SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

THIS IS THE ANNUAL REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE SCHOOL IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 2006-2007






MALIMA PRIMARY SCHOOL
GOURIA
CAMEROON, WEST AFRICA

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES
September 1, 2006 – August 31, 2007

A Tumultuous, Exciting Year


Malima Primary School
Gouria
Camerún, Africa Occidental

Resumen de Actividades
1 de Septiembre de 2006 – 31 de Agosto de 2007

Un año Tumultuoso e Ilusionante

This was the year of change at Malima Primary School. Our director of education, Felix Ngambou Ngadeu, to whom primarily goes the credit for the successful completion of academic successes, as well as overseeing the developing infrastructure, moved on at the end of the school year to take up residence in the United Kingdom. Susy King, one of our VSO volunteers who completed two years in Gouria, having contributed greatly to the overall progress, also left with her newly acquired title of Mrs. Ngadeu.

Este ha sido un año de cambios en la Escuela Primaria Malima. Nuestro jefe de estudios, Felix Ngambou Ngadeu, a quien debemos el mérito por el éxito académico de le escuela, además de supervisar el desarrollo de las infraestructuras, se fue a vivir al Reino Unido a finales del pasado curso académico. Al mismo tiempo, Susy King, una de las voluntarias de VSO, que había completado dos años en Gouria, habiendo contribuido en gran manera al progreso general, también nos dejó con su nuevo título de Sra. Ngadeu.

As director, Felix had every right to hold his head high when he stepped into the sunset as he saw his third straight graduating class finish with 100% results. No school can lay claim to an eternal record such as this, but it is his for three straight years. This is not only a glowing testament to Felix, but also to the teachers who each did their part, but most of all, it is an outstanding tribute to our very determined students who chose as their motto, “ Failure is not an Option.”





Como director, Félix tenía todo el derecho de llevar su cabeza bien alta a la caída de aquella tarde en que vio cómo su tercera clase consecutiva de aspirantes a graduados terminaba el curso con el 100 % de resultados positivos. Ninguna escuela puede aspirar a conseguir siempre un resultado como este, pero esto es lo que ha conseguido Félix por tres años consecutivos. No sólo estamos pensando en el mérito de Félix sino a todo el resto de profesores y sobre todo al esfuerzo de los mismos alumnos que escogieron como lema ‘el Fracaso no es una Opción para Nosotros’

Quite naturally it was emotional to say farewell to two people who have been so instrumental in the well being of The Malima Project. They began their new lives together with our blessings and best wishes for a happy and bright future, and with our
eternal gratitude for a job well done!

Naturalmente nos emocionamos al despedir a estas dos personas que ha sido tan importantes para la vitalidad y buena marcha del Proyecto Malima. Empezaron su vida juntos con nuestra bendición y buenos deseos para un futuro brillante y feliz, y con nuestra eterna gratitud por su trabajo bien hecho.

Mr. Alex Free, the VSO sports coordinator volunteer also moved on after having fulfilled his one-year commitment. Unfortunately, he did suffer illness for a significant period of that time, but did his very best when his health allowed, and for that we are very grateful.

Alex Free, voluntario de VSO como coordinador de deportes, también se fue después de cumplir su año de compromiso. Desgraciadamente estuvo enfermo durante parte de ese tiempo, pero hizo todo lo que pudo mientras su salud se lo permitió, y le estamos muy agradecidos por ello.


The school was left in a ready state to go from strength to strength. We took great pleasure in welcoming the new director, Mr. Sop Sighen François Delefete. He comes from the same village as Felix, Bamenda in the Southwest of Cameroon. He has lived at times in Greece, Cyprus and South Africa. He holds Secondary School teaching degrees, his speciality being Economics He is also strong on sport, having played football at one time for the Cameroon national squad.

La escuela estaba preparada para ir de más a mejor. Recibimos con entusiasmo al nuevo director, el Sr. Sop Sighen François Delefete. Viene del mismo pueblo que Felix, Bamenda, en el Sureste del Camerún. Ha vivido en Grecia, Chipre y Sudáfrica. Tiene el título de Profesor de Secundaria, especializado en economía. Otro de sus puntos fuertes es el deporte, y ha jugado en la selección camerunesa de fútbol.

François, as he prefers to be called has proved himself very capable as he has opened the school on time and managed the inevitable last minute glitches with every ounce of professionalism. We are very pleased to have François at the helm, and we look forward to working with him as we go forward.

François, como él mismo prefiere que le llamemos, ha demostrado hasta el momento su gran capacidad, lo preparó todo muy bién, de forma que la escuela pudo abrir a tiempo a pesar de los cambios habidos y manejó con gran profesionalidad los imprevistos de última hora. Estamos muy contentos de tener a François al timón, y esperamos contar con él a medida que vamos avanzando.



Fresh, Clean Water.

Of particular exciting note was the successful find of an underground water lens that promises sustainable and clean potable water in the village. The village itself must now provide a form of pump to bring the water to the surface.

Agua Limpia y Potable

Un hecho de singular importancia fue el hallazgo de agua subterránea que promete el suministro de agua potable al pueblo. Ahora sólo falta que los mismos habitantes del pueblo consigan proveerse de algún tipo de bomba que suba el agua a la superficie.

The Next Twelve Months

We anticipate that the twelve months from September 2007, will principally be a period of consolidation, with the exception that the Project has received a very generous gift from a British school for Girls. This gift comes at a most timely moment, and its impact will change Malima completely from one that has offered its students education on a part-time basis, due to a lack of space, to full-time education for all.

Los Próximos Doce Meses

De momento nos parece que los doce meses siguientes a septiembre del 2007 serán principalmente un periodo de consolidación, con la circunstancia excepcional de que el Proyecto ha recibido una donación muy generosa de una Escuela Británica de Niñas. Esta donación llega en un momento muy oportuno, y el resultado transformará una escuela que ha ofrecido a sus alumnos educación a tiempo parcial, por falta de aulas, en otra que ofrecerá educación a tiempo completo para todos.


The funds will be used to build the final classroom block with two more classes, and a multi-purpose smaller room separating the two.

Los fondos se utilizarán en construir el bloque final, con dos aulas más y una habitación un poco más pequeña entre las dos para uso multidisciplinar.


Summary:

The year has been one of mixed emotions. Through it all we pay tribute to our teaching staff who have shown unfailing dedication. They have honoured the “No child left behind” pledge by liberally giving of their time and skills. It is also encouraging to note that no child wants to be left behind.

The school has grown in every way, quite literally bursting at its seams. Malima is the model in The Extreme North of how education should be done. In the new school year we shall all seek to reach for new heights.


“The Best is Yet to Come!”


Resumen

Ha sido un año de emociones contrapuestas. En todo momento hacemos constar la admiración por nuestro equipo docente, que ha demostrado total dedicación. Han honrado el lema ‘Ningún niño se queda atrás’ con una entrega incondicional de su tiempo y su capacidad. También resulta estimulante constatar que ningún niño quiere quedarse atrás.

La escuela ha crecido en todos los sentidos, literalmente reventando las costuras. En el Extremo Norte del Camerún, Malima es el modelo a seguir en educación. En el próximo curso escolar trataremos de alcanzar nuevas metas.

“Lo mejor está todavía por llegar”

GREAT GLORY! GOOD NEWS IN THE MORNING!

The Malima Project has received the best news of all. The fabulous touring SKA Band, "The Toasters" (http://www.toasters.org/), the most enduring of them all, 25 years on and still counting, has recognized the outstanding achievements of The Malima Project (TMP) be adopting TMP as their Official Charity.

This, we take as the greatest endorsement, and we are so encouraged by this development.

If we seem to be singing our own praises and blowing our own horn, this is not exactly correct, because the praise goes to those people who actually do the work. What those of us in the executive have got right are several things:

• Our basic funding comes from children outside Cameroon who learn from the children in Cameroon what it is like not to have the things that we take for granted.






• Our children therefore learn at an early age to care for others not as fortunate as themselves, something many adults never learn.






• From the very beginning, we insisted that the villagers of Gouria would have to be fully involved in whatever the Project was engaged in, because they had to help themselves. Those of us on the outside only provide the finance, the guidance, oversight and control. They have to provide the man/woman power. This they do superbly well, and in the process a great deal of outstanding progress has been made.






• Finally, the money that you donate is sent to Cameroon in full, except of course for banking/transfer charges. Administration expenses that arise here in Spain are funded through personal and corporate philantrophy. However, The Malima Project does not have any employees, it is a Not-for-Profit charity.

So, we especially welcome the generosity of "The Toasters", and we are very proud to be partners in our charitable endeavours. The beautiful music of "The Toasters" just became sweeter still.

Thanks Guys!

WELCOME!

MALIMA PRIMARY SCHOOL




SOP SIGHEN FRANÇOIS DELAFETE

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION







We take great pleasure in introducing our new Director of Education at Malima Primary School.

He is Mr. Sop Sighen François Delafete. He is a native son of Cameroon, coming from the same village of Bamenda, in the South West of the country as Felix, his predecessor. François, as he prefers to be known by, is a travelled man, having spent time in South Africa, Cyprus, and Greece. His speciality is Economics, and also of very exciting note is the fact that he is a keen footballer in a nation that has every reason to take great pride in its football achievements.



We have begun our working cooperation with François the way we want to go forward. We have much work to do to build on a very solid foundation. We wish François well in his endeavours and we look to the future with hope as we journey to the next level.



François, we welcome you to the team and we pledge our support.

Changing of the Guard

Felix, standing fourth from left.









As we say goodbye to our former director, I am taking the unusual step of posting our reference for all to see as we owe so much to Felix for having brought the work in the village to its present level, and for having provided for his succesor such a solid foundation to go on to the next level.



EL PROYECTO MALIMA
THE MALIMA PROJECT

CIF: G97910012
C/- General Pastor, 36
46183 L’Eliana
Aptdo 168
46183, L’Eliana
(Valencia)

July 1, 2007

To Whom it may Concern

This is to introduce Mr. Felix Ngambou Ngadeu, (Felix), a teacher and native of Cameroon, West Africa.

After several years of teaching in the Cameroonian educational system, in the year 2000 Felix was appointed Head teacher at the non/profit Malima Primary School, a charitable private school authorized by The Department of Education for the Extreme North of Cameroon. Malima Primary School serves the children of the village of Gouria, as well as their parents through adult education courses.

The remit that Felix accepted was to create something from nothing. We had hoped, with the modest financial backing at our disposal that he would build the very finest elementary school in the Extreme North of Cameroon. That he has achieved just that in only seven short years stands as testimony to the caliber of person that he is.

The Malima Project has the backing of The Malima Support Group of Valencia, Spain. It is this group that is responsible for funding and general guidance of the project. We have worked closely with Felix over the years, and together we have accomplished many things for the village of Gouria that extend well beyond the boundries of providing education. With the involvement of Felix,
· the school had to be built, one classroom at a time.
· Our students had to obtain birth certificates, as the custom in that village had been not to bother with such formality.
· The students had to be immunized against the usual childhood diseases.
· When funds became available Felix arranged with the electrical supply company to connect the village to a power supply for the very first time in its history.
· The first use of electricity was to install a milling machine as a major labour-saving device.
· Funds were provided through The Malima Support Group to rehabilitate old public school buildings so as to turn them into facilities for the government to resume its responsibility of educating its young people. Felix took the lead and provided his deputy head teacher to the government.
· In April, 2007, funds became available to try to solve the age-old problem of sufficient, potable water for the village. On April 18th, a successful borehole brought in a sustainable flow of clean, potable, and abundant supply of water for year-round use.
· Finally, his crowning achievement as Principal was to preside over the three successive year’s graduating classes wherein 100% of those graduating passed their final exams, as well as their entrance exams into secondary education. This has to be seen against a backdrop of 20-30% results from other learning institutions in the area.

Felix leaves Malima Primary School and the village of Gouria with a sterling record of achievements. He has set very high standards to be followed.

Having enjoyed such high caliber of cooperation from Felix, and having achieved so much in our collaboration, we are naturally unhappy to be losing him, but we do understand that it is to be expected that he would want to move on to other challenges.

We take this opportunity to publicly and sincerely thank Felix, and to wish him well in his future endeavours. This is surely an unusual letter of recommendation, and a bit longer than most, but Felix Ngambou Ngadeu is a most unusual person.


The Malima Support Group

All Change

The Malima Project must surely be one of the most successful efforts of its kind. I have no hesitation is saying that as so much has been accomplished over the shortest period of time. In less than ten years, (eight years to be exact), a very small charity effort has seen huge returns. The driving force has always been one young woman, Judith Burnett, but she, together with Judy Allen, another teacher at Cambridge House Community College, went about the business of keeping the faith that what had been started in Gouria, northern Cameroon would grow into something of value.

So, from very humble beginnings to the present has been the most wonderful of journeys, and could only have happened because it was destiny's choice. First there came the tiny steps, and later the pace picked up and greater strides were made.

An established Spanish NGO recognized the very sincere efforts that were being undertaken and offered to help with some of the administration. In 2003, the Consejo Interhospitalario de Cooperacion (CIC) offered to take the work of The Malima Project under its wing, and to act as receiving cashier and trustees, even though they were really engaged in the work of providing hospitals and clinics to third world countries.

For four years this arrangement worked well, during which time The Malima Project realized superb success. However, mid 2007 it came time for the CIC to turn its full attention to its core business and for The Malima Project to stand alone. By that time The Malima Project had become fully experienced and more than capable of conducting its own affairs, and so, effective June 11th, 2007 it was registered as a charity in its own right under the name of "El Proyecto Malima/The Malima Project".

We thank the CIC for their help and wish them well!

For "El Proyecto Malima/The Malima Project", it's Onward, Upward, and Forward! The best is yet to come!

Breaking News!

The results are in for the final school exams at Malima for the 2006-2007 year, and for the Secondary entrance exams for entrance in September. Once again, Congratulations are in order as Malima has done it again! Three graduating classes in succession and three 100% results. In some places we say that the second success is a repeat, and the third success is a three-peat.

These results are achieved by hard work on the part of the teachers and the Principal; determination on the part of the children, and the Sheer Will on the part of all that "No child shall be left Behind:" In some places that is the motto of the Department of Education. At Malima, we live it!

The good news just keeps getting better.

The Story Behind the Story/ The Awesome Power of Children

I was reflecting that as wonderful as the story of the finding of a source of sustainable, clean, potable water for the residents of the village of Gouria is, there is an even more outstanding story, and that is, the source of the money that allowed us to make the effort in the first place.

For that we must go back to the very beginning. As part of the vision of Judith Burnett, whose initiative The Malima Project is, she drew up a whole Wish List of things that she would have liked to see accomplished, and in going over that list we realised that all significant points have been achieved.

That is so neat!

On her list there was a first class elementary school; (Done!) A library; connection to electricity; a Mill for grain; a health clinic; a permanent source of clean water, (Done! Done! Done! Done! and Done!) Women´s Centre/Cultural Centre, in progress.

The other objective that we started with was the idea to teach children from both Spain and Cameroon at the same time. By appealing to the parents of Cambridge House Community College to persuade their children on the idea of making a small sacrifice by giving up a part of their monthly allowance to pay the school fees for a child in Cameroon, both sets of children received an education at the same time.

The children in Africa received a solid grounding in elementary education while at the same time acquiring a friend overseas who could help them to understand what life was like in another country outside Africa. This broadened their horizons and gave them something to aim for.

For the child in Spain they learned what life was like from someone they were actively helping to receive a good education. It also focussed their minds on how people so much less fortunate than themselves lived. They therefore had something for comparative purposes to realize how good their lives are. They also learned at a very early age to care for others who need help.

The story of the collection of the money was that all of the funds used for the purpose of exploring for water came from very young children. They turned their School Open House days into fundraising. When they drank the contents of a bottle of water they kept the bottle and then refilled it with small change. They participated in other school related fundraising events until we barely had enough money to make an initial try.

So, that´s where the money came from!

How does one adequately thank all the parents and teachers and especially the children for making this possible? The truth is that no-one has yet composed a poem beautiful enough to express gratitude of that magnitude. In fact I am sure that there are no words large enough to cover the situation.

Perhaps it´s quite enough for each and everyone who made their contribution, large and small to take on to themselves the fact that because of their intervention they have given the gift of life, for water is life, to even those not yet born.

Be Proud! Be very, very Proud, for you have had the privilege of doing something very rare. You have made a life-changing difference.

Congratulations to the children and their parents, administration and teachers of Cambridge House Community College of Valencia; Newton College of Elche; and Rivas-Luna of L´Eliana, Valencia.

Solved! A 2007 year-old Problem

Wednesday, April 18th, 2007. That's the date to remember as the day when everything changed in the village of Gouria, in the Extreme North, Cameroon, West Africa. That's the day when engineers probing for water found a mother-lode underground water lens in the village, and that's the date when life expectancy took a quantum leap forward.

Water is the stuff of life, and for a village that ran completely dry for many months of the year, a source of clean, potable, and sustainable water supply within the village is a major development, and the latest chapter in a period of only seven years.

During that time education came to the village in the form of the very best private school in the entire extreme north. Malima Primary School is realizing outstanding results. Then came health care in an accessible clinic; and the next major event was the connection of the village with electricity; and now, the jewel in the crown, Water, water, water.

To say that those of us who make up the G8, otherwise known as The Malima Support Group are happy is to grossly understate the case. We believe it to be a sign that this was ordained to happen by the speed with which it took place. On Monday, April 16th the first try took place but resulted in an unsuccessful attempt. On Wednesday, 18th, a second attempt was made and tapped into the very thing that was almost too good to hope for.

The knock-on effect of this development is so awesome that it is hard to envision all at once. We can expect better health, better year-round nutrition through a more balanced diet; more plentiful food supply through the ability to grow more varied crops; and yes, ultimately, a longer life expectancy.

For children not yet born they will inherit an environment within which will exist the framework for a quality of life that simply did not exist before.

So well done to the China Geo-engineering Corporation in Cameroon; and well done to all of you who kept the faith. Well done to Felix and to all of us, and especially to Judith Burnett, Congratulations! Your dreams have come true. How special is that?

The taste of success is so very sweet.

What a difference one person can make!

I was just thinking about how things get started, and what does it take to make a difference. The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that it almost always takes one person with a vision to start change. The Wright brothers are generally credited with having taken the lead towards modern aviation, but I'll bet that only one of them awoke to explain his dream to the other.

And so it was in the case of The Malima Project and the great success that has been achieved. It took one person with a dream of one day establishing her own school in a place in which it was truly needed.

A young woman by the name of Judith Burnett, from Bristol, England had that dream, and found herself in the right place at the right time to receive a request from a resident of the village of Gouria, in the Extreme North of Cameroon, West Africa, asking, " can you help to bring education to our village that has been ignored for so long?"

In 1999 Judith's project began very modestly with a one-room school house on the prairie. When the first classes were held there were far more children outside the building then inside. I have been taking stock of what has been achieved since then. It makes formidable reading.

Judith is now joined by seven other friends, and we call ourselves The Malima Support Group. (MSG).

That one-room building has now been joined by three other double rooms, and will soon be joined by another. The school now has slightly more than 200 regular attendees in elementary education, and a Kindergarten of more than 100 students waiting to enter the mainstream education at the correct age. We hold adult education courses for the parents who never had the opportunity to have an education.

We soon realised that none of our children actually existed from a legal sense as none had birth certificates. That has now be remedied, and parents now routinely register their newborns.

None of our children had been vaccinated, so, a program had to be developed of childhood vaccinations.

As the children gained the ability to read the need for a library arose, and so the village now has one.

Electricity main lines went right overhead the village, but no-one was connected. MSG brought electricity to the village, starting first with the school. That was an earth shattering development as with one giant leap the village is brought into the 21st century. Nothing will ever be the same.

The daily routine of a housewife centers mainly around the need to obtain sufficient water, firewood, and to grind enough grain, a long and exhausting labour intensive task. So, the MSG, through the generous donation of a walking angel arranged to install a Mill, taking advantage of the newly arrived electricity. The hours that will be saved with this device is mind blowing.

Two more walking angels and a Nissan 4X4 was made possible as a gift to the school and the village. Now they have an ambulance, and a general workhorse that can be even more valuable than they are in modern society.

Throughout Africa, there is a problem known as "A failure to thrive Syndrome". This is due partly to a lack of resources and a lack of knowledge about basic nutritional values. We arranged for a class to be conducted in the village for 15 prime candidates who will share their knowledge with other villages in the area. That was an unqualified success.

The proof of the pudding is in the graduation figures. Normally, for the Extreme North graduation numbers are between the 20 to 30% range. We have had two classes graduate from Malima Primary School. For both years the figure was 100% of the children passed their final exams with Malima, and more telling, 100% passed their entrance exams for secondary education.

That's not magic, but it is very close to it!

The women of the village have long been under appreciated. Now they are to have their own center where they can learn new skills and share some serious quality time with one another.

What's next? Water. The eternal problem, or so it seems. If the engineers now probing for an underground lens meet with success, the knock-on effect will be absolutely Huge!

Wish us luck!

Water on our Minds

Water, the very stuff of life is the biggest concern for the people of Gouria. During the rainy season when the rains actually come, it is a time of plenty. The crops grow in abundance and the grasses grow tall, and all's right and green with the world.

Should the rains fail to come, a very bad situation becomes worse leading to such misery that is beyond the imagination of the outside world to comprehend. Even under "normal" circumstances the situation reaches an appalling state. This year, The Malima Support Group in Valencia, Spain, with the help of many people who have donated funds, have authorised and paid for two initiatives: (a) We will experiement by using guttering on the rooftops of the school buildings at Malima to collect the water during the rains; and huge industrial plastic containers is where the water will be stored.

(b) During the week of April 2nd, 2007, a firm of engineers are seeking out an underground lens from which water can be brought to the surface via a borehole. It is so very important that the drill is successful, but there can be no guarantees, so we shall just have to cross our fingers that we shall be successful. If so, a problem that has existed for over 2007 years will be solved.

Further, a new method to Africa will be tried in Gouria, that being the science of Perma Culture, whereby collected water will be used for irrigation through perforated tubing producing a slow drip to crops. This will extend the growing season with the knock-on effect of improved year-round health prospects for villagers.

Added to the recent introduction of electricity to the village, Gouria will have taken a giant leap forward into the 21st century. Can you imagine how thrilling that is for a people so long ignored?


Eugene

Malima Primary School. Update, March 10th, 2007

The Malima Support Group have just completed the transfer of funds to Cameroon for the purpose of exploring for a sustainable source of potable water in underground lenses. Should this initiative be successful this would be the solution to a problem that has existed since time began in this region.

The village of Gouria goes from a situation of plenty of water in the rainy season, to drought conditions when the most dreadful circumstances prevail. Hopefully, a borehole will find those underground water reservoirs that surely do exist. That would change the quality of life year-round beyond the wildest imagination of the residents.

In order to get a good idea of what residents have to deal with during the dry season, the next time that you wash your floor and are at the point of discarding the water, remember, that is what they have to drink and bathe with. We can only cross our fingers and hope that is all about to change.

And speaking about change, I just received an e-mail from Felix, (Malima’s Director) wherein he tells me that he is taking a course in computer literacy. He has sent me the accounts in XCEL format. Seven years ago when the school began, communications between Spain and Cameroon was painfully slow and laborious. No-one there had even heard of the internet. Indeed, communication between the north and the south of the country was virtually non-existent. Now we are using computers at Malima.

Mobile telephones were just being introduced seven years ago, but only in the capital city of Yaounde. Now, the country is covered, and even in the remote area of Gouria, Felix can go to the top of the Malima crest and find a directional signal and call Spain.

Meanwhile, the internet is coming more into its own. Village people are so excited by this that they will make the day trip into Maroua, or perhaps into Mokolo, which is closer to send and receive and to surf.

Our village was under-served in just about every way when we were introduced to it by Bene Tize, co-founder of the school. Within the intervening period the village has come to acquire the finest school in the Extreme North; a public library, its own shops, electricity, another mill, and a donated 4X4 that will serve several vital functions. The children of the school all have birth certificates that prove that they actually exists, and are vaccinated.

And now, for the most difficult challenge of all: to find a sustainable source of clean and potable water. That would be a dream come true. For that we need everybody to cross everything that can be crossed and to wish with all your might.

Stay tuned!

Eugene

Houston: Za Eagle has Landed!

Destination:

Malima Primary School

Village of Gouria

Mandara Mountains

Extreme North, Cameroon

West Africa

Arrival at the school was on Friday, February 23rd. The peace

and tranquility of the scene in the photo was broken by our Three Musketeers roaring into the yard and doing laps around the flagpole in a great cloud of dust and a blaring of the horn. This brought forth from the classrooms 200 very excited children all crying in unison, David! David! David! It's enough to bring tears (of joy) to a grown man. He said I shall return, and he did with a magnificent cadaeu and two more adventurers.

All this is happening in a village that was utterly forgotten seven short years ago. They were at the back of beyond where nothing ever happened, and now, they have electricity, a school, but not just any school, the very best school in the extreme North that is the envy of many, a 4x4 vehicle that is the property of the school, and now, for the first time in 2007 years, they may have a source of clean, potable, and sustainable water if all goes well and the borehole that is near to being drilled brings forth water.

It is possible that the people of Gouria are wondering just what happened all of a sudden. Perhaps its true, good things can come to those who wait.

Dave, Matt and John will all wish to tell their story in their own words when they get back, but for now all of you who are well wishers can rest easy. The lads are safe, sound, and accomplished. Isn't it just great to know not just one, but Three Super-Heroes! Well Done Guys!!!

February Newsletter

Malima News

January 2007

In November Malima received 2 more visitors from among our supporters. David, since his first visit last year that he described to us in one of our earlier newsletters, returned to the village. In doing so he not only fulfilled the promise he made when he was there before but also worked on some important developments. Maria Teresa Pomares Salceda accompanied him. She is the former owner and director of Newton College in Elche, one of our longest standing and most committed supporting schools. For Maria Teresa this was a visit she had been wanting to make ever since Newton College first began to help Malima. She describes the visit as one of the most moving experiences of her life and she herself will tell us more about her personal experience at a later date.
This visit was a very successful one from all points of view. David and Maria Teresa were able to witness the installation the of the electric mill, a follow-up project to the bringing of electricity to the village, aimed at making the lives of the village women easier, providing employment for several people and giving Malima its first self financing.
They were also able to meet the Chinese company who dig boreholes in the area and discuss the possibility of digging in Gouria. This will be invaluable to the village. Following these discussions we hope we will be able to engage the company for this job on their return from the South of Cameroon where they have been based during December and January.

Maria Teresa was particularly impressed by the need of the women for support to train them in professions that could give them some income. She has therefore agreed to finance the building and equipping of a women’s centre in Gouria.

Meanwhile David is at this very moment involved in the delivery of a donated vehicle for the use of the Malima Project and the village. He left with two drivers on February 9th and driving to Gouria across the desert. The trip will take around 15 days and he is hoping to arrive on 25th February. We all wish him the best of luck on this trip and looking forward to seeing him safely back home at the beginning of March.

A final very important note: we have been asked by the NGO,CIC, who act as trustees for the Malima funds, to ask all our sponsors not to use the word ‘padrino’ on the bank slips and transfers, substituting the word ‘sponsor’. This is a requirement from the Spanish NGO co-ordinators to distance their member organisations from scandals that have arisen in the past. We hope this will not inconvenience any of you and that you will be able to change anything necessary, (standing orders, for example) without too much trouble. We thank you all again for your support the Malima Project.

Judith (Malima Support Group.)
Malima News

Enero 2007

En Noviembre Malima recibió otra vez la visita de 2 de nuestros sponsors. David, después de su visita anterior la cual nos describió en uno de nuestros boletines anteriores, volvió al pueblo. Con esta visita no solo cumplía con la promesa que hizo en su primera visita pero también trabajó en algunas asuntos muy importantes. Fue acomp0añado por Maria Terea Pomares ex –propietaria y directora de Newton College, Elche uno de nuetros primeros sponsores. Para Maria Teresa esta fue una visita que tenia pendiente desde el primer momento que su colegio ayudó a Malima. Ella describe la experiencia como una de la más significativas de su vida. Ella misma nos la contara en un futuro boletín

La visita fue exitosa desde todos punto de vista. David Y Maria Teresa pudieron ver la instalación del molino eléctrico , un proyecto que seguía la electrificación del pueblo con la idea de hacer mas fácil la vida de la mujeres del pueblo, dar empleo a alguna personas y dar a Malima su primer pequeño proyecto de auto financiación.
Pudieron también hablar con la compañía china que hacen perforaciones en la zona para ver la posibilidad de que hacen una en el pueblo. Esto sera de gran valor para el pueblo . seguido estas discusiones esperamos poder contratar a esta compañía cuando vuelven del sur de Camerún donde han estado basados durante diciembre y enero.

Maria Teresa fue especialmente impresionada por la situación de las mujeres y la necesidad de darlas apoyo en cuanto a formación en profesiones que las pueden dar algunos ingresos. Ella ha decidido financiar la construcción y equipamiento de un centro para las mujeres en Gouria.

Mientras tanto David esta en este momento involucrado en la entrega de un vehículo donado para el uso del proyecto Malima y el pueblo. Saldrá con dos conductores el día 9 febrero y cruzara el desierto hasta llegar a Gouria. Esta previsto que el viaje costara 15 días y espera llegar el día 25 de febrero. Le deseamos mucha suerte para el viaje y esperamos su regreso al principios de marzo.

Finalmente y muy importante la ONG, CIC de la cual formamos parte nos ha pedido de describir nuestros ‘supporters’ como ‘sponsors’.y dejar de utilizar la palabra ‘padrino y apadrinamiento. Esto sigue la instrucción de la coordinadora de ONGs c el objetivo de distanciarse de problemas que han surgido en el pasado. Esperamos que esto no os causara molestias y que podréis cambiar transferencias sin problemas.
Os damos de nuevo la gracias por vuestro apoyo al proyecto de Malima.

Judith (Malima Support Group.)

Almost There!

Thursday, February, 22nd, 2007



The joyful news today is that they have put all of the worst part of the journey behind them, but not a moment too soon. Fatigue is now taking over and leading to mistakes that would otherwise be avoided. This is driving of the worst kind over non-existant roads against a deadline.

The car seems to have picked up a dent along one side as a souvenir of the crossing, but this is one mighty car to have survived when so many others didn't.
They are now in the city of Maroua, in Cameroon. This is a city of about 2 million people and the principal city in the north. It is also where the banking and administration for the school is done. As luck would have it, Felix, the school's director was in town when our three musketeers arrived, so a warm meeting and greeting was had.

I imagine as I write this that they have now arrived in the village to a rapturous welcome, but I am getting ahead of myself. Perhaps we should await David's next post. Stay tuned!

The Pilgram's Progress

It seems an incredible thing to me that while crossing The Sahara Desert that Dave is able to find internet cafe's in the back of beyond to send reports of their progress. It is his intention to serialize in-depth their adventures along the way, so I don't intend to steal any of that thunder, but I would like to let readers know that at least they are safe and sound, and at what point they are in their journey.

The estimate for the entire 5,000 kilometre journey, door-to-door was sixteen days, but hopefully that could be shortened to fourteen as Matt has to get back to Luton. I am counting as Day One the tenth of February, and on that basis, today being the 21st of February, that leaves a hoped for arrival date of between the 23rd to the 25th. Most probably the 25th will be it.

To plot where they were when they sent the last report, find Niger on the map and look for the town of Agadez, which is called the Southern Gateway to the Sahara. That seems to suggest that the worst is behind them and the car has performed well.

The most valuable investment that they made has been put to plenty of use, that being the shovel as the car has had to be dug out of the sand several times. However, when all that there is is sand, getting stuck is no surprise.

Although I felt more than a twinge of envy at the start, I have had to conclude that I would not have enjoyed this journey one bit. I put that down to the fact that I usually avoid going to the beach because of the sand that gets absolutely everywhere. Can you just hear me whine about being in the middle of the desert? Of course, when it was all over I would dine out on those stories forever.

Driving the Sahara, or Back to Africa

Thanks to David Brock for the pic.

The name Dave Wilkins has by now become a household name to readers of these pages as we have followed his exploits throughout Asia, in his Asia Odyessy, and presently we are hearing of his adventures as he entered “Into Africa.” On that occasion he travelled with an American adventurer by the name of Paul as they made the drive overland. Paul was on his way to South Africa and David was hitching a ride as far as Cameroon.

The travels of Dave, who calls himself “Wanderin Wilco”, are amazing in themselves, but are made all the more awe- inspiring by the fact that several years ago David was struck by a horrific stroke that left his entire left side paralysed, including his left-side vision. Everyone else who I know that has had the misfortune to suffer this fate is sitting back and taking life easy. Let’s face it, this is a major league setback that requires one to re-learn a whole set of skills. The main one is in one’s own head, and that is all about coping and wanting to go on. Most such people don’t even bother to go to the supermarket anymore, as that is simply too much of an effort.

Dave Wilkins is not everybody else. He is one of a kind, and the only reason I dare labour this point is because of the example that it gives. I hope his stories will be shared with people who are coping with like debilitating circumstances because it just might be that they are capable of far more than they are aware. Perhaps they thought there was no point in even trying. Of course Dave is aware of what are supposed to be his limitations, and he is not actually trying to be a superman, but you know what; he is a Superman. In fact, he is a Super-Superman because Dave has gone Back into Africa, and this time he is on a mission.

Dave is member 007 of The Malima Support Group of Spain that gives guidance and raises funds for The Malima Project. The Group have adopted the village of Gouria, in the Extreme North of Cameroon, located in the Mandara Mountains along the border with Nigeria. A teacher at Cambridge House Community College, in Valencia, Judith Burnett did some volunteer work with the U.K. agency VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas), and while there she was asked to help to bring education to the forgotten village of Gouria.

From humble beginnings the Malima Primary School that she founded, now has slightly over 200 regular students, plus a full class of kindergarten children ready to enter into the main stream. As well, adult classes are also offered the parents. David visited the project as one of the supporting parents of Newton College, Elche, to see for himself what was being done with contributed funds. Now he is totally committed to the village.

As proof that angels walk among us everyday, a most generous couple, Bob and Jan from Ontinyent offered the school and the people of Gouria their surplus-to- requirements Nissan, Long-wheel base 4X4, as the village of Gouria is so rural and remote, and generally does not have any transport of its own. The Malima Support Group hereby gratefully acknowledges the thoughtfulness and kindness of Bob and Jan. Once there, the vehicle will instantly transform village life by being able to drive the necessary distance to collect water at a time when the village normally has none, and to also act as their own ambulance, something they have never had before.

On the ninth of February, which is David’s birthday, and as he pointed out, the same date that Stanley set off to look for Dr. Livingstone, Dave, together with father and son driving team of John and Matthew Walpole left the docks at Alicante for the ferry crossing to Algiers on a 5,000 kilometre drive across the Sahara Desert to personally deliver the car. Their route is due South passing El Golea, In Salah, Tamanrasset, Arlit in Niger, and on into the Northern Plateu of Nigeria and a left turn takes them into the North of Cameroon and finally to the village of Gouria.

Crossing the desert there are paved roads for most of the way, provided the shifting sands have not completely covered them, but it is not exactly the same thing as a drive along the Autopista del Mediterraneo. This is adventure in the making with many unknowns to be faced along the way. Already David has been reporting back on their progress, and as one might imagine he tells tales of constant danger, life under the stars far away from life as we know it, and always the sand is ever present. Whenever a cold snap crosses our path dumping lots of snow, that makes news involving driving in the snow and snow removal. But at least that is temporary. The sand in the desert is permanent. As I write this the news is “so far, so good.”

That they will have some pretty good stories to tell when they return is without doubt. I urge readers to watch the pages of this newspaper. We can almost be sure that there will be at least one hotel along the way that calls itself “The Mirage”. Hopefully it will be real.

To learn more about The Malima Project please visit www.Malima-Project.org.

Colegio Primaria Malima (Malima Annual report in Spanish)

Malima Primary School
Gouria
Camerún, África del oeste.
Informe Anual

Para el año Setiembre1, 2005 a ·1 Agosto 31 2006-11-30
“100 % es un numero muy bueno”

Señores y Señoras, es con gran orgullo que podemos informaros que el director, profesores, y especialmente la clase de CM2 de 2006 han hecho otra vez el esfuerzo supremo para lograr el 100% de éxito en los exámenes de entrada en secundaria.
Otra vez! Felicitaciones a cada uno de nuestros docentes que han dado y siguen dando 110% de su esfuerzo a nuestros alumnos. Ellos se preocupan mucho para los niños, y en su turno los alumnos absorben lo programas de estudios como esponjitas. Esta claro que el Principal y los profesores que tal dedicación es justificada cuando los resultados son tan excelentes.


La clase de 2005, nuestra primera clase a graduar también aprobaron al 100%. Algunos de preguntaron si eso fue un resultado aislado. La clase de 2006 ha confirmado que los resultados del año pasado no fueron casualidad y esto será siempre nuestro objetivo.

En otros eventos en el pueblo durante el año nuestro sueño de siempre de traer electricidad al pueblo ha sido realizado. La escuela fue el primer edificio a ser conectado, y con el tiempo todo el pueblo llegara a la edad moderna de la electricidad.

Hemos informado en otros momento este paso significativo hacia delante, pero una vez mas damos las gracia a todos los que lo han hecho posible.

El beneficio inmediato de la electricidad será el establecimiento de un molino eléctrico. En este momento moler el grano es una tarea muchas veces manual que cuesta mucho tiempo. Lo fondos fueron puesto a nuestra disposición y el molino ya esta en su sitio. Gracia a nuestro generoso donante por haber hecho posible esto.

Uno de nuestros proyecto mas ambiciosos ha sido la realización de una fuente de agua limpia y sostenible. No estamos bajo ilusiones, esto será difícil pero estamos convencidos de que hay agua subterránea en el pueblo.-

La escuela ha estado beneficiándose del trabajo de una voluntaria de VSO (Voluntary service Overseas.) en la persona de la dinámica Suzy King. Periódicamente Suzy nos envía un informe para la gente que nos apoya y estamos agradecidos por esta información de primera mano.

Este año ella ha sido apoyado por otro voluntario Sr, Alex free, un coordinador de deportes. Ha ido una de los prioridades del director y los padres de desarrollar un buen programa de deportes . Entonces damos la bienvenida al Sr. Free y le deseamos bien.

Del punto de vista financiera muchos gobiernos deberían prestar atención al excelente responsabilidad fiscal del director y de sus profesores. Como recuerdo del sistema vigente: para evitar una situación donde el recibido del dinero también es el pagador los fondo de lo sponsores están ingresados en la cuenta de nuestros guardianes el Conejo Interhospitalario de Cooperación, y estos fondos son librados basado en un presupuesto y datos de pago predeterminados. Una vez que lo fondos han sido utilizados en Camerún un informe con recibo son enviados al grupo de apoyo. Una vez mas el año ha acabado dentro del presupuesto. Recomendamos el director por su gerencia fiduciaria ejemplar.

La mortalidad infantil es un gran problema para la infancia africana. El segundo gran desafío para los que sobreviven es el síndrome de falta de desarrollo. Esto viene dela pobreza, falta de recursos en algunos casos pero generalmente por falta de conocimiento. Como parte de un programa de educación de adultos Malima quiere financiar un programa piloto incluyendo al menos 10 mujeres y 5 hombres del pueblo enseñándolos valores nutricionales utilizando recursos locales. La esperanza es que ellos divulgaran sus conocimiento y creciente experiencia en su región.

Dos otros acontecimientos tendrán un importante efecto en el Proyecto de Malima. El primero es que uno de los padres sponsores de un alumno hizo una visita a Malima para ver personalmente el progreso del trabajo .Es Sr. David Wilkins, ahora miembro del Grupo de Apoyo de Malima, (007) y un viajero del mundo.
Segundo, la ex-directora, propietaria de Newton College, un apoyo del proyecto desde hace tiempo ha hecho una visita extendida a la escuela. Como educadora experta la escuela se beneficiara mucho de su ‘input’ en el área de la gerencia. Consequentemente esto sera un buen oportunidad para Malima para grandir aun más.

La luz de un buen futuro para Malima brilla con aun mas intensidad.

El Grupo de Apoyo de Malima.

Welcome to The Malima Blog, "Go Malima!"

This is Malima Primary School

Located in the village of Gouria,

in the Mandara Mountains of

The Extreme North, Cameroon

West Africa, home to the proud Kapsiki Peoples.

This blog is a companion to the official website, http://www.malima-project.org/, which is at present undergoing a revamp. We shall keep readers up to date with the current happenings at the school and in the village of Gouria through this blog while the revamp process takes place of the official website. It will also be an integral part of our ongoing communications network. You are encouraged to send in your comments and questions as we would be delighted to develop a dialog with you.

The Malima Project is one of the great success stories to come out of Africa in recent times. It started as the dream of one individual, and like all great works it always starts in the mind and concept of one person. Judith Burnett, a teacher at Cambridge House Community College, Rocafort, Valencia, Spain dreamed one day of creating her own school in a needy part of the world, so when the plea to bring education to the children of the forgotten village of Gouria fell on her ears, the message was right and the person was receptive.

Starting with a one room school house the school has grown to its present size accommodating over 200 students, with another 100 in the kindergarten awaiting to join in the main stream of education. Rarely is so much hunger for education demonstrated, and it is a joy to see the children take full advantage of the opportunity placed before them. These students do not take it for granted, and they seem to realise, perhaps even more than Western children that the way forward is through education.

From time to time we will broadcast an invitation to you to be a part of this success story in appeals for your financial help. You can be assured that your funds will be used in their entirety as advertised.

We thank you for your interest and your support.

The Malima Support Group

Annual Report

MALIMA PRIMARY SCHOOL
GOURIA
CAMEROON, WEST AFRICA


FOR THE YEAR SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 TO AUGUST 31, 2006

“ ONE HUNDRED PERCENT IS A VERY GOOD NUMBER INDEED!”

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is with great pride that we can report to you that the Principal, teachers, and in particular the graduating class of 2006 has made a supreme effort in attaining a one hundred percent pass rate. Again! Congratulations to every one of our teaching staff who gave, and continue to give the children 110 percent of their effort. They care deeply about the children, and in their turn the students absorb the curriculum as though they were little sponges. It is clear to the Principal and teachers that such dedication is justified when such outstanding results are achieved.

The class of 2005, our first graduating class also produced a 100% pass rate. Some people wondered whether that was an isolated result. The class of 2006 has confirmed that the results of last year were not just beginner’s luck, and that this will always be our goal.

In other developments during the year, the long-held dream of bringing electricity to the village of Gouria was finally realised. The school was the first to be connected, and in the fullness of time the entire village will be brought into the modern age of electrical power. We have previously reported on this significant step forward, but once again we thank all who were instrumental in achieving this start.

The immediate benefit of electricity will be the establishment of a mill to process the grains by machine. Presently, this is a time consuming manual job that take hours of hard labour. The funds have been made available, and we take this opportunity to thank our generous donor for making this possible.

One of the next major projects to receive our focus will be the realization of a source of clean and sustainable water. We are under no illusions, this will be a very difficult task, but we are convinced that the water is there in underground pools and rivers.

The school has been enjoying the benefit of a VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) individual in the person of the dynamic Ms. Suzy King. Periodically, Suzy does a report directly to our sponsors, and we are grateful for such first-hand information. We recognize her complete commitment and Malima has grown as a result of her input.

She has now been joined by another VSO volunteer in the person of Mr. Alex Free, a sports coordinator. It has been one of the top-of-the list wishes on the part of the principal and the Parent-Teachers Association to make certain that Malima has a strong sports programme. So, we welcome Mr. Free and wish him well.

From a financial management standpoint, many world governments should pay attention to the outstanding fiscal responsibility and capability evidenced by the director and his staff. Just as a reminder of the system in place: to avoid a situation where the receiving cashier is also the paying cashier, sponsors’ funds are paid into the account of our Trustees, Consejo Interhospitalario de Cooperacion, and these funds are released based upon a working budget and a pre-determined payment timetable. Once the funds have been spent in Cameroon, a report, with material receipts are sent back to The Support Group. Once again, the year ended within budget. We commend the Principal/Director for his exemplary fiduciary management.

Infant mortality is the greatest problem confronting the very young in Africa. The second greatest challenge for those who survive is “The Failure to Thrive Syndrome.” This arises due to the obstacles of poverty, lack of resources in some cases, but generally through lack of knowledge. As part of the adult education programme, Malima would like to sponsor a pilot programme taking at least ten of the most eligible women in the village to teach them about proper nutritional values using available resources. The hope is that they will spread their knowledge and growing experience throughout the region.

Two other developments are having, and will have a significant effect upon the Malima Project. The first is that one of the parents of a sponsoring child made a personal visit to the school to see for himself the work-in-progress. He is Mr. David Wilkins, now a member of the Malima Support Group, (007) and a world traveller in his own right.

Secondly, the previous owner/director of Newton College, a staunch supporter has made an extended visit to the school. As a senior educator the school will turn an important corner as a result of her management input. Consequently, this will be an opportunity for Malima to go from strength-to-strength.

The light of a bright future for Malima now glows with even greater intensity!

The Malima Support Group











THE MALIMA PROJECT

A NOT-FOR –PROFIT CHARITABLE VENTURE

In Spain, The Malima Support Group are the liaison between sponsors and the Malima Primary School Director/Principal and the Parent-Teachers Association, who are known as AMALGOU, “Association Malima de Gouria.”.

The primary concerns of the MSG are fundraising, communications, and acting as a Steering Committee to keep Malima along a growth track that will help it to maintain its place as the model school in the Extreme North of Cameroon.

The members of the MSG are as follows:

Judith Burnett, Founder, Educator
Joan Garfield, Educator and retired School Head

Maria Teresa Pomares Salceda, retired Educator, School Head and School owner
Lynne Hunt, Educator
Anna Reilly, Educator
Frank Reilly, Computer Specialist
David Wilkins, Lecturer, Writer, Adventurer
Eugene Carmichael, Accountant, Writer, Consultant

Contact information:

Aptdo 168

46183, L'Eliana

Valencia

Spain

e-mail; eugene.spain@gmail.com

Mail address:
Aptdo 168
46183 L’Eliana
(Valencia)
Spain

e-mail : lynne@malima-project.org