Houston: Za Eagle has Landed!

Destination:

Malima Primary School

Village of Gouria

Mandara Mountains

Extreme North, Cameroon

West Africa

Arrival at the school was on Friday, February 23rd. The peace

and tranquility of the scene in the photo was broken by our Three Musketeers roaring into the yard and doing laps around the flagpole in a great cloud of dust and a blaring of the horn. This brought forth from the classrooms 200 very excited children all crying in unison, David! David! David! It's enough to bring tears (of joy) to a grown man. He said I shall return, and he did with a magnificent cadaeu and two more adventurers.

All this is happening in a village that was utterly forgotten seven short years ago. They were at the back of beyond where nothing ever happened, and now, they have electricity, a school, but not just any school, the very best school in the extreme North that is the envy of many, a 4x4 vehicle that is the property of the school, and now, for the first time in 2007 years, they may have a source of clean, potable, and sustainable water if all goes well and the borehole that is near to being drilled brings forth water.

It is possible that the people of Gouria are wondering just what happened all of a sudden. Perhaps its true, good things can come to those who wait.

Dave, Matt and John will all wish to tell their story in their own words when they get back, but for now all of you who are well wishers can rest easy. The lads are safe, sound, and accomplished. Isn't it just great to know not just one, but Three Super-Heroes! Well Done Guys!!!

February Newsletter

Malima News

January 2007

In November Malima received 2 more visitors from among our supporters. David, since his first visit last year that he described to us in one of our earlier newsletters, returned to the village. In doing so he not only fulfilled the promise he made when he was there before but also worked on some important developments. Maria Teresa Pomares Salceda accompanied him. She is the former owner and director of Newton College in Elche, one of our longest standing and most committed supporting schools. For Maria Teresa this was a visit she had been wanting to make ever since Newton College first began to help Malima. She describes the visit as one of the most moving experiences of her life and she herself will tell us more about her personal experience at a later date.
This visit was a very successful one from all points of view. David and Maria Teresa were able to witness the installation the of the electric mill, a follow-up project to the bringing of electricity to the village, aimed at making the lives of the village women easier, providing employment for several people and giving Malima its first self financing.
They were also able to meet the Chinese company who dig boreholes in the area and discuss the possibility of digging in Gouria. This will be invaluable to the village. Following these discussions we hope we will be able to engage the company for this job on their return from the South of Cameroon where they have been based during December and January.

Maria Teresa was particularly impressed by the need of the women for support to train them in professions that could give them some income. She has therefore agreed to finance the building and equipping of a women’s centre in Gouria.

Meanwhile David is at this very moment involved in the delivery of a donated vehicle for the use of the Malima Project and the village. He left with two drivers on February 9th and driving to Gouria across the desert. The trip will take around 15 days and he is hoping to arrive on 25th February. We all wish him the best of luck on this trip and looking forward to seeing him safely back home at the beginning of March.

A final very important note: we have been asked by the NGO,CIC, who act as trustees for the Malima funds, to ask all our sponsors not to use the word ‘padrino’ on the bank slips and transfers, substituting the word ‘sponsor’. This is a requirement from the Spanish NGO co-ordinators to distance their member organisations from scandals that have arisen in the past. We hope this will not inconvenience any of you and that you will be able to change anything necessary, (standing orders, for example) without too much trouble. We thank you all again for your support the Malima Project.

Judith (Malima Support Group.)
Malima News

Enero 2007

En Noviembre Malima recibió otra vez la visita de 2 de nuestros sponsors. David, después de su visita anterior la cual nos describió en uno de nuestros boletines anteriores, volvió al pueblo. Con esta visita no solo cumplía con la promesa que hizo en su primera visita pero también trabajó en algunas asuntos muy importantes. Fue acomp0añado por Maria Terea Pomares ex –propietaria y directora de Newton College, Elche uno de nuetros primeros sponsores. Para Maria Teresa esta fue una visita que tenia pendiente desde el primer momento que su colegio ayudó a Malima. Ella describe la experiencia como una de la más significativas de su vida. Ella misma nos la contara en un futuro boletín

La visita fue exitosa desde todos punto de vista. David Y Maria Teresa pudieron ver la instalación del molino eléctrico , un proyecto que seguía la electrificación del pueblo con la idea de hacer mas fácil la vida de la mujeres del pueblo, dar empleo a alguna personas y dar a Malima su primer pequeño proyecto de auto financiación.
Pudieron también hablar con la compañía china que hacen perforaciones en la zona para ver la posibilidad de que hacen una en el pueblo. Esto sera de gran valor para el pueblo . seguido estas discusiones esperamos poder contratar a esta compañía cuando vuelven del sur de Camerún donde han estado basados durante diciembre y enero.

Maria Teresa fue especialmente impresionada por la situación de las mujeres y la necesidad de darlas apoyo en cuanto a formación en profesiones que las pueden dar algunos ingresos. Ella ha decidido financiar la construcción y equipamiento de un centro para las mujeres en Gouria.

Mientras tanto David esta en este momento involucrado en la entrega de un vehículo donado para el uso del proyecto Malima y el pueblo. Saldrá con dos conductores el día 9 febrero y cruzara el desierto hasta llegar a Gouria. Esta previsto que el viaje costara 15 días y espera llegar el día 25 de febrero. Le deseamos mucha suerte para el viaje y esperamos su regreso al principios de marzo.

Finalmente y muy importante la ONG, CIC de la cual formamos parte nos ha pedido de describir nuestros ‘supporters’ como ‘sponsors’.y dejar de utilizar la palabra ‘padrino y apadrinamiento. Esto sigue la instrucción de la coordinadora de ONGs c el objetivo de distanciarse de problemas que han surgido en el pasado. Esperamos que esto no os causara molestias y que podréis cambiar transferencias sin problemas.
Os damos de nuevo la gracias por vuestro apoyo al proyecto de Malima.

Judith (Malima Support Group.)

Almost There!

Thursday, February, 22nd, 2007



The joyful news today is that they have put all of the worst part of the journey behind them, but not a moment too soon. Fatigue is now taking over and leading to mistakes that would otherwise be avoided. This is driving of the worst kind over non-existant roads against a deadline.

The car seems to have picked up a dent along one side as a souvenir of the crossing, but this is one mighty car to have survived when so many others didn't.
They are now in the city of Maroua, in Cameroon. This is a city of about 2 million people and the principal city in the north. It is also where the banking and administration for the school is done. As luck would have it, Felix, the school's director was in town when our three musketeers arrived, so a warm meeting and greeting was had.

I imagine as I write this that they have now arrived in the village to a rapturous welcome, but I am getting ahead of myself. Perhaps we should await David's next post. Stay tuned!

The Pilgram's Progress

It seems an incredible thing to me that while crossing The Sahara Desert that Dave is able to find internet cafe's in the back of beyond to send reports of their progress. It is his intention to serialize in-depth their adventures along the way, so I don't intend to steal any of that thunder, but I would like to let readers know that at least they are safe and sound, and at what point they are in their journey.

The estimate for the entire 5,000 kilometre journey, door-to-door was sixteen days, but hopefully that could be shortened to fourteen as Matt has to get back to Luton. I am counting as Day One the tenth of February, and on that basis, today being the 21st of February, that leaves a hoped for arrival date of between the 23rd to the 25th. Most probably the 25th will be it.

To plot where they were when they sent the last report, find Niger on the map and look for the town of Agadez, which is called the Southern Gateway to the Sahara. That seems to suggest that the worst is behind them and the car has performed well.

The most valuable investment that they made has been put to plenty of use, that being the shovel as the car has had to be dug out of the sand several times. However, when all that there is is sand, getting stuck is no surprise.

Although I felt more than a twinge of envy at the start, I have had to conclude that I would not have enjoyed this journey one bit. I put that down to the fact that I usually avoid going to the beach because of the sand that gets absolutely everywhere. Can you just hear me whine about being in the middle of the desert? Of course, when it was all over I would dine out on those stories forever.

Driving the Sahara, or Back to Africa

Thanks to David Brock for the pic.

The name Dave Wilkins has by now become a household name to readers of these pages as we have followed his exploits throughout Asia, in his Asia Odyessy, and presently we are hearing of his adventures as he entered “Into Africa.” On that occasion he travelled with an American adventurer by the name of Paul as they made the drive overland. Paul was on his way to South Africa and David was hitching a ride as far as Cameroon.

The travels of Dave, who calls himself “Wanderin Wilco”, are amazing in themselves, but are made all the more awe- inspiring by the fact that several years ago David was struck by a horrific stroke that left his entire left side paralysed, including his left-side vision. Everyone else who I know that has had the misfortune to suffer this fate is sitting back and taking life easy. Let’s face it, this is a major league setback that requires one to re-learn a whole set of skills. The main one is in one’s own head, and that is all about coping and wanting to go on. Most such people don’t even bother to go to the supermarket anymore, as that is simply too much of an effort.

Dave Wilkins is not everybody else. He is one of a kind, and the only reason I dare labour this point is because of the example that it gives. I hope his stories will be shared with people who are coping with like debilitating circumstances because it just might be that they are capable of far more than they are aware. Perhaps they thought there was no point in even trying. Of course Dave is aware of what are supposed to be his limitations, and he is not actually trying to be a superman, but you know what; he is a Superman. In fact, he is a Super-Superman because Dave has gone Back into Africa, and this time he is on a mission.

Dave is member 007 of The Malima Support Group of Spain that gives guidance and raises funds for The Malima Project. The Group have adopted the village of Gouria, in the Extreme North of Cameroon, located in the Mandara Mountains along the border with Nigeria. A teacher at Cambridge House Community College, in Valencia, Judith Burnett did some volunteer work with the U.K. agency VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas), and while there she was asked to help to bring education to the forgotten village of Gouria.

From humble beginnings the Malima Primary School that she founded, now has slightly over 200 regular students, plus a full class of kindergarten children ready to enter into the main stream. As well, adult classes are also offered the parents. David visited the project as one of the supporting parents of Newton College, Elche, to see for himself what was being done with contributed funds. Now he is totally committed to the village.

As proof that angels walk among us everyday, a most generous couple, Bob and Jan from Ontinyent offered the school and the people of Gouria their surplus-to- requirements Nissan, Long-wheel base 4X4, as the village of Gouria is so rural and remote, and generally does not have any transport of its own. The Malima Support Group hereby gratefully acknowledges the thoughtfulness and kindness of Bob and Jan. Once there, the vehicle will instantly transform village life by being able to drive the necessary distance to collect water at a time when the village normally has none, and to also act as their own ambulance, something they have never had before.

On the ninth of February, which is David’s birthday, and as he pointed out, the same date that Stanley set off to look for Dr. Livingstone, Dave, together with father and son driving team of John and Matthew Walpole left the docks at Alicante for the ferry crossing to Algiers on a 5,000 kilometre drive across the Sahara Desert to personally deliver the car. Their route is due South passing El Golea, In Salah, Tamanrasset, Arlit in Niger, and on into the Northern Plateu of Nigeria and a left turn takes them into the North of Cameroon and finally to the village of Gouria.

Crossing the desert there are paved roads for most of the way, provided the shifting sands have not completely covered them, but it is not exactly the same thing as a drive along the Autopista del Mediterraneo. This is adventure in the making with many unknowns to be faced along the way. Already David has been reporting back on their progress, and as one might imagine he tells tales of constant danger, life under the stars far away from life as we know it, and always the sand is ever present. Whenever a cold snap crosses our path dumping lots of snow, that makes news involving driving in the snow and snow removal. But at least that is temporary. The sand in the desert is permanent. As I write this the news is “so far, so good.”

That they will have some pretty good stories to tell when they return is without doubt. I urge readers to watch the pages of this newspaper. We can almost be sure that there will be at least one hotel along the way that calls itself “The Mirage”. Hopefully it will be real.

To learn more about The Malima Project please visit www.Malima-Project.org.

Colegio Primaria Malima (Malima Annual report in Spanish)

Malima Primary School
Gouria
Camerún, África del oeste.
Informe Anual

Para el año Setiembre1, 2005 a ·1 Agosto 31 2006-11-30
“100 % es un numero muy bueno”

Señores y Señoras, es con gran orgullo que podemos informaros que el director, profesores, y especialmente la clase de CM2 de 2006 han hecho otra vez el esfuerzo supremo para lograr el 100% de éxito en los exámenes de entrada en secundaria.
Otra vez! Felicitaciones a cada uno de nuestros docentes que han dado y siguen dando 110% de su esfuerzo a nuestros alumnos. Ellos se preocupan mucho para los niños, y en su turno los alumnos absorben lo programas de estudios como esponjitas. Esta claro que el Principal y los profesores que tal dedicación es justificada cuando los resultados son tan excelentes.


La clase de 2005, nuestra primera clase a graduar también aprobaron al 100%. Algunos de preguntaron si eso fue un resultado aislado. La clase de 2006 ha confirmado que los resultados del año pasado no fueron casualidad y esto será siempre nuestro objetivo.

En otros eventos en el pueblo durante el año nuestro sueño de siempre de traer electricidad al pueblo ha sido realizado. La escuela fue el primer edificio a ser conectado, y con el tiempo todo el pueblo llegara a la edad moderna de la electricidad.

Hemos informado en otros momento este paso significativo hacia delante, pero una vez mas damos las gracia a todos los que lo han hecho posible.

El beneficio inmediato de la electricidad será el establecimiento de un molino eléctrico. En este momento moler el grano es una tarea muchas veces manual que cuesta mucho tiempo. Lo fondos fueron puesto a nuestra disposición y el molino ya esta en su sitio. Gracia a nuestro generoso donante por haber hecho posible esto.

Uno de nuestros proyecto mas ambiciosos ha sido la realización de una fuente de agua limpia y sostenible. No estamos bajo ilusiones, esto será difícil pero estamos convencidos de que hay agua subterránea en el pueblo.-

La escuela ha estado beneficiándose del trabajo de una voluntaria de VSO (Voluntary service Overseas.) en la persona de la dinámica Suzy King. Periódicamente Suzy nos envía un informe para la gente que nos apoya y estamos agradecidos por esta información de primera mano.

Este año ella ha sido apoyado por otro voluntario Sr, Alex free, un coordinador de deportes. Ha ido una de los prioridades del director y los padres de desarrollar un buen programa de deportes . Entonces damos la bienvenida al Sr. Free y le deseamos bien.

Del punto de vista financiera muchos gobiernos deberían prestar atención al excelente responsabilidad fiscal del director y de sus profesores. Como recuerdo del sistema vigente: para evitar una situación donde el recibido del dinero también es el pagador los fondo de lo sponsores están ingresados en la cuenta de nuestros guardianes el Conejo Interhospitalario de Cooperación, y estos fondos son librados basado en un presupuesto y datos de pago predeterminados. Una vez que lo fondos han sido utilizados en Camerún un informe con recibo son enviados al grupo de apoyo. Una vez mas el año ha acabado dentro del presupuesto. Recomendamos el director por su gerencia fiduciaria ejemplar.

La mortalidad infantil es un gran problema para la infancia africana. El segundo gran desafío para los que sobreviven es el síndrome de falta de desarrollo. Esto viene dela pobreza, falta de recursos en algunos casos pero generalmente por falta de conocimiento. Como parte de un programa de educación de adultos Malima quiere financiar un programa piloto incluyendo al menos 10 mujeres y 5 hombres del pueblo enseñándolos valores nutricionales utilizando recursos locales. La esperanza es que ellos divulgaran sus conocimiento y creciente experiencia en su región.

Dos otros acontecimientos tendrán un importante efecto en el Proyecto de Malima. El primero es que uno de los padres sponsores de un alumno hizo una visita a Malima para ver personalmente el progreso del trabajo .Es Sr. David Wilkins, ahora miembro del Grupo de Apoyo de Malima, (007) y un viajero del mundo.
Segundo, la ex-directora, propietaria de Newton College, un apoyo del proyecto desde hace tiempo ha hecho una visita extendida a la escuela. Como educadora experta la escuela se beneficiara mucho de su ‘input’ en el área de la gerencia. Consequentemente esto sera un buen oportunidad para Malima para grandir aun más.

La luz de un buen futuro para Malima brilla con aun mas intensidad.

El Grupo de Apoyo de Malima.

Welcome to The Malima Blog, "Go Malima!"

This is Malima Primary School

Located in the village of Gouria,

in the Mandara Mountains of

The Extreme North, Cameroon

West Africa, home to the proud Kapsiki Peoples.

This blog is a companion to the official website, http://www.malima-project.org/, which is at present undergoing a revamp. We shall keep readers up to date with the current happenings at the school and in the village of Gouria through this blog while the revamp process takes place of the official website. It will also be an integral part of our ongoing communications network. You are encouraged to send in your comments and questions as we would be delighted to develop a dialog with you.

The Malima Project is one of the great success stories to come out of Africa in recent times. It started as the dream of one individual, and like all great works it always starts in the mind and concept of one person. Judith Burnett, a teacher at Cambridge House Community College, Rocafort, Valencia, Spain dreamed one day of creating her own school in a needy part of the world, so when the plea to bring education to the children of the forgotten village of Gouria fell on her ears, the message was right and the person was receptive.

Starting with a one room school house the school has grown to its present size accommodating over 200 students, with another 100 in the kindergarten awaiting to join in the main stream of education. Rarely is so much hunger for education demonstrated, and it is a joy to see the children take full advantage of the opportunity placed before them. These students do not take it for granted, and they seem to realise, perhaps even more than Western children that the way forward is through education.

From time to time we will broadcast an invitation to you to be a part of this success story in appeals for your financial help. You can be assured that your funds will be used in their entirety as advertised.

We thank you for your interest and your support.

The Malima Support Group

Annual Report

MALIMA PRIMARY SCHOOL
GOURIA
CAMEROON, WEST AFRICA


FOR THE YEAR SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 TO AUGUST 31, 2006

“ ONE HUNDRED PERCENT IS A VERY GOOD NUMBER INDEED!”

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is with great pride that we can report to you that the Principal, teachers, and in particular the graduating class of 2006 has made a supreme effort in attaining a one hundred percent pass rate. Again! Congratulations to every one of our teaching staff who gave, and continue to give the children 110 percent of their effort. They care deeply about the children, and in their turn the students absorb the curriculum as though they were little sponges. It is clear to the Principal and teachers that such dedication is justified when such outstanding results are achieved.

The class of 2005, our first graduating class also produced a 100% pass rate. Some people wondered whether that was an isolated result. The class of 2006 has confirmed that the results of last year were not just beginner’s luck, and that this will always be our goal.

In other developments during the year, the long-held dream of bringing electricity to the village of Gouria was finally realised. The school was the first to be connected, and in the fullness of time the entire village will be brought into the modern age of electrical power. We have previously reported on this significant step forward, but once again we thank all who were instrumental in achieving this start.

The immediate benefit of electricity will be the establishment of a mill to process the grains by machine. Presently, this is a time consuming manual job that take hours of hard labour. The funds have been made available, and we take this opportunity to thank our generous donor for making this possible.

One of the next major projects to receive our focus will be the realization of a source of clean and sustainable water. We are under no illusions, this will be a very difficult task, but we are convinced that the water is there in underground pools and rivers.

The school has been enjoying the benefit of a VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) individual in the person of the dynamic Ms. Suzy King. Periodically, Suzy does a report directly to our sponsors, and we are grateful for such first-hand information. We recognize her complete commitment and Malima has grown as a result of her input.

She has now been joined by another VSO volunteer in the person of Mr. Alex Free, a sports coordinator. It has been one of the top-of-the list wishes on the part of the principal and the Parent-Teachers Association to make certain that Malima has a strong sports programme. So, we welcome Mr. Free and wish him well.

From a financial management standpoint, many world governments should pay attention to the outstanding fiscal responsibility and capability evidenced by the director and his staff. Just as a reminder of the system in place: to avoid a situation where the receiving cashier is also the paying cashier, sponsors’ funds are paid into the account of our Trustees, Consejo Interhospitalario de Cooperacion, and these funds are released based upon a working budget and a pre-determined payment timetable. Once the funds have been spent in Cameroon, a report, with material receipts are sent back to The Support Group. Once again, the year ended within budget. We commend the Principal/Director for his exemplary fiduciary management.

Infant mortality is the greatest problem confronting the very young in Africa. The second greatest challenge for those who survive is “The Failure to Thrive Syndrome.” This arises due to the obstacles of poverty, lack of resources in some cases, but generally through lack of knowledge. As part of the adult education programme, Malima would like to sponsor a pilot programme taking at least ten of the most eligible women in the village to teach them about proper nutritional values using available resources. The hope is that they will spread their knowledge and growing experience throughout the region.

Two other developments are having, and will have a significant effect upon the Malima Project. The first is that one of the parents of a sponsoring child made a personal visit to the school to see for himself the work-in-progress. He is Mr. David Wilkins, now a member of the Malima Support Group, (007) and a world traveller in his own right.

Secondly, the previous owner/director of Newton College, a staunch supporter has made an extended visit to the school. As a senior educator the school will turn an important corner as a result of her management input. Consequently, this will be an opportunity for Malima to go from strength-to-strength.

The light of a bright future for Malima now glows with even greater intensity!

The Malima Support Group











THE MALIMA PROJECT

A NOT-FOR –PROFIT CHARITABLE VENTURE

In Spain, The Malima Support Group are the liaison between sponsors and the Malima Primary School Director/Principal and the Parent-Teachers Association, who are known as AMALGOU, “Association Malima de Gouria.”.

The primary concerns of the MSG are fundraising, communications, and acting as a Steering Committee to keep Malima along a growth track that will help it to maintain its place as the model school in the Extreme North of Cameroon.

The members of the MSG are as follows:

Judith Burnett, Founder, Educator
Joan Garfield, Educator and retired School Head

Maria Teresa Pomares Salceda, retired Educator, School Head and School owner
Lynne Hunt, Educator
Anna Reilly, Educator
Frank Reilly, Computer Specialist
David Wilkins, Lecturer, Writer, Adventurer
Eugene Carmichael, Accountant, Writer, Consultant

Contact information:

Aptdo 168

46183, L'Eliana

Valencia

Spain

e-mail; eugene.spain@gmail.com

Mail address:
Aptdo 168
46183 L’Eliana
(Valencia)
Spain

e-mail : lynne@malima-project.org