By Ireneaus Chia Chongwain
The Douala Co-adjutor Archbishop, Mgr Samuel Kleda, last December 3 inaugurated two refurbished Catholic schools in Douala Archdiocese. St Kisito, Ndobgati and St Thomas Logbaba, were renovated from funds collected during the first phase of an ongoing fundraising exercise to construct and refurbish educational and health infrastructure in Douala Archdiocese.
The project, evaluated at FCFA 107 million, was financed from funds specifically raised during the first phase of an ongoing exercise to provide Catholic schools and health institutions with the latest facilities to enable them better respond to the exigencies of the time. The first phase of the Douala Archbishop-spearheaded initiative was organised in Douala between February 9 and 15, 2008.
Initially a make shift structure, St Kisito Primary School Ndobgati, has been transformed into a modern primary school with 6 comfortable and spacious classrooms, a computer centre and modern toilets.
At St Thomas Logbaba, though not all the buildings have been renovated, one cannot fail to notice the glittering new edifice which has 7 classrooms, a computer centre, offices and modern toilets.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in St Kisito, Ndobgati, the fundraising follow up committee president, Pascal Liwih, pointed out that the Douala Archbishop, Christian Cardinal Tumi and his Co-adjutor, Samuel Kleda, had not only assured donors, while launching the project, that funds raised will be put to good use, but will also be transparently managed. He said the refurbished schools were a fulfilment of that engagement.
The Douala Archdiocese Catholic Education Secretary, Fr Jean Baptiste Iourah Kwedi, thanked Christians and donors for their contributions towards the building of a vibrant Church in Douala. "The two schools that have just been constructed, do not only demonstrate the generosity of the Faithful of Douala Archdiocese, who have learned to contribute to the growth of the Church, but also point most especially, to the vision of one person, His Eminence, Christian Cardinal Tumi, whose pastoral priority remains the integral development of Man, " Fr Kwedi noted.
While presiding at the second phase at St Thomas Primary School, Logbaba, the Douala Co-adjutor Archbishop, Mgr Samuel Kleda, called on the staff and pupils of the school to take good care of the building. He, however, went beyond material concerns as he urged the staff to equally fulfil their pastoral obligation. "Show the little ones who attend this school, the path that leads to Christ. You have to be Christ's first witnesses to these children."
He thanked donors for their generosity. "We like to acknowledge today that it is thanks to the generosity of Christians of Douala Archdiocese, Douala inhabitants, and Cameroonians, who responded favourably to our call for assistance, that this project has been realised."
He acknowledged the Head of State's generous contribution during the February-organised event and noted that, "The joy and hope, sorrow and anguish of the people of our time, especially the poor and those who are suffering, are the joy and hope, sorrow and anguish of Christ's disciples. There is nothing human that does not find an echo in their hearts."
Within the ambit of the same scheme, a Chicago-based non-governmental organisation, Foundation for Education, Culture and health, FECH, on Monday, November 3 donated two ambulances and medical equipment to the Douala Logpom Catholic Hospital. The education-health-infrastructural refurbishment scheme, only a hazy idea on paper and its precursors' mind some months back, is gradually taking shape through concrete realisations.
The pupils of St Kisito and St Thomas Primary schools are just some of the first beneficiaries of an ambitious scheme that definitely still has more to offer in the coming months and years.
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