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- 18th May 2012
Project Cameroon
Project Cameroon was born in 2007 with the primary aim of providing 3 classrooms, 3 latrines and running water for a primary school in Cameroon. The funds required were an ambitious £11500 within the academic year and so the challenge began. The secondary benefits of student involvement were even greater than anticipated. The year 10 Engineering students started us off with the construction of our "Coppers for Cameroon" box (which we recently emptied to find an amazing £340); they ferociously cooked patties and cakes to sell at break-times and productions; joyously made CD’s celebrating their musical talents; disco-danced the night away and animatedly participated in sponsored sporting events.
Parents and Governors and PTA have generously supported the sales team’s efforts at the productions and shows: buying all wares produced; running the quiz and comedy nights where Simon Amstell, Josie Long, Mark Thomas, Greg Davies, Jo Brand and Arthur Smith performed for free because they thought it was such a good cause.
Local businesses also encouraged: QAS funded the comedy night tickets and Clapham Picture House sold 100 on our behalf. GfK NOP Ltd, a London-based Market Research company, have named us as one of their charities for this year and have sent us £1000 that their employees raised through a range of activities. Further afield, students and staff at our German partner school Gesamtschule Velbert organized a stall at their Christmas fair where they displayed photos of the project and collected donations. Dixie Heights High School, Kentucky, USA found details of our project on the internet and later this month are holding their annual Talent Show the proceeds of which they are sending to Project Cameroon. We are excited also to be finalising penpal (well, email pal) links with members of their International Club which should flourish into a long-standing relationship.
As ever, none of this would have been possible without the support and time also given by staff and the success of Project Cameroon is truly a testament of everyone’s collaboration. The Islamic Primary School (IPS) Bamali is proof.
Last November myself and Mr Hogarth visited IPS during the celebratory opening of its new classrooms. Their students and those from other local schools sang and danced; 2000 parents, members of the local community and important government officials attended, the unity mirroring that seen during our community’s fund-raising efforts. They thanked Lambeth Academy for everything we have done to help the people of Bamali.
This year we want to raise another £5000 to refurbish the other old classrooms. Check out www.schoolsforafrica.co.uk to read more about this project and others like it. Several of our staff are taking on the 3 Peaks Challenge on the last weekend of June, so there’s also a ‘Just Giving’ page (http://www.justgiving.com/projectcameroon) if you would like to contribute. We shall be visiting IPS again this October and from 2010 we are hoping to offer this fantastic opportunity to students so watch this space …
