What We Aim to Do

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There is a huge need for a programme of school building in Cameroon. Very many of the existing buildings that we have seen are in such a poor state of repair that they are not only uninhabitable in the rainy season but also dangerously close to collapse. Children have been kiled when structures, like the one below, have collapsed on them. Parents are often too afraid to send their children to school in the rainy season; children get behind in their work and they drop out of education.

Many of these schools are located in very poor vilages in remote rural locations but SHUMAS motivates the villagers to contribute what they can towards the rebuilding of their local schools. Items such as mud bricks, stones, sand and volunteer labour make up the community contribution, which significantly reduces the cost of the school.

Building costs vary from region to region because of the nature of the terrain, the ability of the community to make significant contributions, and the cost of transporting materials to the site, however the usual cost per classroom is about £3,500. We aim to provide at least three new classrooms at each of schools we support. These classrooms have concrete floors and plastered walls, and window grills and doors to keep out the worst of the weather whilst keeping the rooms well aired, and a new roof. The classrooms are easy to keep clean and thus help to improve the health of the children.

Although three classrooms does not provide all the required accommodation for a village school, it gives the community sufficient boost to enable them to develop the school further themselves. In some cases we have been able to provide additional funds to help with the refurbishment of some of the more substantial of the old classrooms. The new classrooms attract even more children to the school: the increased income, from the PTA levy paid for each child who attends, helps to provide more teachers and the success of the pupils increases significantly. Where possible, we also help to establish an income-generating scheme for the school by providing, for example, a sewing machine or seeds for a vegetable garden.  The additional income from such schemes  helps the school to flourish.  With continued monitoring and support from SHUMAS, the community is empowered to develop its school further. The life expentancy of these schools is at least 50 years - a real investment in the community.

A toilet block is also built at each school site in order to reduce the incidence of hookworm and encourage the teaching of the importance of hygiene. A small toilet block costs about £400.

In addition we place great importance on the provision of clean drinking water at each school. Cholera and Typhoid are commonplace amongst the children, who usually have to carry water to school from nearby streams. We ask SHUMAS to undertake feasibility studies at each school to establish the most effective method of getting safe drinking water to the school. Costs vary hugely, of course, but in many cases the construction of a well is all that is required - and this normally costs around £600.

Other additional items which we try to include are:

Benches and desks for a whole class £200

Teaching Materials for the school £180

A first aid kit (where there are no medical services nearby) £100

It is because so much can be achieved with such little money that we are encouraged to continue fundraising for these community schools.

Every penny which is donated to Building Schools for Africa goes directly to SHUMAS and is spent on the identified project. Governments may talk about their hopes to have a school in every African village - we are actually managing to get them built!

 

Last Updated ( Sunday, 15 February 2009 )