INITIATIVES THAT MATTER: G.P.N.S NIBUNG NKWEN-BAMENDA Celebrates Benefactor

By Bakah Derick

Blogger@hilltopvoices

INITIATIVES THAT MATTER

Azehfor Barsil Asafor appreciated

Like many nursery and primary schools around Bamenda, late May and early June every year is always a moment to send off kids and pupils who have either completed Nursery or Primary schools. This June 4, 2015, parents and guardians of kids attending Government Practicing Nursery School, G.P.N.S Nibung Nkwen in Bamenda III Sub-division assembled on the School campus to witness the graduation ceremony of their children. It is not common to hear a Government Nursery School in Bamenda organise a graduation and so when we at hilltopvoices got hint of this one, we decided to attend. When we arrived, we were informed that it was the 7th graduation in the school’s history. it turned out to be an uncommon event for so many reasons.

The Take-off

GPNS Kids singing the National anthem

With the traditional excitement that comes with such events, the kids welcomed the guests with a positively surprising singing of Cameroons National Anthem a thing many Cameroonians could not do years back at their age. A series of outdoor activities then followed like Tug of War, filling the basket, dressing competition, egg and spoon race and others to the appreciation of the many who answered present.

Appreciating Benefactor- Azehfor Barsil Asafor

GPNS Headmistress Mrs Akusong Mercy

In a speech that opened the second part of the day’s event Mrs Akosung Mercy Headmistress of the G.P.N.S Nibung welcomed everyone to the passing out of the 7^th Batch of the school of 78kids with 36 of them graduating. In an exceptional use of words she said “We thank especially Daddy/uncle Tamutan Asafor Azehfor Barsil for Supplying us with pipe borne water which kept our kids free from water borne diseases like cholera etc……….”

Azehfor BArsil Asafor receives certificate of Appreciation

At the close of the speech she invited the day’s guest of honour in these words “May Mr Asafor Barsil have this token of appreciation from the parents/staff/kids of G.P.N.S Nibung…….” to the center where he received a certificate of appreciation and some gifts from the president of the Parent teachers Association PTA.

Barsil reacts

Reacting to the award and gifts Mr Azehfor Barsil; visibly surprised thanked the school for the recognition. He went further to explain that he did not give because he had much but because he saw the need to do so particularly to kids in a government nursery school who are often left on their own. He then folded up with a promise to come back with more assistance to the school according to his means. While he was still speaking the kids with the help of a caregiver could be seen happily drinking from the water he donated and planted within the school campus.

Kid’s presentations and Prize Awards

Kids present rhythms

In English and French, the kids presented an avalanche of rhythms, poems and songs to the admiration of guests. Standing ovations where spontaneous as the kids thrilled onlookers. This face of the activities came to a close with the award of prizes. Speaking prior to the awards, Madam Akusong Mercy the Headmistress of the school announced that Mr Azehfor Barsil had come with prizes for all the kids in the school, the teachers and special prizes of excellence for outstanding kids.

Barsil was then invited to hand over the prizes to the kids.

Reactions

When hilltopvoices spoke to Mr Azehfor Barsil he maintained that he was offering water and prizes to the school because he saw it as a need. With no financial assistance and particular relationship with the school he added that he offered the prizes to the kids to make them feel like many other kids who attend better schools.

The Headmistress on her part expressed the need for other people of goodwill to immolate the example of Mr Azehfor Barsil and come to their aid as the school is still in need of decent classrooms. For now she added kids study in unplaster rooms without good shutters as well as a good school fence to ensure the security of the kids (speaking earlier she indicated that during the academic year just coming to an end they recorded two cases of missing children).

What we got about Mr Azehfor Barsil

Azehfor Barsil Asafor is a son of the Nkwen Royal family who currently works as Director of a Not for Profit Non-Governmental Organisation which he founded known as Assembly of Youths for a Sustainable Environment- #ASYOUSED. The Organisation which takes interests in Human Rights and Environmental Conservation has projects in four Regions of Cameroon. The Tiko and Buea Councils amongst others are beneficiaries of a new model in participatory project management initiative started by #ASYOUSED which earned some international acclamation. Presently the organization in collaboration with the World Wild Fund for Nature, #WWF is running activities on Education and Sustainable Development (ESD) in the Center, Littoral and South West Regions of Cameroon.

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