The Breeze...
A Newsletter of EXSSA USA
~Special Edition~
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OUR DREAMERS MADE IT:
ONE ACADEMIC YEAR DOWN!!!
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FROM the Desk of the National PR, Dr. Helen Ayuk Arrey.
They say it takes a village to raise a child, and to us Africans, it is not just a saying; it is our cherished value system. Grab a drink, relax, and let's savor the journey, even as we celebrate the members of our village!
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It started like wishful thinking, Ex Saker Students Association, USA, better known by its acronym, ExSSA USA was going to go beyond its comfort zone of sponsoring only current students in Saker Baptist College, their alma mater and prestigious all-girls Christian boarding school. They decided to award seven-year full scholarships to young, dynamic, intelligent girls internally displaced by the crisis/ war in Cameroon. | |  |
The plan was to care for these girls holistically and not just pay tuition. The idea seemed utopic, but under the leadership of the National President, Mrs. Esther Ayuk, EXSSA USA got to work. A Dreamers Committee was set, and Prof. Joyce Ashuntantang was selected as Chair. The rest, as they say, is history. Hard to believe, but we did it with flying colors. The Dreamers have just signed off on their first academic year. Read on! | |
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The plan for the Dreamers scholarship program started in 2019, but it was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The efforts resumed in the fall of 2020. After a rigorous application and vetting process, the students (From L-R pictured above), Njimah Favor Sih, Berinyuy Tessy, Pauline Makane Luma and Henrietta Takang, earned full scholarships for seven years-form 1 to Upper sixth worth about $10,000 for each recipient. This humanitarian project was made possible through a generous donation from an anonymous donor, and ExSSA USA matched the offering to increase the number of beneficiaries from 2 to 4.
Thus, on September 2, 2021, we changed the labels for these four young IDPs when they crossed the iconic Saker gates and assumed the empowering moniker, Sakerettes. In faith, they commenced on a life-changing journey. On Friday, June 3, 2022, they completed the first year of this journey.
What a remarkable milestone! The Dreamers Scholarship Program (DSP) Coordinator, Dr. J a.k.a Prof. Joyce Ashuntantang (Class of 1983), and the DSP Liaison in Cameroon, Mrs. Beryl-Ann Mbome Takor a.k.a Mbamba(Class of 2000) had so much to celebrate. They embarked on an uncharted territory to cater to these young girls holistically, collaborating across the Atlantic and managing different time zones daily.
THANK YOU TO THE DREAM TEAM, Dr. J and Mbamba, EXSSA USA SALUTES YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE!
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ππ½Our indefatigable Liaison, Beryl Ann Mbome Takor a.k.a Mbamba, with Dreamers, on a historic day- end of the academic year, June 3, 2022, ππ½
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The Liaison has been very busy! She spent dedicated hours sending texts and countless phone calls to update the Coordinator on what was happening on the ground. She also had to translate the Coordinator's ideas and suggestions into concrete actions. In addition, she was responsible for all financial transactions with Saker Baptist college, buying significant items on the prospectus, managing activities on visitor's day, and working closely with ExSSA Mothers and Parents/guardians. Our Liaison was, therefore, only too happy to go to the Saker Campus on June 3rd, "Closing Day," to celebrate this milestone with the Dreamers. | |
A SNIPPET OF THE FIRST YEAR IN PICTURES AND VIDEOS
The Charge to the Dreamers by the Coordinator on opening Day, September 2, 2021, ππ½
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The parents and dreamers were moved to tears as they listened. After listening, they all made a tearful but energetic video call to the Coordinator to pledge their commitment to do their best. And yes, they have done their best and provided feedback throughout the academic year.
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Listen to the Video Below: The Dreamers in their own words! Messages to the Coordinator, Dr. J, on January 29, 2022, Courtesy of Mrs. Syh Massango, Class of 1969, One of ExSSA USA's delegates to Founder's day celebrations in Saker Baptist Collegeππ½ππ½.
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ππ½THE DREAMERS SAY "THANK YOU!"ππ½ | |
CONSIDER DONATING TO THE DREAMERS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM | |
CURRENT NEEDS:
Donations to sponsor enrichment programs for Dreamers during the long holidays, June 3rd to the first week of September, 2022.
Contact: The Coordinator, Prof. Ashuntantang at [email protected]
FOR DONATIONS TOWARDS THE NEXT COHORT OF DREAMERS: CONTACT, Mrs. Esther Egbe Ayuk at:
[email protected]
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Let's Get Some More Steps Down Memory Lane:
Dreamers and Parents/Guardians enjoyed a three-day Orientation organized by ExSSA USA at the Trinity Hotel, Limbe August 31-September 2. The Orientation ended on September 2, 2021, with the charge (video above). A few pictures from the Orientation are below.ππ½
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Day 1 (above) Welcome Dinner for Dreamers, Parents, Guardians and ExSSA Mothers ( the Mr. Ghawhi Shomsi, Principal of Saker Baptist College and Aunty Maria Mukete, a student pioneer, joined them)
Day 2 (below): They took a tour of Limbe and visited the city's Botanical Gardens and other attractions. For some of the kids and parents, it was their first time to be in Limbe.
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EXSSA MOTHERS: AN INDISPENSABLE ARM of The DREAMERS Program | |
ExSSA Mothers are former students of Saker Baptist College living in Limbe who volunteered to serve as local mothers to the Dreamers. These ExSSA mothers have been active on day one. They crosschecked the prospectus for each of their Dreamer daughters and helped them pack their trunks. In addition, they visited their Dreamers on Visiting days and assisted the liaison in buying and coordinating supplies on Visitor's Day. Moreover, they were a vital link between the parents/guardians and the Dreamers while Dreamers were at school. And for ExSSA mother, Clara Kigham Ndang, her house has become a second home for Dreamer, Njimah Favor, and her family. | |
ππ½Dedicated ExSSA Mother to Njimah Favor, Clara Kigham Ndang, helping the liaison purchase items for a new semester. Clara often acted as the Assistant Liaison, always willing to deputize when the Liaison had to attend to other duties.
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ππ½ Favour is picked up by her ExSSA Mother, Clara Ndang. It is now a routine. She spends a day or two with her before she travels home to Bafoussam/Bamenda. In fact, she and her two siblings will spend a good chunk of the long holiday with Ma Clara, as they now call her.
On the right, Tessy enjoys a warm meeting with her ExSSA Mother, Doreen Enone Epie-Ngome, during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations
ππ½ππ½ ExSSA Mothers Rose Fonyam and Doreen with Dreamers Pauline, Favour, and Tessy; ExSSA Mother Manka'a Fombad and Dreamer Tessy! Random pics of Dreamersππ½ππ½
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EUPHORIA: The DREAMERS MEET SOME MEMBERS OF EXSSA USA- THEIR LIFE-CHANGING SPONSORS DURING THE TWIN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS ON THE CAMPUS of SAKER BAPTIST COLLECGE, February 17-20, 2022! | |
ππ½Yes, the Dreamers finally met the process-driven President of EXSSA USA, Mrs. Esther Egbe Ayuk (above), the passionate Coordinator of the Dreamers Program, Prof. Joyce Ashuntantang, and several dedicated members of EXSSA USA. Some members brought gifts for the Dreamers, and others deposited money in their School bank accounts. Overall, the meeting was heartwarming on all frontsππ½
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Thank you to all ExSSA Members who have gone above and beyond to support the Dreamers Program. We said we would help these students holistically and have done so in various ways. Some of you have volunteered contributions for items not covered by the program. e.g., providing household furniture to the family of one of our Dreamers. Some of you also volunteered your expertise to counsel our dreamers dealing with trauma from their experiences as IDPs.
The Dreamers' Team and the National Executive Council of ExSSA USA salute you!!
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THANK YOU TOO TO THE SPECIAL DONORS BELOW WHO READILY BOUGHT INTO OUR DREAMERS PROJECT AND SUPPORTED OUR MISSION DURING THIS FIRST YEAR!
EXSSA USA SALUTES YOU!
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ππ½A Message From the Coordinator of the Dreamers Scholarship Projectππ½ | |
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I want to thank our entire proverbial village acknowledged in this newsletter, including Sakerettes across generational lines in the United States and Cameroon. They were either part of the Dreamers Scholarship Committee or were part of the vetting process on the ground in Cameroon.
I am equally grateful to the leadership of ExSSA at our headquarters in Cameroon for all the support. In addition, I remain thankful to the Principal of Saker Baptist College, Mr. Shomsi, for the help in validating our process at each stage, from the application, orientation, and each phase during the school year. As an FYI, in due course, I will submit an official annual report on this program, and it will be available to our members, donors, and potential donors.
In Love, Unity, and Sisterhood.
Prof. Joyce Ashuntantang
Coordinator, ExSSA USA's Dreamers Scholarship Program.
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Our standard edition of The Breeze with a focus on our preparations for our Trifecta celebration is Loading. Yes, we are preparing to celebrate in style as only Sakerettes can! | |
STAY TUNED
...But For Now It's a WRAP!
IMPOSSIBLE N'EST PAS EXSSA
A Special edition of our newsletter, The Breeze brought to you by the ExSSA USA PR Team:
Ayuk Arrey (National PR)
Angeline Asobo
Nabila Sonia Thames
Bisona Sikod
Bertha Fonjong
Nyenti Makia
Ndolo Luma
Elizabeth Namme
Oyere Ndip
Philomena Nana Anyangwe
Namondo Ekume
Matuh Awunti
With contributions from the Dreamers Team!
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