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Education and a Future for 50 Children in Mbalmayo
Project SummaryThe project supports 50 vulnerable and displaced children in Mbalmayo in returning to and remaining in school. At the same time, 25 parents and caregivers receive training and start-up support for income-generating activities, helping families build more stable livelihoods and finance their children’s education in the longer term.
Background
Kijika Emabel is a displaced mother living in Mbalmayo who is struggling to keep five children in her care in school. Unable to work because of a long-term health condition and having lost an important source of family support following her brother’s death in 2025, she has been unable to afford school fees, uniforms, learning materials and other basic costs. As a result, all five children spent the last academic year at home instead of attending school.
Kijika’s situation reflects the reality of many vulnerable and displaced families in Mbalmayo. After fleeing conflict, families often arrive with very limited resources and must choose between food, housing, healthcare and education. When household income is insufficient, children’s education is often sacrificed first.
A full year out of school means lost learning, falling further behind their peers and increased risk of permanent dropout and other forms of vulnerability. These children should not have to lose another year of education simply because their families cannot afford the basic costs of going to school. This project will help vulnerable children return to school, recover lost learning opportunities and build a more secure future.
Read moreKijika’s situation reflects the reality of many vulnerable and displaced families in Mbalmayo. After fleeing conflict, families often arrive with very limited resources and must choose between food, housing, healthcare and education. When household income is insufficient, children’s education is often sacrificed first.
A full year out of school means lost learning, falling further behind their peers and increased risk of permanent dropout and other forms of vulnerability. These children should not have to lose another year of education simply because their families cannot afford the basic costs of going to school. This project will help vulnerable children return to school, recover lost learning opportunities and build a more secure future.
Idea
This project will enable 50 vulnerable children aged 4–15 in Mbalmayo to return to and remain in school by providing essential educational support, including school fees, uniforms, and learning materials. To make children's return to school sustainable, 25 parents or caregivers will receive support to develop income-generating activities suited to their skills and local opportunities. This will strengthen household income and help families progressively take greater responsibility for their children's education.
Read moreImplementation
Over 12 months, IPDECCS will support 50 vulnerable and displaced children from 25 families in Mbalmayo to enrol or return to school. Support will cover essential school fees, uniforms, school bags and learning materials. IPDECCS will work closely with families and schools to monitor attendance and educational progress and help the children remain in school.
At the same time, the livelihoods of 25 parents and caregivers will be strengthened. Based on their skills, available resources and local opportunities, each family will receive appropriate training and small start-up support for a suitable income-generating activity. Depending on the family, this may include poultry, pig or fish farming, market gardening, small provision shops, or fruit juice and yoghurt production. Follow-up coaching will help caregivers establish or strengthen these activities and increase their ability to contribute to household expenses, including their children’s education.
Kijika Emabel and the five children in her care will additionally receive basic roof repairs and two mattresses, helping to create a safer and more dignified living environment.
IPDECCS will regularly follow up with families, schools and supported caregivers throughout the project. Progress will be assessed through school attendance and educational participation, as well as the establishment and development of the supported income-generating activities.
Every contribution helps remove a specific barrier to education: CHF 30 can contribute to school materials and essential equipment for one child, CHF 50 to school fees and enrolment costs, and CHF 150 can help a caregiver establish an income-generating activity that supports the family in the longer term.
Initiators
This project is initiated by Initiative pour la Promotion du Développement Communautaire et la Cohésion Sociale (IPDECCS), a Cameroonian non-profit organisation based in Mbalmayo, in partnership with Solidarité-Sud, a Swiss non-profit organisation, and the Footprint Outreach Foundation in Canada. IPDECCS and Solidarité-Sud have worked together for more than two years on community development initiatives in Cameroon, including safe water access for schools and skills development and livelihood support for vulnerable mothers.
IPDECCS will lead local implementation in Mbalmayo, including beneficiary identification, coordination with schools and local stakeholders, delivery of educational and livelihood support, community engagement, monitoring and reporting. Solidarité-Sud will support project coordination, financial management, fundraising, donor engagement and communication with Swiss supporters. The Footprint Outreach Foundation will provide complementary support to the project and its implementation.
Read moreIPDECCS will lead local implementation in Mbalmayo, including beneficiary identification, coordination with schools and local stakeholders, delivery of educational and livelihood support, community engagement, monitoring and reporting. Solidarité-Sud will support project coordination, financial management, fundraising, donor engagement and communication with Swiss supporters. The Footprint Outreach Foundation will provide complementary support to the project and its implementation.
There are no updates available
| Domiu Gascho | 150,00 CHF |
| Vermittelt durch Swisscom | 195,00 CHF |
| Peter Weltert | 150,00 CHF |
Currently, there are still no project partners if you are interested, please contact us via info@there-for-you.com.
Status of the project
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3 Supporters
50 days remaining
Major donor
Project supported by Swisscom
Impact analysis by there for you specialists
The project combines immediate educational support with a longer-term approach to strengthening vulnerable families. By removing financial barriers to schooling while helping caregivers build their own sources of income, it addresses both the direct and underlying causes of school exclusion. This can improve children’s educational opportunities while increasing the resilience and independence of their families. The close follow-up of school attendance and livelihood activities also creates a solid basis for sustainable impact beyond the initial support period.
We will send the donation receipt (for Switzerland) in January of the following year.
Primary Partners
