Comments collected by Baltazar Atangana
SOUOPGAK TETA MICHEL Scholarship: The Genesis of This Initiative
Souop Gak Teta Michel, born in the 1930s, grew up in a time when education was not readily accessible, yet he quickly understood the importance of what he called the « white man’s school. » In the 1970s, he left Douala and moved to West Cameroon, where he founded the Mbo Primary School in Bandjoun. In a remarkable act of generosity and vision, he transferred ownership of the school to the State, which turned it into the Public School of Mbo-Yom.
Today, this school has grown into the Mbo-Yom School Complex, which now includes a preschool, primary school, and high school, offering a complete academic pathway from preschool to high school graduation. This is the school where I myself completed my primary education. In 2013, while my father was still alive, I launched the Teta Michel Academic Excellence Scholarship to honor this pioneer.
How does this initiative, contribute to the academic, community, and cultural development of Cameroon as a whole ?
This initiative goes beyond simply awarding scholarships to the most deserving students. For several years now, it has also included a component of support for the most vulnerable students. Here are the four main pillars of the initiative:
1. Excellence Scholarships: Scholarships are awarded to the best-performing students from preschool to high school, as well as to outstanding teachers, who are selected by their peers in recognition of their commitment.
2. Assistance for Vulnerable Students: Material and financial assistance is provided to students with disabilities and internally displaced students affected by crises (such as Boko Haram and the NOSO crisis). This support aims to alleviate the burdens on families and ensure that these students can continue their education.
3. Health Campaigns and Educational Talks: We regularly conduct initiatives focused on eye care, malnutrition prevention, and health promotion. We also organize sessions encouraging young girls to pursue scientific careers and discuss gender-related issues.
4. Infrastructure Development:
We have equipped the school complex with a modern water well to provide access to clean drinking water for both the school and the surrounding community. We are also working on renovating the school infrastructure. Over the years, this initiative has inspired others in Cameroon and abroad. Many friends and alumni have expressed their desire to establish similar initiatives in their own communities or alma maters.
What are the long-term challenges of this initiative, given the increasing number of crises affecting Cameroon, which limit access to quality education and healthcare for vulnerable populations, especially children and women ?
The primary challenge for initiatives like this one is sustainability. Many similar projects fade away after just two or three editions. We have worked to make this initiative a project led by the community and civil society, making it an essential event for the school community. Now, the initiative is planned and implemented by the community itself, with our support. Some alumni, who are now professionals, also contribute to the project. The SouopGak family and NGOs, such as ASRADD-Cameroon, are working to keep the flame of this beautiful project alive.
A message for people around the world who may be considering similar initiatives to benefit vulnerable communities in Africa, particularly in Cameroon.
I would say that education is the best investment in the world. Don’t hesitate to get involved or support any initiative that aims to inspire enthusiasm for learning among young people and promote the pursuit of excellence. For those who wish to launch similar initiatives, I recommend avoiding a “one-man show” approach and opening the project to anyone interested in participating. Finally, to ensure sustainability, it’s important to let the community take ownership and lead the project.
