MALIMA PRIMARY SCHOOL
GOURIA, CAMEROON, WEST AFRICA

Summary of Activities
September 1, 2006 – August 31, 2007

A Tumultuous, Exciting Year

This was the year of change at Malima Primary School.  Our director of education, Felix Ngambou Ngadeu, to whom primarily goes the credit for the successful completion of academic successes, as well as overseeing the developing infrastructure, moved on at the end of the school year to take up residence in the United Kingdom.  Susy King, one of our VSO volunteers who completed two years in Gouria, having contributed greatly to the overall progress, also left with her newly acquired title of Mrs. Ngadeu.

As director, Felix had every right to hold his head high when he stepped into the sunset as he saw his third straight graduating class finish with 100% results.  No school can lay claim to an eternal record such as this, but it is his for three straight years. This is not only a glowing testament to Felix, but also to the teachers who each did their part, but most of all, it is an outstanding tribute to our very determined students who chose as their motto, “ Failure is not an Option.”

Quite naturally it was emotional to say farewell to two people who have been so instrumental in the well being of The Malima Project.  They began their new lives together with our blessings and best wishes for a happy and bright future, and with our eternal gratitude for a job well done!

Mr. Alex Free, the VSO sports coordinator volunteer, also moved on after having fulfilled his one-year commitment.  Unfortunately, he did suffer illness for a significant period of that time, but did his very best when his health allowed, and for that we are very grateful.

The school was left in a ready state to go from strength to strength. We took great pleasure in welcoming the new director, Mr. Sop Sighen François Delefete.  He comes from the same village as Felix, Bamenda in the Northwest of Cameroon.  He has lived at times in Greece, Cyprus and South Africa. He holds Secondary School teaching degrees, his specialty being Economics  He is also strong on sport, having played football at one time for the Cameroon national squad.

François, as he prefers to be called has proved himself very capable as he has opened the school on time and managed the inevitable last minute glitches with every ounce of professionalism.  We are very pleased to have François at the helm, and we look forward to working with him as we go forward.

Fresh, Clean Water

Of particular exciting note was the successful find of an underground water lens that promises sustainable and clean potable water in the village.  The village itself must now provide a form of pump to bring the water to the surface.

The Next Twelve Months

We anticipate that the twelve months from September 2007, will principally be a period of consolidation, with the exception that the Project has received a very generous gift from a British school for Girls.  This gift comes at a most timely moment, and its impact will change Malima completely from one that has offered its students education on a part-time basis, due to a lack of space, to full-time education for all.

The funds will be used to build the final classroom block with two more classes, and a multi-purpose smaller room separating the two. 

The year has been one of mixed emotions. Through it all we pay tribute to our teaching staff who have shown unfailing dedication.  They have honoured the “No child left behind” pledge by liberally giving of their time and skills. It is also encouraging to note that no child wants to be left behind.

The school has grown in every way, quite literally bursting at its seams.  Malima is the model in The Extreme North of how education should be done.  In the new school year we shall all seek to reach for new heights.

“The Best is Yet to Come!”