On Saturday 9th May, the village of Mbaw in NW Region celebrated a momentous occasion.  After decades when there has been little or no investment in the school and almost ten years of suffering the violence and intimidation of war in the region, finally there is definite cause for hope for the future. The new classroom block, complete with blackboards, benches, tables and chairs, and a head teacher’s office was handed over to the community, allowing many more children to study in clean, dry, hygienic conditions and giving them real hope of achieving passes in their exams and moving on to secondary school.

Many of the new pupils will be IDPs who have been prevented from going to school for up to ten years because of the war.  They have been working hard for many months at the local Neighbourhood Learning Corners (funded by our supporters at Gompels Healthcare) where they have been catching up with basic Literacy and Numeracy skills.  Now CBC Mbaw has the space to admit more of these pupils and enrolment is increasing rapidly.

This school project was funded by our generous supporters in Ireland, Patrick Rooney and Joseph Seely.  The project also included a brand new VIP latrine, for improved health and hygiene, and tools and seeds for the children to make a school garden.  All profits from the sale of garden produce goes to the PTA to help ensure the sustainability of the school.