Back to School Campaign, Core Care Africa donates didactic material to over 500 children in the South West Region of Cameroon
3 min read
According to Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights-1948, education is a human right and it clearly states that ‘everyone has the right to education.’ The article further states that education at the elementary level is supposed to be free “Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages…elementary education shall be compulsory…” Unfortunately in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon and other regions experiencing conflicts, children have not been able to freely and safely go to school. The school resumption this year is yet met with strong resistance from the Separatist armed groups (Ambazonia Fighters) who call for ghost towns and warn anyone who dares go to a government school in the North West and South West Regions.
Since 2016, children have not been able to go to school safely and education has, from the beginning of the ongoing Anglophone crisis been used as a weapon of war despite condemnation from the national and international community and also International Human Rights and Humanitarian law.
In preparation for the 2023/2024 academic year, Core Care has been campaigning for school resumption and has engaged with community leaders and community members on the way forward. As part of their activities, on 2 September 2023, as part of Core Care Africa’s contributions towards advocating for effective school resumption in the South West Region, they have donated school bags and exercise books to over 500 children in the communities of Tole and Liongo-Muea, Buea sub division of the South West Region. In the word of the founder and President of Core Care Africa, Mr. Ekole Basil, “There is no doubt, that education gives children the tools to reach their full potential, that is why this year through the Back to School Campaign, we are enrolling 2,000 IDPs children into school where the need is greatest with our partners.” Among the beneficiaries were Internally Displaced Children, orphans, those who are not able to afford school needs and other vulnerable children.
Speaking to Human Rights and Legal Research Centre, the founder and President of Core Africa, Ekole Basil states that children have the right to education even in conflict situations and the ongoing crisis is deterring children from attaining their rights and that threats against school resumption is in violation of the national and international human rights and humanitarian law. While applauding the efforts put in place by especially Civil Society Organizations, he reiterated the importance of education and urged the stakeholders in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon to facilitate safe school resumption.
Civil society organisations, diplomatic missions and individuals have been pleading with the warring parties to endorse school resumption and find a common and peaceful solution to the crisis in vain. This initiative from Core Care Africa is worth and most commendable.
During the various humanitarian outreaches by Core Care Africa in these communities, the founder and President presented the following poem.
1. “Back to School, Back to Cool!”
2. “Back to School, Ready to Rule!”
3. “Back to School, Time to Shine!”
4. “Back to School, Ready to Learn!”
5. “Back to School, Ready to Grow!”
6. “Back to School, Ready to Achieve!”
7. “Back to School, Ready to Excel!”
8. “Back to School, Ready to Succeed!”
9. “Back to School, Ready to Soar!”
10. “Back to School, Ready to Explore!”
11. “Back to School, Ready to Take on the World!”
12. “Back to School, Ready to Make a Difference!”
13. “Back to School, Ready to Make History!”
14. “Back to School, Ready to Make Memories!”
15. “Back to School, Ready to Make Friends!”
16. “Back to School, Ready to Make the Grade!”
17. “Back to School, Ready to Make a Mark!”
18. “Back to School, Ready to Take on Challenges!”
19. “Back to School, Ready to Take on the Future!”
20. “Back to School, Ready to Take the Lead!”
21. “Back to School, Ready to Take the Plunge!”
22. “Back to School, Ready to Make a Splash!”
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
