LOOKING FORWARD
The primary focus of the Fisiy Foundation and Leadership Center (FFLC) is to strengthen the bonds between citizens and the state. However, the recent events in the English-Speaking Regions of Cameroon, especially the massive boycott of schools and absence of classes for students has highlighted the fickle nature of such bonds. It has further highlighted the risks of going through the educational system without acquiring the skills to engage in an increasingly globalized economy. The risk of creating an insurmountable knowledge chasm is real and present. We run the risk of educating a whole generation of future leaders who would be bystanders in the fast-paced world of the digital economy.
It is with these considerations in mind that one of first operations of FFLC was to invest in our future leaders by filling the critical gaps left by the absence of tech literacy training for students attending post-primary and other forms of secondary and technical education. The need to address this gap has prompted us to launch a tech literacy summer program for participating students over a period of three years leading up to certification on the successful completion of all stipulated course work.
To inculcate a spirit of learning/reading, and research as well as enhance the institutionalization of the tech program, FFLC is in negotiations to build school libraries in all the secondary schools in the Nooni area of Bui Division (i.e. Nkor Sub-Division/Municipal Council area). The goal is to embed fully equipped computer labs in all the libraries and to ensure that computer sciences are taught to all students as part of their school curricula. With strong support and partnership from the administration, the Parents/Teachers’ Association (PTA), and the local elite within their village development authorities, we hope to create a new learning platform for all students who aspire to bridge the tech literacy gap and to prepare themselves to face the challenges of our digital economy. Tech literacy knowledge is an essential building block that will put them in good stead to be creative and competitive in our emergent digital world.
We thank you for your continued support and welcome your feedback on our ongoing initiatives.
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
The Samuel Fon Scholarship fund was established by Mr. Alfred Forgwei – FFLC Board Member – on behalf of the foundation in 2015.
The fund is a merit based scholarship program that awards each top performing class six student in the 43 primary schools in the Nooni Sub-Division.
The scholarship serves as a means to recognize academic excellence; support the students as they transition into Secondary School the following year; and motivate the students coming up behind them.
As the fund enters its 3rd year with 85 laureates, we are pleased to note that the overwhelming majority of our first group of laureates performed exceedingly well in their Government Common Entrance (GCE) Examinations and are doing well in their perspective secondary schools.
We are hopeful that our laureates maintain this standard of excellence through out their academic and future professional careers, as it inspires and motivates those coming up behind them.
TECH LITERACY
Our soft launch of the Tech Literacy Program this past December not only exceeded expectations but is also a good indicator that there is a great need for this type of programing in rural communities in Cameroon.
The Tech Literacy program is designed as a trial run to initiate young people, especially those about to enter secondary school or in secondary school (forms 1 – 5), in charting their own way forward in the information economy. We had planned to welcome about 30 students for this one-day workshop but ended up with the impressive turn out of over 150 potential students.
As a result of the great demand, our initial plan of enrolling 30 students in this first cohort was adjusted to take on 60 students this coming June. The enrollment, which started on April 15th for the June session is now full. FFLC realizes that the demand for the program far out weights what the foundation could possible handle this first go round. And as a means of keeping interested students engaged who did not make it in this first cohort, we are in the midsts of working out the feasibility of a boot-camp weekend that includes everyone in the community at the end of the program in August.
Currently, 2 teaches have been engaged and a volunteer network of teaching assistants is being assembled. A curriculum – heavily based on the Microsoft Digital literacy program, which has a certification exam that goes with it – has been modified and adapted to address the varying needs of the students.
As we are down to the final details of flushing out the program for the first cohort of students, any support in terms of funding and resources (computer and software donations) would be greatly appreciated.
