U.S. Mission & CMR celebrate Int. Literacy Day

On September 9, the United States partnered with Cameroonians to celebrate “International Literacy Day 2014.” U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Officer Roberto Quiroz II and Information Resource Center Program Assistant Mabel Foncham-Chingang visited the COSBIE School Complex in Yaoundé to join Ministry of Education, school officials, and students in a program of activities to donate over 100 children’s books in English and French to promote education under the theme “Literacy and Sustainable Development: Inspire Kids to Think Big – Reading Can Change Your Life.”

The event was launched with singing of the National Anthem of the Republic of Cameroon and brought together people from different sectors promoting Education in Cameroon. They included Mr.Lissouck Nyobe from the Ministry of Basic Education, Mrs. Victorine Mvena, COSBIE School Complex director; senior staff, teachers, Parent Teacher Association members, security officials, and members of the Cameroonian media who covered the event for television, radio, and print broadcast.

In her opening remarks, Mrs. Victorine Mvena thanked the American people for donating over 100 books for the school and noted: “Your assistance supports our efforts to promote early childhood literacy. Every citizen must contribute in his or her own way to promote sustainable development through literacy as we prepare for Cameroon to become an emerging nation by 2035.”

Speaking for the Ministry of Basic Education, Mr. Lissouk lauded the United States’ support for the Government of Cameroon’s priority to promote education in order to enhance economic development and opportunities for citizens. “We encourage the school community to continue to nurture the children and also encourage the children to make good use of the resources given to them,” he said.

In his remarks to the audience and separately to journalists during television, radio, and print interviews; Mr. Quiroz underscored the United States’ commitment to promote development through education by noting: “As Ambassador Michael S. Hoza has said, one of the United States’ highest priorities in Cameroon is partnering with Cameroonians to promote education, especially for women and girls.

This includes enhancing our partnership with the Ministry of Education, principals, teachers, and students, who will become tomorrow’s leaders in all sectors of this nation.

The first step towards success in an individual’s life is attaining a quality education, from which they can build to offer great intellectual and financial contributions to their families, communities, and country.

An education is earned through perseverance, hard work, and dedication. Teaching professionals throughout the world provide lifetime gifts to students: knowledge and the inspiration to dream of a greater future.

Teachers build the foundation of people’s lives. We congratulate the distinguished guests present here today, including the students and Cameroonian teachers who have chosen a life of service in one of the noblest and most dedicated of professions. They are true heroes whose contributions invest wisely in their society’s future. ”

The program also featured a “Reading Circle” coordinated by Information Resource Center Program Assistant Mabel Foncham-Chingang, based on the award winning story of William Kamkwaba from the book “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.” The activity included the participation of fifty pupils between the ages of 10 and 11. “This is a true story of a boy whose great idea and perseverance lit up his home and inspired the world.

In his story, William who lives in a drought-ravaged village in Africa wonders how things work. He teaches himself English from an old science textbook and builds a windmill for his village. The windmill was then used to generate electricity and pump water to his community.

You too can be like William, and dream of finding solutions to help your communities – African solutions to Africa’s challenges as President Obama has said. To do so you must think big and strengthen your love for reading and learning.”

The children shared their dreams on what they could do for their communities, with one of them noting that she would like to work in Cameroon’s health sector to eradicate diseases like malaria which affect too many people.

The event celebrating “International Literacy Day 2014” was part of the U.S. Embassy’s public diplomacy programming to strengthen people to people outreach, education, and the empowerment of women and girls in partnership with Cameroonians.