Children of Bangem e. v. in Obernburg Germany have donated a five-room school complex to Government Practicing School, GPS Muakwe, Bangem Sub Division, Kupe Muanenguba Division.
The handing over ceremony took place on March 2, 2025 at the GPS Muakwe school campus officiated by the Senior Divisional Officer of Kupe Muanenguba, Mungambo Ekema William.
Addressing the mammoth crowd at the ceremony, Nokwe Prosper Etone a son of Muakwe on behalf of the donor organization, revealed that the idea of impacting learners in Muakwe started some time in 2000 when his German friends in Cameroon visited his family in the village.
He said his friends also visited the primary school and took pictures of the ‘sorry state’ of the campus. According to Nokwe, together with his friends, they raised 2500 euros and built a wooden structure for the school.
He added that as a football player of a veteran team, “Dynamo Almosensturm”, his teammates wanted to organize a chillout evening with their partners and Nokwe who is a hobby bar keeper will mix cocktails. A theme for the evening was needed, and this is when Nokwe told his friends that he has a school in his village Muakwe, which he supported. “This is when the idea drinking for Cameroon, “Cocktails for Cameroon” was born. Cocktails for Cameroon has become a yearly event. We raise funds and execute projects in Cameroon”. He disclosed.
Nokwe said since 2014, they have donated text and exercise books to learners yearly and they support 37 vulnerable children with FCFA 100.000 yearly.
He said in order to have them execute projects in Cameroon, they registered in 2017 a Non-Governmental Organization, Children of Bangem e. v.in Obernburg Germany, where they raised money to start the school structure with their implementing partner, Education Partnership Cameroon, EDUPAC.
Nokwe added that the modern structure will host two classrooms, staff room, a computer lab and a workshop.
He called on the pupils to study effectively in the modern structure and produce the best results in Cameroon. The benefactor promised to equip the computer lab with computers in the near future. He also promised that they have plans to install street lights in Muakwe with solar panels.
Reactions
While receiving the project, the Divisional Delegate of Basic Education, Kupe Muanenguba, Ngwesse Joseph congratulated Children of Bangem e.v. and her partner organization, EDUPAC for their transformational vision in education.
Describing the modern structure as a jewel, Ngwesse offered a Certificate of Appreciation to Nokwe and his team.
SDO Mungambo lauded the benefactors for enhancing the partnership between Cameroon and Germany and the public/private cooperation.
“I want to thank God for what has happened in Muakwe. This is the first of its kind in Kupe Muanenguba”. He disclosed.
The Mayor of Bangem Council, Ekungwe Kang Christopher described the structure as the best primary school in Cameroon with modern chairs, boards and equipment. He recalled that Nokwe and partners have donated severally to Bangem municipality. He mentioned the container shipment of medical equipment to Bangem District Hospital in 2021 by Nokwe and partners.
While thanking the benefactors, the mayor called on other elite of the municipality to emulate the shinning example of the donors.
In their various reactions, the Chief of Muakwe village, HRM Chief Mesumbe James Epie, Elume George Asale and Mbong Michael, Deputy General Manager of MAETUR, elite of Muakwe , showered praises and words of gratitude to Nokwe and partners for reducing the academic gap and digital divide in Cameroon and Muakwe in particular.
Other team members from Germany include; Finn Metz, Sonja Imhof, Savina Lamba and Ute Salg.
By Olive Ejang
