Recycling Tires: Resoling Shoes Wum Cameroon

Everyone wins. Jobs are created.  Shoes are restored. Apprentices are trained.  
Orphaned at a young age, mentored by Integrated Development Foundation (IDF), Harry learned the shoe repair trade by being an apprentice.   But prior to that, Harry, again through the caring guidance of IDF and the Orphans and Vulnerable Children's program (OVC), had surgery to correct his deformed legs.  Located in North West Cameroon remote community of Wum,  Harry has his shop in the Market.  Here he is showing Allan a shoe ready to have a new sole put on it.  Notice his leather bag, one that he has handcrafted using his treadle machine and hand tools. 

Harry has taken on two apprentices eager to learn the shoe repair trade, Imagine the dedication required to remove the steel belts from a tire. 

Harry is in the middle with his two apprentices on either side.  

The shoe on the left has a new sole made from a recycled tire.

Here one of the apprentices removes a steel belt from a tire.

Rotary Project Sustainability, Two Years Later

Rotary Project Sustainability, Two Years Later

No one could have predicted results like these after repairing and equipping a two room school in a remote area of the North West Cameroon near Wum (GS Illum).   For starters, the school has nothing but hills around it for miles.  Nestled into these hills are small villages where Boro grazier herdsmen live with their families, their cattle pastured on the surrounding hillside.  With a long zoom lense, one can go across the deep ravine to see the straw topped round huts grouped together.  One can then move the camera to patches of white dots that are the humped back, long horned white cattle, the means by which the herdsmen measure their wealth.  

From villages like this come the children to attend GS Illum School.

2014 March Visit To GS Illum

 It was here two years ago that we found children in deplorable conditions (dust floor harboring ziggar worms, poor lighting, animals wandering into the classroom area at night and defecating, no books but each with a scribbler (required for school admission).  As we look at the situation two years later, we remember one well built building housing three classes with children sitting in crude, parent built desks.  The primary two room building barely fit for animals (this is the one the Rotary Club of Truro choose to repair and equip).   

Two Room School After Repairs

On Tuesday, we first arrived at GS Illum, we were disappointed to find no one there but as often happens, opportunities arise as result.  The small, two room primary structure that the Rotary Club of Truro rebuilt two years ago looks just like it did the day it was opened.  As a result of interest in the school and improved conditions, more children from the surrounding hillsides began coming to school.   The Dept of Education’s view of the school changed.  The Dept designated the school as a teacher placement school for training teachers.  With increased enrollment, the government built a first class two room structure beside the two room primary school that the Rotary Club of Truro repaired.  Dept regulations require classroom sizes to be larger than the two room repaired school (the three classrooms in Befang are also smaller than Dept regulations because they are repaired classrooms, not new builds).   Below is the newly built two room school. .       

 Norbert, our driver,  is carrying supplies for GS Illum from Marian the Librarian

No one is at the school so we look around in amazement.  The school is surrounded by school garden beautifully organized.  Two sports fields are no doubt well used!

Behind the Goal Posts Of the Sports Field, Land is Newly Cultivated

 

 Geography corner with them maps of Cameroon and Africa outlined in rock.   .   

The grounds are beautifully landscaped with the plants all labelled

I peeked into the new two room classrooms and was pleased to see proper benches, teachers’ desk, blackboard, good windows for lighting well built.  Good because many buildings we see built by government are empty because they build and forget to equip them (eg. the hospital in Kumbo is a beautiful building but without equipment of any kind). 

So, the children and teachers must be attending a special day.  We travel to Wum, go to the Dept of Education.  It is locked.  We quickly discover that this is a sports day for the whole area.  We find the sports field where hundreds of school children are gathered.  The area is the size of a big football field.  Hardly any time passed amidst the excitement of the hundreds of children surrounding the field, when Ewi Clementine, Headmistress of GS Illum came running across the chalked racing lanes to greet us.  She didn’t know we were coming!  Two ‘white’ faces in this area turn heads!

Yes, the children are all here.  (Minimum of a five mile walk to the sports grounds from their huts).  The children began arriving to greet us.  Ewi quickly directed us all to the grandstand where opening ceremonies were just underway.  We stood at attention for the raising of the flag on a bamboo pole and the national anthem. 

   

School Spirit Has Really Improved

Field Day At GS Illum

We reviewed our situation.  Students and teachers were going to be all day at the sports event.  We would be in Wum visiting microcredit participants, orphans and vulnerable children.  We have gifts for the children from Marian the Librarian.  Ewi suggested we take the school supplies to her house nearby.  A door of opportunity opened.

Leaving the IDF cameraman at the sports field to make room in the car, we go to Ewi’s newly developing subdivision where she began building her home last year.  Made from mud bricks, as yet not glazed, the design is so appealing.  The front wall of the living room is circular.  Inside she has proudly displayed children’s work in true mentor teacher fashion.  We have a paper from IDF listing all the things Marion the Librarian has sent.  Ewi examines the paper and signs it for Pa Tafrie to return to IDF, IDF will check later at the school to see the materials in place and to be sure they stay at the school.  Ewi’s sister, who lives with her, gets a large bag full of children’s crafts from the school.  A model of a little hut with a grass roof, woven bags, little sandals made of cardboard, beads, crafts made from scrounged materials.  When we returned to the sports field, races were in full swing.  Olivia, another teacher from GS Illum was on hand to greet us.  These are dedicated teachers very appreciative of the changes that have been made at GS Illum to improve their teaching situation. 

Allan was so impressed with the school garden that he gave the Head Mistress packages of seeds for each teacher.  These seeds were a labor of love on his part.  It began with Rotary Club of Truro putting up $300 Canadian dollars for seeds.  We brought seeds in Douala at seed suppliers at the market.  Then, we found a supplier of peanut seeds in Bafoussam  bought corn seeds specific to particular growing conditions related to elevation.  These were the seeds Allan packaged in several hundred individual lots for the farmers in Bana and Befang .  Now he is giving each teacher in the  two schools (GS Illum and Befang) seeds.  They will create a lot of interest in new crops for the area and for the children.  Peanuts, beans, cucumber, melon, corn, eggplant, orka, pumpkin; these seeds will be planted at the beginning of the school term in August when the rains are not so heavy.

We will be getting a report from the progress on the school repair in Befang and the progress of the farm project in Bana and will share that with you.

Meantime, we are enjoying a two week camper van trip in Europe.  We have enjoyed hearing your comments!  For us, a very satisfying adventure.

Psycho-Social Engineering in Action: Ntambag, Bamenda, Cameroon

Social Engineering  in Action:  Ntambag, Bamenda, Cameroon.

Plans had to be changed this morning (Sunday, Feb. 23^rd).  Twenty five families were suddenly going to be compromised because an engineer made a decision to make the road through a community straight.  When Mme. Oussematou got the call this morning, there was no question in her mind, she must meet with the Council immediately tomorrow morning to negotiate the situation through to a compromise. 

Community planning began several years ago in Ntambag Old Town.  Development funds had been designated.  What projects were most important to the community and how could these project best be implemented?  It took the community more than one year to choose the project and assess the implications.  The community chose to rebuild roads and bridges, water and sewer.   

Although the social engineering approach courses talk about  changing social reality with the help of planning, programming, predicting and forecasting, Mme. Oussematou goes much further than the text book.  Involving the community in choosing their project means everyone must be part of assessing the implications of the changes on the lives of all people in the community.  On Feb. 12, 2014, we had the opportunity to follow the team: a civil engineer, water engineer, town  planner and the social engineer. 

The social engineer looks at how people’s safety and lives are affected.  Where the bridges are being constructed, are there proper barriers so traffic is alerted and will not venture into unsafe territory.  Can people cross on a temporary bridge safely, including motorbikes.  Are the workers on site wearing safety hats and boots.  

Are there children working, splitting rock for example.  When we came to the area where a big grader was moving a lot of red soil, Oussematou yelled with her hand up to the driver to stop so we could cross! 

Children must have safe access to their schools, people must be able to enter their houses, business people their businesses. 

These streets are going to provide a double width road with proper gutters for good drainage in wet season.  But, in order to do this, some of the houses are going to have to be cut back.  Some will lose fronts, some half the house.  Some overhangs.  All must agree and be compensated.  The job of the Social Engineer.   Grave sites must be treated with dignity and properly preserved and respected. 

So, this morning, someone who is in administration made a decision that will cause 25 families houses to be compromised to make the street a little straighter.  Hence, the need for citizen representation at council to negotiate a compromise or at least lend understanding to the situation.

Talks went on for several hours as they toured the site.  Oussematou was very pleased with the results.  Only one house instead of 23 had to be cut and that house is a corner house and visibility around the corner was needed for safety reasons.


To see Psycho-Social Engineering in Action:
http://www.slideshare.net/LydiaSorflaten/psychosocial-engineering-in-ntambag-bamenda-cameroon-africa

Befang Primary School Project

Befang Primary School Project

After the ceremonies signifying the progress of the Befang Primary School Project, we were invited to the Pastor’s house for a meal.  We were asked to write in the guest book.  Let me share with you what I wrote, then we will attempt to convey the magnitude of the project, its impact on the school and community.

‘We sign this on behalf of the members of the Rotary Club of Truro who chose Befang Primary School as their major project.  They chose to dedicate it in memory of Charlie Hill farmer and  long time member of the Rotary Club of Truro.  In his will, Charlie Hill left money to be used for an International Project.  (When the announcement was made to the guests that their community had been chosen for this project, they all cheered!)   Further to this, Marian the Librarian (from Bridgetown) gave the books, teacher resource materials and for each child pencils, erasers, sharpeners, pencil cases, math sets and more.  For our part, this project is a highlight in our lives. To see the community come together, to decide how to go about the project, planning and executing the plan by all helping.  May God be with you as you foster the growth and development of these children.  How privileged we are to have been able to be with you.  A special Thank You to Pa Tafrie and Mme Oussematou for their hours and hours of dedication and hard work.  All of us together have made this incredible dream reality.  Our love....Allan and Lydia’

Construction:

Our first visit to the site on March 24^th, 2014, we were met by a group that would accompany us on the tour:  Pa Tafrie,  Integrated Development Foundation chair and overseer of the project (yellow jacket),  head master of the school (far right), pastors, chairman of the school board and the night watchman.

Repaired Foundation

Community Volunteers Removing Soil From Around the Foundation

1500 Clay Blocks Were Made Before We Got There

New bricks made by community members were used for repair of the exterior walls.  The old bricks were cleaned up and used for the inner partitioning walls.  

Community Volunteers Making Clay Bricks

Eroko Door Ready To Hang

Door Frame Installed

The door frames were assembled on site and installed when we were there.  The frames are made from Eucalyptus and the doors are made from Eroko, a strong termite resistant wood.

Lessons learned from the rebuilding of the GS Illum led to investigation for a better window.  All made on site, have a look!  The design for the forms has to be precise.  Pa Tafrie says these windows will be durable!  The windows allow for good ventilation and natural lighting.  Can you imagine the weight of this window?  It takes 3-4 men to lift a window in place.

Windows Made On Site

Form For Window

Hole Made For Electrical Switch

Each of the trades people arrive when it is time for their part.  On Monday morning, early, the masons and builder dropped by on their way back for the week from Bamenda.    The carpenters will come at the end of this week to begin the roof.  The electrician was installing the conduit.  He surprised us by appearing at the get together at the pastor’s house.  He wanted to show his appreciation of what is being done for the community by presenting us with a hand embroidered shoulder bag.

Electrician Pounding Out Conduit Channel For Electrical Cable 

Level 3 Class With Blackboard At Front of Classroom Under the Trees

Where are the children while repairs are being made?  Each of the three classes is situated under a big tree, blackboard in front and their desks in neat rows.

Head Master With Level 5 Class Under The Trees

The Latrine Children and Teachers Presently Use on Left
The Hole For The New Latrine On Right

All priority is on getting the children back into their classrooms.  They are hoping in two weeks time work will have progressed sufficiently for this to happen.  After this important phase, the workmen will move to complete the latrine.  At this point, the latrine is a big rectangular hole dug deep (they were pleased that they were able to dig the hole easily, not encumbered by rocks.  We were shocked to see what they are using for a latrine now.  Extremely dangerous.  Big gaps between the wooden slats over a deep hole filled with sewer.  Not fit for an adult, never mind a child of any age. 

The concrete blocks for the base of the latrine are handmade on site.  At the bottom of the pit, the blocks will be filled with concrete.

Concrete Blocks Made On Site For New Latrine

Inside Materials' Storage Area

The materials for the project are secured in the pastors  house.  Materials for the project must be signed for.  Security is tight.

Pa Tafrie and Pastor Outside Storage Area, Part of Pastor's Home.

We watched as the workman secured large planks on either side of the wall to pour a concrete beam upon which the roof will reassembled.  So it is all coming together!

Community Involvement:

The community workers have made 1500 bricks.  Many of these bricks have already been used in the outside walls

The community workers have pulled the old stone out and have used their hoes to prepare the ground for the platform and approach to the school entrances and drains

The community has met many times to plan.  They decided that there was an area below the school that would make an excellent playground for the children.  They came together to clear the land Tuesday of this past week.  They also decided that a big mango tree had to be dismantled because it is too close to the school roof. These pictures show the playground cleared and the mango tree in process of being dismantled.

Visits to Rotary Club of Kumbo Projects In Kumbo

Meeting With The  Rotary Club of Kumbo:




Meeting With Rotary Club of Kumbo, Pres Elect and Pres Devine,
Allan and Lydia being presented with  Cameroonian  Hand Crochet Hats and Bags



The Rotary Club of Kumbo Is Very Special

Working three years as a Volunteer in the Cameroon, one recommendation I would make to a community in the Cameroon aiming to better itself would be to form a Rotary Club.  In Kumbo, nine years ago, a group of people began meeting to do just that.  They had no one to help them so they would go on the internet, each researching an aspect of Rotary on line, then presenting it to the group.  In time they applied to be granted a charter.

For many years, they still felt alone and isolated but managed to implement several projects.  They organized and took us for a day to visit these projects.  Heart warming, touching, incentive promoting to say the least.  Join us as we visit together.

Visits to Rotary Club of Kumbo Projects:

VIP Latrine:  Impressive structure nearing completion. Badly needed.  Construction looks good.  Presbyterian School in Kumbo. 

 Headmaster Presbyterian School in Kumbo

The Vent For the Latrine

Inspector Allan and Rotarian Ibraham carrying Lydia’s computer bag.   

Play Yard for the Children

One Of The School Buildings

59 In This Class!

At present, there is NO place for the children to 
go to the bathroom.  Allan told me to stop the video.  He later told me the reason was a little girl was pulling down her pants on this play ground to go to the bathroom.  Human dignity is about to be restored to these teachers and children, over 500 of them thanks to the Rotary Club of Hepworth/Shallow Lake!  The picture in the center is one part of the school.  Classes are extremely overcrowded.  I can’t imagine 53 in a classroom, never mind 89 little ones! 

Visit the Rotary of Kumbo Latrine  Project With Us:   
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe4ovh4hPg8

 The video shows the venting system, seven stalls, a washing station, the location of the latrine on the upper level from the school, the headmaster introduces us to the school telling us the numbers of students in each class (53-89).   The latrine will serve the school and will be used by the church as needed.  Rotary Club of Kumbo President Devine gives us some good laughs!  Enjoy the video made on site:

Sportsfield Project:  The sports  field is ready to be seeded.  Presently it is one big field of red soil.  The washroomsare completed and are padlocked.

Washrooms At The Sportsfield

.    

Sports Field Ready For Seeding

            Hospital:  Two projects have been undertaken by Rotary at the hospital.  After a doctor doing a caesarean section had to finish his surgery using a flashlight, the Rotary Club decided a generator was needed!  Five months ago a new doctor arrived, Dr. William Wirngo.  The patient load has increased tremendously since.  We waited patiently and were fortunate to have an excellent conference with Dr. Wirngo.  Equipment is needed.  Basic maternity equipment:  beds, delivery table, incubators, the list is long.  Lives are lost now because when a problem is faced, it is a long distance to a hospital where care can be given. There is one primitive delivery table.  If that is occupied, the patient must deliver in a bed.   We came out to the front of the hospital with Dr. Wirngo and President Divine for a picture.

Allan, Dr.Wirngo, Lydia and Pres Rotary Club of Kumbo, Devine.

The second project dug a containment pit for medical wastes because the open pit previously used was dangerous for children (needles, contaminated waste etc).  The picture to the left shows the containment pit, the second a new empty building built by government for the hospital but no allocation of funds were made for equipment!

Containment Pit For Hospital Waste

New Hospital Empty

 

School:  Project undertaken by Rotary Club in France and Rotary Club of Kumbo. It took us about ½ hour to travel to the campus of Saint Pie College of Tatum to visit a large project:  20 HP Flat Screen computers, a 33 KVA Generator, etc as well documented on the sign.  This trip was delightful.  The campus is beautifully tucked into a sheltered ravine allowing the well established  teacher training institution (one of the first in Cameroon), its dormitories, schools, church, farm and hilltop restaurant and bar to be self enclosed in a beautiful setting.     We were warmly received as Rotarians and given the royal treatment!

Rev Borther Simon Kanjam
 Rotary Club of Kumbo President Devine (right)

Students Join Us 

 

We met with Rev Brother Simon Kanjam who explained how he wrote a big proposal for computers and a generator for the school.  Through the Catholic network, the Rotary Club of Saint Etienne Vallee Du Gier and the Rotary Club of Firminy, both in France combined to make this project possible.  They discovered that there was a Rotary Club in Kumbo and together they made history! 

Students Getting Water On Campus

Beautiful Campus

Rev Brother Simon, Our Host
Brother Simon Planned the Project For The Computer Lab

The internet is connected to the hilltop restaurant and guest house but is not yet available to the students in the computer lab.  Dry season dust is a problem for the computer lab. The computer lab is most impressive as are the students!

The computers, each with their 
own desk and chair are impressive

A dedicated volunteer from California 
has been here three years
toured us through the computer lab.

 Internet Is Available at the Hilltop Breeze Resort
But Not At the Computer Lab As Yet

The picture on the right is taken from the farm area looking up at the campus.

   

The students were practicing for their examinations.  They were asked to delay their lunch to assemble so that they themselves could show their appreciation for what Rotary has done for their school.

  Center Rotary Club of Kumbo President Devine with Rotarian Lydia on our way to see the big generator housed in the building to the left.  This generator allows the campus to have reliable electricity for everything including study time for students (5 hours/evening) and preparation time for teachers. 

    

Just to assure you that we can enjoy ourselves, here is a special picture from the Hilltop Restaurant where we enjoyed drinks with Rev Brother Simon!  The Rotarian on the left, trying to hide, is Ibraham.  Tatum is his home area.  He graduated from the nearby high school. He drove us and was a great guide. 

 

Water Project in Boro Community:

 Rotarian  Ibraham showed us pictures of this project and explained the project we downloaded the pictures to my computer.  Impressive. I think Ibraham was surprised that we visited the Boro community of Sabga and have continued to help one family adjust to moving to Bamenda to peruse work and school here.  As well, the first project of the Rotary Club of Truro in Cameroon was  in a Boro community (GS Illum).  Right away Ibraham said that so many Boro girls get pregnant at 13!  Himself a Boro, he has an indepth understanding of the herdsman and the needs of the community.  With this motivation, the Rotary Club of Kumbo undertook a water project in a Boro community.  He showed us a picture of a little girl who was bitten by a snake going to get water for her family.  The picture was taken after the snake bite when the swelling in her eyes had almost disappeared.   The other pictures are of her with her brothers and sisters who also help carry water! 

Prior to the water project, the community was drinking from the same water hole as the cattle were drinking from.

Watering Hole Shared By People And Cattle

 The sequence of pictures show (not necessarily in order) the progression from finding a water source high in the hills, making a sanitary catchment, making a channel down the hillside, then making a separate water trough for the cattle and a sanitary tap for the people to collect water from.

     

       

Safe drinking water for the community brought to the community so that children do not have to trek through dangerous territory long distances uphill for water!  Water separate for the cattle. 

Ibrihim would be glad to answer any questions you might have about this water project.  His email is:dbsislam@yahoo.com

Congratulations on great project work!