The population in some neighbourhoods in Douala contributed to a needy fund by subscribing to the coins collection initiative on Thursday May 22. This started from pharmacies, super markets and other large business premises where this new concept was introduced. Dressed in light green tee-shirts with accompanying face caps, members of the “Fondation les Perles de Frayvy’s” officially launched a humanitarian gesture known as operation “pièces de monnaie” in these places.
Th foundation constituted mainly women, who placed carefully designed iron boxes in these shops, in view of collecting coins to sponsor humanitarian projects. “We have noticed that most people get bored with keeping coins. So we came up with an idea to collect these coins, in order to bring help to the needy.The rule is simple. After settling their bills, they are free to drop some coins into the box, carrying the picture of a smiling girl child, set beside the cashier,” explained Yvette Djomou Nana, the president.
Dwelling on the adage that charity begins at home, the ladies demonstrated their intention by dropping some coins, while explaining the principle to onlookers. A brand new lock was set on the box, while the key was taken away by the Foundation’s members. Yvette Djomou added: “whenever the box gets full, the shop owners will inform us. Then together with a bailiff in the presence of onlookers, we are going to open the box and then count its content. With what we shall find, we will compile the various sums so as to sponsor a project for the needy in the various localities where these boxes are found.”
The initiative is intended to fund the building of classrooms, toilets, boreholes and other developmental actions, to complement government efforts on the field. It would be noted that while the ladies were busy in the economic capital, a simultaneous exercise was being carried out in other parts of the national territory.
