B.

Here are some supporting photos:

 

Introductory session to school Group 2 A and B

Introduction to the Fatgo’o school

Introduction to the group 1 school of the Japanese Donation CM1B

Rugby introduction at the Bamena Technical High School

Rugby introduction at Saint Jean-Baptiste College

School introduction Group 2 A and B

At the Serge Betsen Academy, we work to develop rugby in the Ndé region but also in other regions where our centres are located. In the Zoétélé region, for example, rugby in schools dates back to 2011, the year in which it was set up by the Atoak Koumou association. When the SBA centre in Zoétélé was created in 2013 the SBA-Atoak Koumou partnership continued with these rugby introductions.

In Zoétélé there are 4 primary schools, namely the public school of Zoétélé Group 1 and Group 2, the Catholic school Sainte Marguerite and the bilingual school of Zoétélé which benefit from rugby initiations by the Serge Betsen Academy. In Nkoumadjap, there are 2 primary schools in which rugby initiations have been set up regularly: the public school of Nkoumadjap and the Catholic school of Nden, as well as 2 secondary schools: the Lycée of Nkoumadjap and the CETIC of Nden. Over the year 2021-2022, the Serge Betsen Academy recorded 1,518 children in Zoétélé and 726 children in Nkoumadjap who took part in the rugby initiation program.

In Yaoundé, Moise, coach of the Jardin Eden centre and of the youth team of the B Nkol Eton center (formerly Etoudi) will soon be in charge of developing the practice of rugby in schools in his sector in Yaoundé.

It is a real pleasure for the SBA to get young people to discover our sport and its values. Thanks again to Recycling Rugby for their support.

 

Translation : Katy Birge-Wilson

SBA project: Creation of a poultry farm for the SBA COOP!

/in , /by
The Serge Betsen Academy (SBA) decided to create a poultry farm at the Eau Claire centre in Bangangté, in line with the SBA Coop, our agricultural cooperative of 20 mothers from the centre. This 195m2 farm (with 25m2 of storage) will accommodate around 2000 chickens.

By financing the creation of a henhouse on the land adjoining the Eau Claire centre in Bangangté, you will allow mothers from the centre to be trained in the raising of chickens and to work there. The chickens raised for their meat will be sold at low prices to the SBA for the meals of the children of the centre, or sold directly to the outside world by the mothers of the SBA Elevage cooperative. As for the droppings, they will be given to mothers of the SBA Coop to be used as fertilizer.

As a result, with the sale of these chickens, the mothers will earn an additional salary and will be able to access a certain financial autonomy. This will allow them to spend on any required necessities for the well-being of their children.

The mothers will be trained in chicken farming by the centre manager, Djibril Ngassam. This training and the operating costs will be covered by the French Development Agency (AFD) which supports our project as part of the Academies Program.

We are counting on your support to help the Bangangté centre mothers to gain autonomy.

 

Translation by Katy Birgé-Wilson

SBA Project: Support the Big Brother & Sister Project to help our young people in their higher education

/in , /by

For the last 20 years, the Serge Betsen Academy has provided its children with academic support courses up to Baccalauréat level (equivalent UK A-levels) and also occasionally helps some of its higher-potential children to pursue their university/higher education.

The support of the French Development Agency (AFD), as part of the “Academies” Program, allows the SBA to strengthen its support in higher education, and with the backing of local businesses we will be able to strengthen our positive impact.

 

As part of our SBA Big Brother & Sister (B&S) Project, we are requesting that your business support our high-potential young people by:

– Offering qualifying internships to young people from the Serge Betsen Academy and monitoring them closely,

– Speaking in our centres to present the professions represented in your company and thus encouraging vocations,

– Showing our young people round your business facilities to introduce them to these professions,

– Making a financial donation to enable a student to pursue higher education.

 

This year, 5 SBA students (3 from the Bafia centre and 2 from the Zoétélé centre) passed the prestigious Ucac-Icam (Catholic University of Central Africa – Catholic Institute of Arts and Crafts) competitive entrance exam and without external funding from companies, they will not be able to carry out their engineering or advanced technicians studies on the campuses of Pointe-Noire in Congo or Douala in Cameroon, given the financial difficulties of their families.

By financing the studies of one of our young people over 3 years, you will allow this young person to study in a high-quality institute, to obtain a highly recognised license and to realise their professional dream! A donation of €16,669 (or FCA 10,918,000) allows a young person to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Douala. And for a degree in Pointe Noire, a donation of €18,915 (or FCFA 12,389,000) is necessary.

And of course, as soon as they leave university, with their diploma in hand, priority will be given to you for the hiring of this young person.

For more information, please contact our team: sylvie@sergebetsenacademy.org and mailys@sergebetsenacademy.org

 

Translation : Katy Birgé-Wilson

Event: Rugby 7s exhibition tournament on June 3 at the Bangangté municipal stadium

/in , , /by

The Serge Betsen Academy (SBA) association is organising a 7-a-side rugby exhibition tournament on Saturday June 3 2023 in the morning, in Bangangté. On this occasion, we will exceptionally bring together our four adult rugby teams from Cameroon at the municipal stadium of Bangangté and a women’s match will close this morning of sport.

We will have the honour to welcome H.E. Mr. Thierry Marchand, Ambassador of France to Cameroon, Mr. Yann Lorvo, the Embassy’s Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Action and Director of the French Institute in Cameroon, Mrs. Virginie Dago, Director of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD – French Development Agency) in Cameroon as well as two members of the AFD delegation, Mr Eric Niat, Mayor of Bangangté and Christiane Niat, Director of the Black Platinium Agency. Our President, Serge Betsen and Sylvie Ledard, our Project Manager will welcome their guests of honour and show them around our Eau Claire centre in Bangangté. At the end of this visit, the guests will attend the men’s rugby tournament and the women’s rugby match.

Thanks also to the Agence Française de Développement (AFD – French Development Agency) for its support of the association as part of the “Academies” program in collaboration with PLAY International and the Diambars Institute.

We would like to thank our distinguished guests for coming to Bangangté in order to attend this exhibition tournament organised in their honour, as well as Boissons du Cameroun, which is sponsoring the drinks, and the Town Hall of Bangangté, which is supporting us. This tournament is also possible thanks to the Agence Française de Développement (AFD – French Development Agency), which supports the SBA as part of the “Academies” program led by PLAY International and the Diambars Institute, and of which we are the lucky beneficiaries.

The objective of this morning is to give the SBA players the opportunity to meet on a rugby pitch and to develop their competitive spirit, to strengthen the players’ rugby spirit and the feeling of belonging to the same association and to assess the level of players from the Serge Betsen Academy (SBA).

Good tournament to all!

 

Translation : Katy Birgé-Wilson

 

Event: The first ever Bangangté inter-school rugby tournament! Congratulations to the winners of the four Trophies!

/in , , /by

Wednesday, April 26, 2023 will remain an important date for the young people of Bangangté. It was the very first time that they defended their school colours during a rugby tournament organised by the Serge Betsen Academy (SBA).

Around 216 young people, aged 6 to 14, divided into 18 teams, got together during the whole day at the Collège Saint Jean Baptiste stadium in Bangangté to take part in our Bangangté inter-school rugby tournament. There were young people from the Bamena technical high school, the Babou classical high school, the Saint Jean Baptiste college, the Eau Claire centre of the Serge Betsen Academy, the Group 1A school, the Group 1B school, the Group 2A school, the Group 2B school and the bilingual school.

Honouring us with his presence, Mayor Eric Niat kicked off the Tournament. Throughout the day, the atmosphere was incredible, and seeing the young people having so much fun on the rugby pitch, fighting for every ball, and then proudly brandishing their certificate and their trophy, we felt a lot of emotions.

Our congratulations go to each and every one of the participants for their rugby spirit during the tournament and for their combativeness on the pitch. And we would especially wish to salute the four teams for their victories during the first edition of the Bangangté inter-school rugby tournament. The big winners are:

– For the SBA Primary Girls Trophy: the bilingual school

– For the SBA Primary Boys Trophy: public school group 2B

– For the SBA Secondary school Women Trophy: Saint Jean Baptiste College

– For the SBA Secondary school Men Trophy: Saint Jean Baptiste College

 

We would like to thank the Saint Jean Baptiste College for their welcome, our guests of honour for their warm presence and their support towards the association, as well as our sponsors and partners without whom this event would not have been possible:

– Société Générale Cameroun

– Arno Group Association

– Town Hall of Bangangté, one of whose missions is to promote sports for young people in the municipal area

– Mayor Eric Niat

– The Black Platinium agency for their help in communication.

Thanks also to the Agence Française de Développement (AFD – French Development Agency) for its support of the association as part of the “Academies” program in collaboration with PLAY International and the Diambars Institute.

Last but not least, a massive thank you also to everyone involved in the organisation of the Tournament at the SBA, it was a great day of rugby, we could not have done it without you!

You can view the Tournament album here. We owe these beautiful photos and videos and also the above montage to Person Company, Baudouin Tchamegni and Rodrigue Azonfack and we thank them too.

 

Translation : Katy Birgé-Wilson

 

Event: The SBA organises the first inter-school rugby tournament in Bangangté

/in , , /by

Instigated by our Bangangté rugby coaches: Jacques Torresse, Idriss Tcheumkeu Ketcha and Loïc Benos Zeutsop Kenfack, the Serge Betsen Academy (SBA) is organising an inter-school rugby tournament on April 26 at the Collège Saint Jean Baptiste Stadium in Bangangté.

About 216 young competitors aged 6 to 14 will be playing to defend the colours of their own schools in a sporty and friendly atmosphere. This will be a great first for the young people and a great opportunity to celebrate the 19th anniversary of the association.

18 teams of girls and boys will participate in the Tournament. This will include 8 teams of 12 secondary school players (10 to 14 years old) and 10 teams of 12 primary school players (6 to 12 years old). Secondary school students will be accompanied by 4 supervisors and primary school students by 5 supervisors. Intensive training and non-mixted rugby matches are on the agenda. This tournament will be an occasion for the young people who are benefiting from rugby initiations, organised by our rugby coaches in Ndé schools, since 2019, to come together around the values of rugby, and to show what they can achieve. And this will allow our coaches to measure the progress of our young people.

We wish the coaches of Bangangté all the best for the onsite preparations and warmly thank our Sponsors, Société Générale Cameroun and ARNO Association, as well as our partners, the Town Hall of Bangangté, Mr. Eric Niat and the Black Platinum Agency for their support.

Do you want to come and support our young people? Then see you all at the Collège Saint Jean Baptiste stadium at 9 a.m., on April 26. The young competitors will be there from 7:30 a.m. and will be eagerly looking forward to seeing you all and to entertain you with their rugby skills.

Do enjoy the Games !

 

Translation : Katy Birgé-Wilson

Partnership: The Mahola Health Foundation team soon on a medical mission to Cameroon!

/in , /by
The Serge Betsen Academy is pleased to announce that they have set-up a partnership with the Mahola Health Foundation association. They will set-out on a medical mission to Cameroon, from 24 May to 4 June. As part of their mission, the Mahola Health Foundation team will intervene in our Bangangté centre and we are so grateful to them for that.The mission of the Mahola Health Foundation is to preserve and protect the health of populations living in Cameroon by facilitating their access to primary health care. Mahola means “helping” in Bassa, which really does sum up their commitment. For the last 4 years the association has been carrying out medical missions in Cameroon. Last year, they performed over 2000 medical consultations. This year, they will intervene in Youpwe (Douala) in their temporary dispensary and then spend 4 days from 30 May to 2 June in our Eau Claire centre in Bangangté to improve the health and well-being of our children!More than 70 people got involved this year as part of their mission. The volunteers include: doctors, nurses, gynaecologists, a stomatologist, a psychologist, osteopaths, ophthalmology students from the Institut Supérieur d’Optique(ISO-Superior Optical Institute) based in Lille (France) as well as ISO professors, opticians, dentists…

On the agenda: a complete medical check-up of the children of the centre, including ophthalmological consultations in order to get glasses ready for them if necessary, medical care, but also talks about public health issues according to the needs of the centre (for example: hygiene, the menstrual cycle including menopause and menstrual hygiene, malaria, self-esteem, consent, bereavement and emotional management). A donation of medical equipment is also foreseen.

In order to prepare for their mission, the team of the Mahola Health Foundation conducts a large collection of medications, medical equipment, glasses, toothbrushes and even sanitary protection. To participate in the fundraising or to take this project within your company, please contact the Mahola Health Foundation.

 

 

The entire Serge Betsen Academy wants to thank the Mahola Health Foundation team for their commitment, as well as the partners of the mission: ISO Lille and their “Les Yeux des Ecoliers” (“the eyes of the pupils”). We would particularly like to thank Hélène Belaubre, Co-Founder of the Mahola Health Foundation who wished to support us, following a conversation with Margaux Leboucq-Ducroc from Recycling Rugby.

 

Translation : Katy Birgé-Wilson