Thanks to donations from the Wasps Legends Charitable Foundation and other generous friends of the Serge Betsen Academy (SBA), our nurses can now provide the care necessary to fight malaria. This is a great relief, because with the rainy season, among our patients the number of children and adults suffering from malaria has reached an all-time high this year.

Djibril, manager of the Eau Claire centre in Bangangté, placed an order with our friends at the “La Nouvelle Dignité” pharmacy and the anti-malaria medicines were delivered to the centre at the end of last week. In order to best distribute the 566 boxes of medication and the 10 mosquito nets a precise inventory of the needs of each centre had been carried out at the time of the order. This is because the medication and dosages are different depending on the age of each patient.

The precious delivery was distributed as follows:

• The Eau Claire centre in Bangangté received 260 boxes of medicines to treat at least 240 cases of malaria, i.e. 100 children, 100 teenagers and 60 adults.
• The Abraham and Sarah centre in Bafia received 113 boxes in order to treat at least 70 teenagers and 28 adults.
• The Jardin Eden centre in Yaoundé received 78 boxes to treat 78 children.
• Finally, the Zoétélé centre received 115 boxes needed for the care of at least 50 children and 50 teenagers.

With these supplies, we are now ready to face malaria in our infirmaries, which is great news! A huge thank you to our nurses for having diagnosed this local urgent need and for providing care to our dear children and their families; they are grateful to our donors for their generosity. Thanks to the Wasps Legends Charitable Foundation, the SBA was able to respond in time to an urgent need for care. Being able to be cared for should never be a luxury.

The medicines having been received, screening tests began this week in the centres. At the Bafia centre, out of the 25 children tested in two days, 13 were positive and were therefore able to start their treatment.

Translation by Katy Birgé-Wilson

Rosanne is the chief cook at the Eau Claire centre in Bangangté. Twice a week, she cooks between 50 and 100 meals for our studious pupils.

According to Rosanne, the children “really like fish with rice in a peanut sauce, but also macaroni, and ripe plantain with sautéed vegetables”! Rosanne works really hard and can sometimes need five hours to delight our students who, thanks to her, quickly recuperate after a long day at school.

Rosanne is happy to work with the Serge Betsen Academy (SBA), for the development and the good health of the students. She goes to great lengths to ensure that “the students pass their Baccalaureate (UK-Sixth form, A levels) or their BEPC (UK-GCSEs)”. Thank you Rosanne!

Translation by Katy Birgé-Wilson

Théophile is a maths teacher. Three years ago, one of his students told him about the Serge Betsen Academy (SBA) and since that day he comes to the centre every weekend to help our students:

“I try to assist them with their problems, to facilitate their understanding of the lessons and I put my knowledge at their disposal.” He adds: “I chose to teach and I like helping the children of the centre. I take great pleasure in teaching here because the students are welcoming and available. I come to the SBA Bafia centre because I like it”.

What he also appreciates: the mutual respect (vertically and horizontally) between the children of different ages and the teachers. Here the atmosphere is friendly and good natured.

Translation by Katy Birgé-Wilson

Christelle has two hats: that of a law student and that of a self-taught painter.

Four times a week, when she is not working in her workshop, she attends law school. During her free time, she’s off to the centre of Jardin Eden to lend a helping hand to Nadege with the children.

Christelle helps the children to develop their creativity by introducing them to drawing, painting and animated songs! She teaches them the basics: primary colours, geometric shapes; and asks them to use their imagination because “children are fine creators”.

She has been working with the Serge Betsen Academy (SBA) since 2013 and endeavours to convey her love for the Cameroonian culture. In her works, she loves to represent rural women, musicians playing drums, griots (who are traditional performers who sing stories and tales) and fields. She wishes that the children living in towns also know the traditions of their ancestors! And indeed, the creation of the vegetable garden of Jardin Eden and the lessons around the germination of seeds are part of the same approach!

Christelle would like to warmly thank our donors and sponsors: “We work hard with the children to make our donors proud! Each child and each manager goes above and beyond to become better! A big thank you to all of you!”

Translation by Katy Birgé-Wilson