About the Project
The project consisted of obtaining birth certificates for 335 vulnerable school children attending six primary schools.
Location
Tiko and Buea subdivisions, Southwest Cameroon
Quick Project Stats
| Funding Date | April – August 2024 |
| Luena Investment | $5,000 |
| CBO Partner | Action For Change (AFC) |
| Village | Tiko and Buea subdivisions |
| Country | Cameroon |
| # of Children Impacted | 335 |
| Community Contribution | labor |
Displacement Leaves Children Without Birth Certificates
The Anglophone crisis, starting in 2016, was a result of political demands for greater autonomy and independence by English speaking Cameroonians which resulted in the burning down of 200 Anglophone villages, extra-judiciary killings, rape, and torture by government forces and non-state armed men. This led to the displacement of 600,000 English speaking Cameroonians into forest conclaves and urban towns. Buea and Tiko are two towns in the Southwest region of Cameroon that have witnessed an influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from other parts of the Southwest and Northwest region that are seriously affected by insecurity and war.
Most of these internally displaced children between the ages of 4 and 14 don’t have a birth certificate owing to the fact that their houses were burnt down without them being able to retrieve any belongings. Most of their parents/relatives/caretakers cannot afford to make a new birth certificate for their children because of poverty. 99% of their parents have lost their source of livelihood from their area of origin due to war. The greatest impact is to children in grade six who are supposed to use a birth certificate to register for first school leaving and common entrance exams. Without a birth certificate, they will have to spend an extra year in grade six without advancing to the next level of education. Also, without a birth certificate these children cannot learn a trade, access health services, travel freely, or have access to identity cards.
Birth Certificates Provide Access to Education and Other Services
The donation from Luena Foundation was used to establish 335 new birth certificates for vulnerable children who attend six primary schools in the Tiko and Buea subdivisions, including Ebamuke Primary School, COREDA Primary School, Ndongo Primary School, Muea Primary School, Catholic Primary School, and Kombo Community Primary School. With a birth certificate these children will be able to register for their first school leaving certificate exams to the next level of education or learn a trade in addition to accessing needed services and systems.
Meet our Partner Community-Based Organization
Action for Change (AFC) works to empower disadvantaged rural communities for the fight against unemployment, illiteracy, poverty, violence against women and environmental destruction.
To learn more about our partner organization, click here.
