Education: Chantal Biya Remains An Active Partner
Brenda YUFEH
#Société
Through her association, CERAC, and her Foundation, the First Lady has built and equipped schools in all the ten Regions of the country.
When the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, (UNESCO) designated Cameroon’s First Lady, Chantal Biya, as a Goodwill Ambassador for Education and Social Inclusion on November 14, 2008, many questioned her merits for such a distinction.
Little, did people know that her personal interest in making sure that Cameroonians, particularly children in all the nooks and crannies of the country acquire quality education have been recorded and recognized by international organs.
Thus, there is no doubt as to why the First Lady of Cameroon is UNESCO’s Goodwill Ambassador for Education and Social Inclusion.
Moreover, she is considered as the “Woman with a Good Heart”, always ready to get into any meaningful activity that makes her compatriots happy and equipped to contribute to the development of the country. Designating her UNESCO’s Goodwill Ambassador, was in recognition for the First Lady’s longstanding support for inclusive education, particularly concerning girls, women, orphans and the underprivileged, as well as for HIV/AIDS research, treatment, education and prevention amongst pupils and students.
The First Lady, over decades has committed to fight social exclusion notably through HIV/AIDS education and prevention with activities carried out by her humanitarian associations, the Circle of Friends of Cameroon, (CERAC), her foundation (Chantal Biya Foundation) and the Pan-African Association, African Synergy Against AIDS and Suffering. Through the Chantal Biya Foundation, the First Lady alongside her partners has constructed schools nationwide dubbed "Les Champions-FCB” Government Primary School.
The Chantal Biya Foundation has fully engaged in constructing and equipping "Les Champions-FCB” primary schools in all the headquarters of each region. In each region, a ceremony of reception and retrocession of these schools to the State was organized with Mrs Chantal Biya in person, to preside over the ce remony.
This is why today it is easy to see schools such as “Les ChampionsFCB" Government Primary School of Yabassi, "Les Champions-FCB" Government Primary School, Memiam, "Les Champions-FCB" Government Primary School, of Garoua, "Les ChampionsFCB" Government Primary School, of Limbe II and "Les Champions-FCB" Government Primary School, of Ngaoundéré.
These schools, unique in their presentation, have constantly received didactic materials and other assistance from the First Lady through CERAC. CERAC’s assistance to the educational sector is not limited only to “Les Champions-FCB" Government Primary Schools.
The non-charitable association of the First Lady constantly takes its humanitarian caravan to all the nooks and crannies of the country rehabilitating and equipping primary and se condary schools. Official ceremonies to hand-over schools renovated and equipped by the Circle of Friends of Cameroon have been organized in all the ten Regions of the country.
The First Lady, through CERAC, has also embarked on educating youths in the country on social ills such as HIV, drugs and the negative effects of social media, which can affect their personal development and education.