Madagascar : SBA helps Marianina charity
“Hope is the only possession for those who have nothing” – Bussy Rabutin
Serge Betsen Academy supports the charity Espérance Marianina Madagascar by financing a second building for the high school. This includes classrooms for fifth and sixth forms, which welcomed 38 and 11 pupils in October 2013 respectively.
By taking part in the financing of this project – costing in total 7 400 € (`£6270), SBA joins EMM and helps Malagasychildren who need it.
Together everything is possible.
If you would like to support Malagasy children, please make a donation by clicking here and write to us to specify to which project you would prefer your donation to go to.
Cambodia : SBA helps Kampuchea Balopp charity
The American foundation Avery Dennison-United Way donated $5,000 to Serge Betsen Academy to carry out a project inCambodia. In order to meet with this request, SBA agreed a partnership with Kampuchea Ballop, a French charity which helps disadvantaged children of Cambodia through rugby values and practice. Through this partnership, A hundred children are benefitting from this programme, which means they are not exposed to the risks associated with being on the streets.
For additional information:
Event: A rugby day to benefit Cameroon by V2R charity
V2R charity, in Villeneuve de la Raho (South-West France), has been supporting the Serge Betsen Academy’s activities for four years through their international building sites.
This year a rugby day was organised on July 7th in Villeneuve de la Raho to raise funds for their international building site in Cameroon, which will take place from November 3rd to November 10th. During this day, one of their sponsors and rugby player Robin Watchou, took part in the event and congratulated the twelve rugby teams and the winner from Villelongue.
During their trip to Cameroon, the group of youths will work on common projects with the SBA.
We will keep you informed
Bafia : Bilan 6 mois apres l’ouverture du centre
What happened in this centre, six months after the opening of the new building.
In January 2013, Serge Betsen opened the new building of the centre in Bafia. Today it is fully equipped with a classroom, a library and a computer room. The latter was acquired thanks to a donation of computers shipped by container last November. It is an unprecedented chance for many young people; most of whom had never used a computer before. The children learn how to use word processing, conduct research for school on the Internet and find information.
This is a nice way for these youth from Bafia to access new technology that is growing in Africa and that is an indispensable way to work.
Banganté: New partnership with the Clinic UdM
The L’Eau Claire Centre in Bangangté remains our pilot centre
The L’Eau Claire Centre in Bangangté remains our pilot centre: one hundred children are coming four times a week for tutoring, access to the vast library, lessons on how to use a computer, to learn Mâdumba (local language) and traditional dances.
Twice a week, from 6am to 10am, a team of 19 young people (including a girl) practices rugby on the muddy pitch of the village. They began participating in the championships, the latest being on June 21st in Bafoussam where they unfortunately lost against a team of professionals.
A nice change: since the team exists, we have noticed a nice evolution as most of the children now have shoes to play as well as swimwear and equipment thanks to various donations collected in Cameroon, France and the United States.
The medical drop-in clinic will be even more dynamic by September as the charity has signed a partnership with a clinic that will provide us with a midwife and a pediatrician twice a week.
Academic records: the 2012-2013 school year ends with 95% success concerning the children of L’Eau Claire. We support and encourage all of them.
Event: Charity concert
It is with much emotion that I attended the charity concert performed by 12 young musicians and rugby players, on Sunday 19th May at the French Institute in London.
It is with much emotion that I attended the charity concert performed by 12 young musicians and rugby players, on Sunday 19th May at the French Institute in London.
I really admire their courage and determination when they were on stage, so young and playing in front of over 8O people ! In addition to their extraordinary talent which they shared with the audience, I would like to highlight their approach and motivation. From Cameroon to London, a gap separates these children however thanks to their rallying we could raise over £1,200. This amount of money helps us support 500 children every day through education, health and rugby.
This amazing action will be followed by William & Fabrice’s cycle challenge, which will start on July 7th to end on August 3rd in London. I invite you to support them through their website www.enroutemousquetaires.com.
I would like to deeply thank all these young people and their parents, who are generously committed to help disadvantaged children of Cameroon.
To conclude, I will quote William & Fabrice when they say these true words :
“Everyone has a talent, and alone or as a group you can use these talents to carry on helping the Serge Betsen Academy to provide support to the children of Cameroon.”
Thank you
Serge Betsen
Event: A sporting challenge with a humanitarian objective
2 000 miles cycled across Eastern Europe in only 1 month to raise funds for SBA and the French Red Cross.
Two young London Wasps players, William & Fabrice, put all their efforts to raise money for two charities : Serge Betsen Academy and the French Red Cross. During the summer they cycled 2 000 miles across the Eastern Europe in only one month. Through this action, they have raised over £7 000.
A nice example of sport challenge for a humanitarian cause.
More information about their adventure is available on their website: www.enroutemousquetaires.com
There is still time to support them until October 30th !
Bangangté: Spotlight on the Tcha Kounté Family
Far from being an ordinary family, the Tcha Kounté family, of the Fatgo’o Bangangté linage, represents what we seek to achieve through our work at Serge Betsen Academy.
In a clay house, three generations live in a main room and a living room: the grandmother, parents and their two daughters Jessica (10 years) and Sabrina (8 years). The house is in the middle of the forest, surrounded by corn fields reaching maturity in this rainy season.
Jessica has been coming to the centre since 2008, she is delighted to come despite the one hour walk to get there. Her radiant smile wins you over the first second you see her, the intelligence of her gaze captivates you and you find she is a child out of the ordinary.
Context: we are in Western Cameroon, in a poor family. Jessica is a child sponsored by the centre * “Eau Claire”, which allows her to go to school and study centre during the days it is open and during school holidays. “I am happy to come to the centre, because there are many books in the library (the only library in the village!). We can ask the teacher when there is something you did not understand in class. You also learn to read and write Medumba ** (pronounced Medjimba). “
Jessica has passed the entrance into 6th year form (equivalent to Year 7 in UK), and she scored in the top 20 of over 600 applicants!
“Only Daddy passed this exam in the family but he did not go further.” Like Jessica, her sister Sabrina is no exception as she scored first in her class with 18 of average. They are the pride of their parents and teachers at the centre.
Jessica admits that the centre “opened her mind to the world with the computer room and internet access”, but she knows that the road is still long to accomplish her dreams of “being able to go to university”. We will endeavour to do all we can so that one day her dreams become a reality.
The Eau Claire centre functions through the hard work of director Elisabeth despite her 73 years of age.
She never stops finding new projects and seeing them to completion. The latest: the creation of a cooperative.
This cooperative, of which Jessica’s mother Marie-Claire is a founder, aims to improve the lives of families of children from the centre. In practical terms, the sum of FCFA 15,000 is allocated to each micro project: Marie-Claire whose business palm oil wholesale (buy-sell), recognises that despite a difficult economic situation “the cooperative has enabled us to improve our everyday lives”. With Marie Claire, three other mothers have benefited from this capital contribution. The cooperative has invested in the purchase of four hives that will soon be harvesting quality honey and above all a source of additional income for the women of the cooperative.
Today is the turn of English speaking*** Ernest, the guardian of the centre, to join the cooperative. His activity: carving wooden objects (statues, stools, etc.). Like a true artist, he makes traditional sculptures of great beauty.
*Jessica’s sponsorship allows amongst other things to pay for her school fees, manuals and school supplies.
** Local dialect
*** In the past Cameroon was placed in trust of the United Nations, who was represented by France and the United Kingdom. The West part of the country is English speaking, the Centre and East parts speak French.
LATEST NEWS
2024: An Olympic and festive year for the Serge Betsen Academy!February 8, 2024 - 12:58 pm
Cameroon: Feedback on the rugby introductory program in the schools in the Ndé regionDecember 5, 2023 - 10:14 am
