HEather was here

 Adult Function Literacy in Lebialem Division
Nkong Hill Top (NCIG) with the support from IDH= Spain had been sponsoring Functional Literacy Programme in three centres (Mbeoh, Besali and Bechati) in Lebialem Division and two would be centres in Ngoh Essoh-Attah and Nwametau

The project team recently welcomed a donor representative Rosaura from Barcelona Spain who came for project monitoring. Arrived Cameroon on the 7th of April, Rosaura met NCIG staff and project team on the 8th at the head office followed by a planning meeting after which they set up for Ekona market where some beneficiaries of the Nkong Women Entrepreneurship Project (NWEP) and former Beneficiaries of Adult literacy (AFLIP) situated.

Furthermore, the team left for Lebialem Division on the 10th of April where the project is currently going on. The Mbeoh Literacy Centre was the 1st centre to be visited on the 11th of April. The women were very pleased with the visit and acted a play to show the importance of the centre in their lives. Thereafter, an evaluation was carried out and it was discovered that most of the women could now write, recognize and read their names, read time on a clock, set up an agenda for a meeting, could produce savon soap, counts, know how to cross the high way, amongst others. However, the learners faced numerous problems like savon colour not available in little quantity in the market, insufficient income to buy savon product, produce and sell, non availability of electricity in the school to enable learners stay up to 8pm during practical days which often take more time than normal class days.

 Project team

 The next visit was at Government Nursery School Atehtem where IDH had formerly supported with computers,  wall charts, pencils, erasers, colour pencils, toys etc. for pupils in 2007/2008 academic year.  The Head Mistress of the school Madame Victorine, the chief of Atehtem and the Pupils were very happy for the support received from IDH= through NCIG as it had facilitate learning. The school faces numerous problems like inadequate desks for the kids, limited didactic materials and school owned premises as the school is currently operating at the Chief of Atehtem palace.

They continued for Bechati and Besali in the Wabane Sub Division on the 12th of April 2011. Bechati has 28 learners amongst whom three are men and the centre started in October 2010 hence the short term impact of the project was evaluated. To show the extend to which the learners had assimilated knowledge, they wrote and pasted things on the wall like: “corruption is a virus lets fight it out of our school”, “drink potable water”, “always do your home work”, “always wash your hand after visiting the toilet”, “always keep your surrounding clean”,” use clean water in your home”, “always come to school early”, “always do your correction”. This shows the level of knowledge the learners had acquired within a short period of time. However the school was requesting for additional teachers to assist for level three students, more training materials to facilitate teaching, support for income generating activities to enable learners acquire income while learning.

The chief of Bechati applauded IDH= and NCIG for the great job they are doing to the women. He expressed surprise on how the women had been transformed in a very short time and was very shocked with the performance of his wife. He added that the women are the key in the community as they are teachers, doctors and career of their families and community at large.

 Bechati learners welcomed the project team to their community

 At Besali, the former teacher had left the community and the new teacher just started in February 2011. Mrs. Anu Gospel used this opportunity to re-direct the instructor on what is expected of him, the board was also drilled on their functions and commitment to the Centre. The learners faced problems like limited reading materials and a second teacher to assist in teaching.Ngoh Essoh-Attah was visited on the 13th of April. A centre which is still to start was very encouraging as the well influential instructors know exactly what is expected of them. The board of directors was formed that same day functions well spelled out including learners’ commitment fee of 3000 FRS. The chief of Essoh-Attah pleaded for more centres to be formed as the present centre was to cover Ngoh only and not Essoh-Attah as a whole.

NCIG has been working with government stakeholders since its creation. As such, a meeting with some of the stakeholders and beneficiaries was held on the 14th of April during which the project team visited The Ministry of Social Affairs, Agriculture, Youth and Sport, the Menji Council and the Lebialem Community Radio. The different stakeholders were very happy for the courtesy visit paid to their institutions.

A member of the “Better Life Association” (BLA) was very happy with the assistant received from Nkong Hill Top. “Belonging to the association has really improved on my life. I can testify any where that I am HIV/Aid positive without fear of stigmatization” says the beneficiary. She also told the team that she and one of their members had been recruited and trained by Mutual Health. As such, they are involved in counseling of People Living with HIV/AID. Four of their members had inter-marriage and one of their members died. The association faces problems like lack of assistance to enable members have ongoing activities which would attract more members to the association as well as encourage commitment to the group.

Nwametau another would be Functional Literacy Centre was visited on the 15th of April. The turn out was very poor due to the death of a well known woman in the community and the absence of the instructor due to an accident involving his son the previous day. From Nwametau, the Buea Project team left for Buea on the same day.


Enjoyment Widows’ Association (EWA) Yoke

Enjoyment Widows’ Association (EWA) is a group of six widows working with Nkong Hill Top since 2007.  This group of vulnerable and less privilege yet hard working women in 2010 received two piglets each, construction materials/ cost of construction, four bags of feed and veterinary care from Drombaya Switzerland.

On the 21st of April 2011, two staff and Rosaura of IDH= Spain set out for a monitoring trip to the six different project locations. The pigs are all ready for sale now. Out of the 12 pigs, one of the widows had sold one and eleven still available. One of the pig is pregnant and another one on heat. These two different beneficiaries are ready to extend pig farming whereas the other beneficiaries wish to sell and replace some piglets for the continuity of the project.

As part of the part sustainability, the beneficiaries are expected to save 50% of sales in their account with the Nkong Credit for Development (NC4D). This money is expected to replace the piglets as well as take care of feed and veterinary care. Beside, each of the beneficiaries are expected to pass on a piglet to another widow.

This project is an exit strategy to the widows NCIG had been working with in this community. The aim is to empower the widows economically, their household as well as the entire community.