Since the outbreak of the crisis that began in late 2016 before turning into an armed conflict in 2017, more than half a million people have fled; to either French-speaking regions or neighboring Nigeria, according to the U.N. Among this category of people are thousands of school going children who have been denied the right to education. It is under this backdrop that the Bisong Foundation last October 2020 decided not only to help some of these children with tuition fees but equally provide them with all basic school items that will enable them pursue their education like all other students.

Over one hundred of them, presently studying at Unity Comprehensive College in Mbouda, chief town of the Bamboutos division, West Region of Cameroon received text books, exercise books, pens, pencils and rulers from the Bisong Foundation during a ceremony attended by the entire staff of the institution. Levy DJIONGO, the representative of Michael Bisong, founder of the humanitarian organization, enjoined the beneficiaries to make good use of the gifts; enjoined them to embrace education whole heartedly because it is the best preparation for future challenges. He assured them that the Bisong Foundation will always be there to support them, anywhere, anyhow. The principal and the entire staff of Unity Comprehensive College Mbouda joined the beneficiaries who could be seen putting on a happy face, visibly satisfied with their new textbooks and exercise books whose parents couldn’t afford due to hardship expressed their profound gratitude to the Bisong Foundation for the laudable initiative. This is not the first time the Bisong Foundation is donating school needs to underprivileged children. In 2017 some members of the Foundation were dispatched to Cameroon’s economic capital Douala to distribute basic school needs to students and pupils who fled violence from the tow English speaking regions.

By Njoh Yunga

Western Province.

The founders of the humanitarian organisation which is spearheaded by Cameroonian-borne Michael Bisong, have taken the resolve to help young people in Cameroon; especially women and adolescent girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds by providing free tailoring training. To ensure the success of this project, the Bisong Foundation is working in unison with one professional institution of learning in the West Region of Cameroon, Unity Comprehensive College whose school officials have already provided a suitable training facility.

All the necessary equipment for the tailoring training centre such as sewing tools, dressing cutting and pressing tools, fabric measuring tools amongst others have already been purchased by the Bisong Foundation. The officials of Unity Comprehensive College will provide trainers. The centre that will be officially launched come early January 2021 will open its doors for all the underprivileged women and girls especially those who fled violence in the rested North West and South West Regions of Cameroon to settle in neighboring towns like, Babadjou, Mbouda and Galim. At the end of the training, the Bisong Foundation, whose greatest ambition is to help transform this particular group of people from job seekers to job makers will provide outstanding trainees with new sewing machines and financial assistance that will enable them open their own tailoring workshops. By so doing, curb youth unemployment. The population of Mbouda, headquarters of the Bamboutos division have praised the Bisong Foundation for the initiative to permit these young girls and women to be able to receive an in-depth professional training with high tech sewing machines, skills that will help them to be self-employed, help themselves and their families.

This humanitarian initiative by the Bisong foundation is considered by many as a perfect example of participatory development others should emulate they say especially at a time when the government of Cameroon has organised election of regional councillors to help speed up the decentralisation process by associating the population in local governance.

By Marcellin Wambo. Coordinator of the Western Province.

The underprivileged children at the Good Samaritan Orphanage in Babete were offered school needs, face masks, tuition fees, medications and basic necessities by one humanitarian association dubbed the Bisong Foundation represented by the Co-founder of the NGO, Hortence MANTO BISONG. Tradition was again respected as Hortence MANTO Bisong joined other members of the non for profit organisation from Buea, Limbe, Bafoussam, Douala and Yaounde to come assist some abandoned children presently receiving motherly care at the Good Samaritan orphanage in Babete, Cameroon’s West Region. Given that the orphans are one of the most vulnerable population during this trying moment marked by Covid-19, they brought along hundreds of face masks, medications for first aide treatment, bags of rice, gallons of vegetable oil, cartons of milk, sardines, butter, soft drinks, in a bid to ensure food sufficiency plus toiletries and clothing. Hortence Bisong also donated books, pens, pencils, chalk, erasers etc. to 24 school going children, provided their tuition fees for the 20-21 school year, encouraged them to embrace education wholeheartedly, saying she believes it is the most effective tool that will help them build a strong foundation that will free them from the vicious cycle of ignorance, poverty and diseases. The Directress of the Orphanage, the Bamboutos divisional delegate for Social affairs, Solange Ngnoupeyou joined the kids to express their immense gratitude to their benefactors for the timely gesture. A view shared by other attendees. Marie Eboh Bisong – sister to the Founding President, Michael Bisong, Borel SOP – Michael Bisong’s representative, Jackson Yemeli Noupoussi, who all took to the rostrum to laud the efforts of the Bisong Foundation in collaboration with its plethora of partners especially the Veterans United Kingdom Association (VUKA). Founded a decade ago by Michael Bisong, who played for the Cameroon’s Junior Football team alongside Rigobert Song, Cyrille Makanaky and late Marc Viviane Foe, the Bisong Foundation is dedicated to empowering underprivileged children, young people and women through relevant education, innovative healthcare and livelihood programmes. The founders and members have assured the kids that they will never get tired. By Kelvin Nembo Njuhsop

Cambridge based charity Bisong Foundation will shortly be distributing 1800 face masks to mainly black and minority people across Cambridge in the fight against the deadly corona virus pandemic. The project codenamed “Wear a mask. Save Lives” was made possible through a grant from The National Lottery Community Fund and The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports.

Cambridge based charity Bisong Foundation will shortly be distributing 1800 face masks to mainly black and minority people across Cambridge in the fight against the deadly corona virus pandemic. The project codenamed “Wear a mask. Save Lives” was made possible through a grant from The National Lottery Community Fund and The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports On receiving news of the grant, Bisong Foundation Chairman Michael Bisong, a former player for Cameroon junior national team now a resident of Cambridge city had this to say: “We are delighted to have received funding from the UK government working with The National Lottery Community Fund. This will enable us sew and distribute washable face masks to hundreds of people across Cambridge as we join in the national effort to stop the spread of the virus. In a small way, we will also reduce the financial burden on people some of whom have lost their jobs to buy face masks”.

From July 24 2020, it is mandatory to wear a face masks on public transportation, shops, takeaways, post offices, and any other confined places throughout England. Defaulters will face a £100 fine though critics believe this will be hard to implement

Exceptions: According to Government Minister George Eustice speaking on the BBC, these rules will not apply to store workers. He further stated that people will also not be required to cover their faces in places where this is not practical such as in a pub, cafe or restaurant. The same applies to children under 11, as well as those with certain disabilities.

Why wear a mask? (I protect you; you protect me):

The answer to this question is very simple. This is to protect each other The transmission of COVID-19 occurs mainly through microdroplets that are projected into the air, while breathing or speaking. By covering your nose and mouth with a mask, you limit the amount of these microdroplets you spray around. The protection on our face limits the spread of the virus even though we are asymptomatic carriers.

Wearing a mask does not necessarily prevent you from catching the coronavirus, but the more we wear a mask, the more we help protect each other. This is why the state, on the advice of scientists, now makes it compulsory to wear a mask in all public places, such as public transport, supermarkets, grocery stores and pharmacies. Of course, we must add to this the regular washing of hands for at least 20 seconds, social distancing and the precaution of staying at home in the event of illness or symptoms, in order to minimize the risk of spread as much as possible.

For more details for free masks:

Michael or Hortence: 07956 057504/07585 112424.

www.bisongfoundation.org.uk

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

BISONG FOUNDATION OUTING REPORT:

 

Bisong Foundation a well organised and recognised charity once again stretched out it's arm to the less privileged as it has always done. This time around, taking into consideration the Anglophone crisis in Cameroon which have led many individuals including children to wander off their path. Bisong Foundation in the Littoral Region moved with love and compassion, decided to come to these children's aid. After carrying out several enquiries in different primary schools, GEPPS Bonamoussadi Douala was chosen because of the numerous Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in this school. The visit that was programmed to take place in September 2019 before the start of the school academic year 2019/2020 did not go ahead as planned due to administrative program of the school. Nevertheless, the Delegation of Secondary Education finally issued an authorisation letter that allowed us to visit the school on 7th November 2019.

 

On 7th November 2019, all members were dressed in the Bisong Foundation regalia that made the group looked presentable and organised. The group arrived the school premises at 10.00 AM and went to the administrative department with the wonderful gifts which included; cartoons of books, packets of different kinds of well-designed high quality pens and pencils, packets of erasers, quality rulers, quality packets of mathematical sets, good quality schools bags, water bottles, packets of colours and counters etc. for the beneficiaries.

 

About 15 - 20 minutes later, the school bell rang, and each class teacher was asked to send out the children which they did and the children were asked to line up according to their classes. The Head teacher gave a welcome speech and explained the reason of our visit. The children were so excited when they saw the mass of gifts we had brought. This was followed by so much noise as they were curious to know the contents of the gifts. The Head teacher encouraged the children by informing them that it is because they are particularly important that is why Bisong Foundation have decided to visit and present them with all the amazing gifts. She went further to encourage the children to continue to study hard knowing that they have Bisong Foundation to provide additional support to them. 

 

The gifts were presented to the children as they were marvelled and many of them presented some side comments such as; "oh my God I have never seen such nice pens and pencils in my life" one other said "this kind of maths set are definitely not found in Cameroon", one other said "I will never put my school bag or water bottle on the floor". Honestly speaking, the children made so many side comments out of excitement and we could clearly see joy on their faces as they did not cease to say thank you to us. All the children that came out from their classes received our gifts. All staff were happy and on behalf of the school and Delegate of Secondary education, the Head teacher thanked the foundation for it's generosity. As the children walked back to their classes with shouts of joy, we left the school premises with great joy because once again we had fulfilled the heartbeat of Bisong Foundation by putting smiles on the faces of the under privileged. Many thanks go to the founders in the United Kingdom because this donations would not have been possible without their financial and material support.  

 

More details can be seen in the videos on YouTube (Bisong Foundation).  

By Patricia Mantam.

Douala Coordination.

Cameroon

 

The event of the Bisong Foundation took place this year in London organised in partnership with the Veterans of the United Kingdom Association (VUKA). 

Five teams actively participated in this event. VUKA FC, South Africa FC, Hackney Veterans, Depthford FC and FC Familia. The Cambridgeshire Police FC pulled out because some of their players were injured in a friendly game a week before the event.

 

The event stared at 10.30 am and ended at 18.20. It was agreed that all the five teams would play each other as we were unable to come up with 2 groups of three teams each after the Cambridgeshire Police FC withdrew. It was also agreed that the first two teams will play the finals. VUKA FC and South Africa FC eventually qualified for the finals which ended 1 – 0 to VUKA FC meaning that VUKA has won the trophy for the second year running.

 

Bringing the diverse communities in the United Kingdom together and promoting good health and wellbeing through sports has been the ultimate goal of Bisong Foundation.  In addition to that, the event this year in London was used as a platform to raise awareness of the ongoing knife crime that has been claiming the lives of many individuals in our community. Our aim is to use football as the world’s most popular sports to tackle this problem at its root, educate those most at risk and help them to protect themselves from being caught up in crime – either as victim or perpetrator. We strongly believe that education about knife crime is the key ingredients in moving towards a safer community. 

 

THE LEGEND CYRILLE MAKANAKY IN LONDON:

Former Indomitable Lions and legend of African football Cyrille Makanaky, one of the heroes of the incredible Central African Wildcat at the 1990 World Cup in Italy and the Godfather of Bisong Foundation was on the banks of the Thames on this beautiful day. It was a great pleasure for the community in London to welcome this legend who also took part in all the games playing and captaining the VUKA FC. Young stars were thrilled to play with and against this amazing footballer who is still very capable of performing in a very high level. Cyrille Makanaky, the intrepid Indomitable Lion who, with Roger Milla et al had rewritten the history of football by hoisting Cameroon and Africa to a level previously unmatched, was presented to academy footballers at the Billingham Leisure Centre that hosted the event. “I can still remember the England vs Cameroon game at the 1992 World and this guy was my hero – this is a special day in my life” said one of the parents. Cyrille Makanaky took photographs with the children, their parents and coaches. 

 

A fundraising gala night followed after the event where the former "midfielder maestro" Cyrille Makanaky was the guest of honour.

 

For more information, please see video on YouTube (Bisong Foundation)

 

By Crosby Tagoe

This humanitarian organisation on the 14.08.2019 offered basic necessities, school needs and financial assistance to the Good Samaritan orphanage in Babete in Cameroon.

 

A stress free back-to-school for orphans of the Good Samaritan in Babete, a cosmopolitan village in the Bamboutos division thanks to the constant and consistent support of one humanitarian organisation, the Bisong Foundation that created in 2010 with the main vision to give the underprivileged a reason to smile.

 

The Good Samaritan orphanage under the St Benedict Monastery created in 2008 to welcome abandoned children through the directress, Sylvie Tikun praised the donor for this humanitarian gesture that will go a long way to help them during the 2019 - 2020 academic school year.

 

The directress further promised that they will make good use of these donations by working tirelessly to ensure that these children in their care feed and study hard in a bid to bring back good results as was the case in the last school year where out of the 23 who effectively went to school, 17 passed.

 

The Divisional delegate for Social Affairs for the Bamboutos, Solange Ngnoupeyou on the occasion marked by a special mass session officiated by Rev Father Alain Martial Nguetsop, thanked the Bisong Foundation for their relentless support saying they are the real actors of participatory development.  

 

The founding president of the foundation Mr Michael Bisong accompanied by his spouse, Mrs Hortence Manto Bisong and other members, friends from within and without Cameroon, say they will continue to support the less privileged for no one has ever become poor by giving and invited the benefactors to embrace education wholeheartedly for a brighter future. 

 

Participants including family relations of the donor, Marie Bisong say "one must not give only when pockets are full because it is not about how much you do, but how much love you put into what you do that counts. She added that she is happy for what her brother and his wife are doing and insisted that "we inherited it from our mother".

 

The joy on the faces of the benefactors was immeasurable as they danced to the tune of DJ Kerosene's finest single "Victory", as if to say the future is assured with the support from Bisong Foundation that has equally decided to renovate their play ground in earnest. 

 

The founders of Bisong Foundation say they are here to stay as they plan to extend this largess to other social structures of this nature; for they strongly believe that "every child, everywhere has the right to a happy and healthy life".

 

By Kelvin Nembo

 

 

Rapport de la cérémonie de l’arbre de noël à l’orphelinat « Le bon samaritain de Babété 23/12/2018 Décembre

La « Bisong Foundation » était ce 23 Décembre 2018 à l’orphelinat « Le bon samaritain » du Monastère saint Benoit de Babété. La fête de la nativité a servi de prétexte à cette association caritative pour exprimer sa générosité envers les tous petits pensionnaires de cet orphelinat, à travers la cérémonie d’arbre de noël.

Deux interventions, celle de BF dont la voix a été portée par Fidèle KOUSSOCK, représentant Ouest. Après avoir adressé les salutations du couple fondateur et du Président national de BF, il a réitéré l’engagement de cette fondation a accompagné les responsables de l’orphelinat « le bon samaritain » dans cette responsabilité sociale. Il a par la suite présenté le don dont sa délégation est porteuse, une matérialisation de la volonté du couple fondateur. La directrice de l’orphelinat à son tour, a dit toute sa gratitude à BF pour son élan de coeur qui grandit et se renouvelle au jour le jour, avant de prier Dieu de bénir d’avantage le couple fondateur de BF ainsi que tous ceux qui oeuvrent pour cette fondation. Les enfants ont exécuté des chansons de circonstance, rappelant la naissance de Seigneur Jésus. Les cadeaux constitués d’un sapin de noël, des jouets, d’une trottinette et des denrées alimentaires ont été remis aux enfants et aux responsables de cet orphelinat. C’est autour d’un cocktail que s’est achevée cette cérémonie qui a connu la présence de M. Jean Claude TATISSONG, représentant le comité de développement du groupement Babété.

Profonds remerciements au couple fondateur et à toute l’équipe du côté de UK pour tous les efforts financiers et matériels déployés et sans lesquels, cette cérémonie n’aurait pas eu lieu. Nous prions également que le Seigneur les comble de grâce et leur accorde santé et force pour continuer cette oeuvre. Remerciements également au Président national pour les conseils et la diligence permanente. Enfin, toute la gratitude à toute l’équipe BF de Mbouda et à tous ceux qui étaient présents à Babété, avec un enthousiasme remarqué. Bonne fête de noël, bonne et heureuse année 2019 à tous et à chacun ! Rendez-vous l’année prochaine!

Fidèle Koussock / Macellin Wambo (Cordonateurs - Ouest)

Ceremony of putting up a Christmas Tree and giving Christmas Presents to Orphans and Officials of "The Good Samaritan of Babete" Cameroon – 23rd December 2018

By Fidele Koussock

The "Bisong Foundation" was this December 23rd 2018 at the orphanage "The Good Samaritan" of the Monastery of St. Benoit Babete. The feast of the nativity served as a pretext for Bisong Foundation to continue to express its generosity towards this orphanage, through the Christmas tree ceremony.

Two interventions were on the agenda. (Putting up a Christmas tree and presenting gifts and foodstuff including health and hygiene needs). The voice of the founding couple was carried forward by Fidele KOUSSOCK and Macellin Wambo, representing the West Province. After presenting the greetings from the founding couple and the national Coordinator of BF, Fidele reiterated the commitment and social responsibilities of Bisong Foundation to the orphanage "The Good Samaritan". With support of his delegation, Fidele conveyed the message of good will from the founding couple Mr and Mrs Bisong. The director of the orphanage, in turn, expressed her gratitude to BF for this momentum which grows and renews day by day, before praying to God to bless the founding couple and all those who work for Bisong Foundation.

The children danced and sang religious songs, recalling the birth of Lord Jesus Christ. The Christmas tree was set up for the first time in the history of the orphanage and gifts of toys, scooters, health and hygiene needs and foodstuffs were given to the children and officials of the orphanage.

It was around a cocktail party that this ceremony ended. It was attended by Mr Jean Claude TATISSONG, representing the development committee of the Babete group. The officials of the orphanage expressed their extensive thanks to the founding couple and the entire team for all the financial and material donations made without which, this ceremony would not have taken place. “We pray that the Lord fills them with grace and gives them good health and strength to continue this good work”. Thanks, were also directed to the National Coordinator for his guidance and ongoing diligence. Finally, the officials extended their gratitude to the West Province team and all those who were present at Babete with a remarkable enthusiasm.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2019 to everyone!

See you all next year!

Fidele Koussock / Macellin Wambo (West province Coordinators)

Some nursing mothers at the maternity and pediatrics units of the Deido District Hospital in Cameroon’s economic city, Douala smiled for the first time since their internment there after they received Christmas gifts from Bisong Foundation (BF), December 27, 2018.

We know Christmas past two days ago, but we know the Christmas mood is still on,” said Jean-Philippe Ntoukam, executive president of the foundation, representing the founding president Michael Bisong and his wife and co-founder, Hortense Manto Bisong, both resident in the UK. The BF delegation coordinated by its Littoral regional representative, Ferdinand Tsasse, distributed packs of gifts containing toys, laundry soaps, baby diapers and baby cleaners to babies or mothers (for newborns) in the maternity, pediatrics, neonatal, post-surgery and reanimation sections of the hospital. In a moving scene in the post-surgery room, one of two young mothers who had lost her baby at delivery was comforted by Ntoukam who gave her a gifts pack destined for her other son (not present) from a previous birth.

“Some of these women are smiling for the first time since they put to birth,” said a midwife guiding the BF members around the hospital wards. “You know the challenges of childbirth,” she explained, “especially for someone like the woman who lost her baby.”

A nursing mother in a maternity ward said the BF visit and gifts brought a feel of Christmas which they thought they had missed, being interned during the end of year feasting season. “See how happy my baby is,” said another mother as they posed smiling with a baby doll gift. “We are joyed by your coming,” said Ivan Espoir Same, general supervisor of the hospital. “We treat the body but where affection is lacking for patients who don’t have loved ones and feel abandoned at these end of year feasting periods, your visit has brought comfort to them. Thank you for coming.”

The director of the hospital later joined Bisong Foundation for a photo.

Only days before, on December 23, BF’s West regional representative, Koussock Fidel, led its members to present Christmas gifts to orphans at the Babete St Benoit Orphanage near Mbouda.

By Egnalyne Forbi