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Behind MTN Acacia
Yaoundé, Cameroon
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Send Us an Email
info@loyocameroon.org
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Call Us
(+237) 650 906 256
The SALAAM INIATIVE
SALAAM INIATIVE
The Salaam School Initiative
This is a youth-led project launched in 2018 that seeks to support the re-education of children affected by violent conflict who have now become orphans or forcefully displaced in the Far North Region of Cameroon. Through the provision of free formal and non-formal education activities, this initiative is currently supporting 150 children with a safe space for learning and to heal from the trauma and has successfully reintegrated 20 into formal schooling with a full scholarship and mental health support.
This initiative is providing access to quality education and livelihood through the salaam school to provide a safe space for learning, psycho-social healing for children, build resilience and provide life skills and hope to serve as an alternative to violence. watch this short video of the program
About location
The Mora community now hosts over 50,000 displaced children and victims of Boko Haram most of whom have lost their parents and spend their time as beggars on the streets. Since 2019 the initiative is supporting 120 of these children from this community who have been displaced by the conflict, rendered orphans and homeless. UNICEF’s report on The Impact of Boko Haram and Armed Conflict on Schooling in Cameroon’s Far North in 2015 shows that; 120 schools were forced to close in 10 districts of the Far North for the school year (2014-2015); direct threats from Boko Haram towards school directors and community members were cited as a primary reason for school closures. 33,163 children (43% of girls) were out of school or have been forced to seek access to schooling outside of their native communities as a result of school closures. Unfortunately, this situation is getting worse by the day as schools remain the target.
As a result of these attacks on schools, children and families have fled to more secure places. Unfortunately, these displaced young boys and girls in host communities become more vulnerable to radicalization into violent extremist groups, and lack access to a safe space for learning, with some being exposed to inhumane treatment and sexual exploitation making them lose hope in life and filled with the desire to revenge.
What we do at the Salaam school
With the high rate of poverty within the region and the patriarchal nature of the society, the initiative collaborates with religious and cultural institutions. Building on the context of the region the initiative focuses on 4 main pillars;
1) Providing free schooling and safe space for learning/re-education (Elementary, primary secondary)
2) Psycho-social, Mental Health, and Well-being (Through recreational activities and counselling. Providing Identification(Birth certificates), Food, shelter and basic amenities.)
3) Building skills for socio-economic empowerment (parents of the children) and personality development.
4) Reintegrate successful students into formal education.
Success so far
For over one year that we have been implementing this initiative, we have recorded amazing success, which includes;
- 120 children enrolled and engaged. 60 of them are benefiting from formal education (20 girls and 40 boys) and 60 benefiting from psycho-social support and recreational activities
2) Reshaping the perspective of the community and local authorities on alternative educational mechanisms. 80% of community members and local authorities have demonstrated their desire to support the initiative (the hut classroom was built with the support of the community).
3) The 120 children who are befitting from the initiative have experienced an improvement in reading, writing, and acquisition of new skills and are on the path to trauma healing.
- 40% of children ( aged 4 to 10) can now read and write making them ready for formal
- 60% Reject violence and revenge;
- 20% have found their passion in different recreational activities.
- 100% of children denounce violence and terrorism.
- Unlike before when most of the children expressed the desire to join the military as their career ( influenced by the desire to avenge the death of their parents and family members) there has been a drastic change in the career choice of the children, as a result of counseling activities with them expressing wishes to become teachers, doctors, lawyers and many more.
4) At the start of the academic year 2020/2021, 20 of the children have been reintegrated to formal school with a full scholarship.
Key Needs
Unfortunately, as this initiative is growing, the need for material and financial resources is increasing. Most importantly as we plan to construct a facility, we are in need of;
- Support to construct an adequate shelter
- Books and other learning aids
- Food, potable water source, and related supplies
- Clothes and other basic necessities
- School supplies and first-aid
- Toys, sports material and games ( this helps them with Psycho-social, Mental Health and Well-being )
- Computers.
We are also considering raising money to construct an inclusive learning centre. The local community made a donation of a piece of land for the construction of the school.
Way Forward
We are currently considering piloting the same initiative through some context-specific adaptations in some communities in the North West and South-West regions which are currently experiencing violent conflict.
