In Cameroon more than 90% of the rural children are born into uncertainty: will they be street children/orphans, work in markets, on farms,
or go to school? Many of them grow up in a daily life edged by violence; they are images of abuse, persecution and loss of family due to
HIV/AIDS
and other diseases. These traumatized children are victims of hunger, depression, nightmares, loss of self-worth and often
become violence prone.
All children have a right to education, nutrition, healthcare, and all other rights associated to human beings. The child who has access
to his/her
rights grows up as an independent individual who can break through the cycle of poverty, be empowered to take care of his/her
own future and play
an active part in shaping it.
More than 70% of the out-of-school children live in rural Cameroon. Two thirds of the kids who don't go to school are girls. Of those who go
to school,
one third drop out before they learn to read, write and count. Women account for two thirds of all illiterate adults. It is the beginning
of a vicious
cycle of no education, poor farming yield, no profit, no savings, and no funds for education and consequently mismanagement
of plants and hence even poorer
farming yields.
Unique was founded in 2001 with the aid of an umbrella Organization, Mbonweh Women’s Development Association. School Unique- CIG
it is the brainchild of a
group of concerned women who were devoted to improving the lives of vulnerable youths and peers.
They were especially concerned with poor, orphaned and vulnerable youths. School Unique- CIG provides basic comprehensive education
to more than 580 pupils &
students, aged 04 to 17, from the poorest villages of the West Coast of Cameroon and life skills training for
self-sustainability to unemployed and unskilled
rural youths. These children are receiving the support and care they desperately need, while
attaining an education that will allow them to grow into
successful, independent adults. School Unique- CIG is made up of about 30
young men and women from diverse backgrounds.