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, sand and volunteer labour are often provided which significantly reduces the cost of the school. Building costs vary from region to region because of the nature of the terrain and the ability of the community to contribute, but the usual cost of a three-classroom school is about £10,000. These classrooms will have easily cleaned concrete floors and plastered walls, window grills and doors to keep out the worst of the weather whilst keeping the rooms well aired, and a new roof. 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 just £300. Other additional costs which we try to cover are:

Benches and desks for a whole class £200

Teaching Materials for the school £180

A well to provide clean drinking water £500

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 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 ( Tuesday, 29 April 2008 )