Donga Mantung: Minister Fuh Calistus boosts back-to-school.

The official launching of The Gentry Support Scheme took place recently in Nkambe, under the patronage of the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, of Donga Mantung Division, Basiliken George Magloire Emmanuel.

 Addressing teachers, parents, students and pupils, during the official launching and handing over ceremony at Ocean King Hotel, in Nkambe, the SDO congratulated Prof. Fuh Calistus Gentry for his timely support to encourage back-to-school in Donga Mantung Division. 

Basiliken also said The Gentry Support Scheme is living an indelible mark of greatness in impacting lives. He continued that the financial support to startups and award of excellence through scholarships and donation of school needs to over 1,000 orphans in Donga Mantung is laudable. 

To the beneficiaries, the SDO emphasised that the support should be used for the purpose it is due. 

The Coordinator of The Gentry Support Scheme, Tarlishi Oliver Yinyu, said the scheme has come to stay. He said the scheme will foster sustainable development by encouraging and supporting education, through Excellence Awards and entrepreneurship, by providing seed funding for startups as well as support the education and welfare of the needy in Donga Mantung Division. 

A total of 18 Advanced Level students shared the sum of 3,150,000 FCFA with laureates bagging home sums ranging from 150,000 FCFA and 200,000 FCFA. The first two students in the 2024 June Advanced Levels in GCE and TVE were awarded. Besides that, a total of 5,000 exercise books, 10,000 pens and rulers as well as 500 school bags were dispatched to the various Subdivisions of Donga Mantung Division, to support back-to-school. The support was mainly for orphans. 

The Gentry Support Scheme also announced the allocation of support to seven new startups and additional funding to seven old startups. 

One of the interesting aspects of the event was the success storytelling by beneficiaries. Four different youth testified how the scheme has helped them to achieve their lifetime projects. 

Abanda Rachael, who three years ago received support to set up a small poultry farm, said she started with 100 day-old chicks, but today she employs three workers. 

Mbia Gideon from Ako, who received seed fund to establish a barbing workshop, revealed that he now employs two other youth. 

Kashara Patience, who three years ago received the excellence award, said she is holder of a Bsc in accounting from the University of Bamenda. 

At the end of the event, the population hailed Prof. Fuh Calistus Gentry, the initiator and sponsor of The Gentry Support Scheme, for his sustainable actions in empowering youth and communities in Donga Mantung.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3225 of Tuesday September 10, 2024