To honour late parents: US-based philanthropist launches scholarship scheme, supports 10 students in Fundong.

The scheme is dubbed Nchindo Stepping Stone Scholarship Fund. Ngong Christian said he set up the scheme to honour his parents, Bobe Nchindo Sayong and Nawain Nchindo Margaret, both of blessed memory.

It was launched at Government Bilingual High School Fundong, Boyo Division of the North West Region. This was during a ceremony organised at the school campus on Tuesday October 22. 

Some 10 students selected by Voice of the Voiceless in collaboration with the institution were the first beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme. The beneficiaries include six in secondary school and four in high school. 

Thanks to the scholarship, the 10 hardworking and vulnerable students, will receive sponsorship throughout out their secondary and high school studies. The students did not only receive their school fees but the package came along with school bags. 

The organisation also donated 15 new benches in order to ease the learning process for students and teachers.

In an interview granted The Guardian Post, the Founder of Voice of the Voiceless said he put in place the scholarship “to proudly honour the legacy of my late parents, who sacrificed everything to empower me through education”. 

He mentioned that the scholarship fund is a tribute to their unswerving dedication and unrelenting passion for knowledge.

“I chose education as the cornerstone of this initiative because I firmly believe in its transformative power. My parents, though uneducated themselves, instilled in me the conviction that education is the key to unlocking a brighter future. Even in their final moments, they emphasised the importance of education,” Ngong said.

The Voice of the Voiceless boss further stated that his mother’s poignant words: “Education is your only parent,” still resonate, adding that: “Her dying wish was for me to succeed, and my father echoed this sentiment before his passing. Their words have become my guiding principle”.

He stated his commitment to supporting deserving students while keeping his parents’ memory alive. 

“Our inaugural scholarship program has already impacted 10 underprivileged students, selected for their exceptional academic performance despite financial hardship. These brilliant minds will receive comprehensive support throughout high school, empowering them to reach their full potential,” Ngong said. 

According to the philanthropist and author, his vision and that of his organisation is to extend far beyond by expanding the initiative across Cameroon.

“We also aim to identify top performers and sponsor their higher education abroad,” he added. 

Initiative saluted

The gesture by Ngong Christian, himself a former student of GBHS Fundong, was greeted with messages of appreciation from the beneficiaries, their parents as well as education stakeholders.  

Speakers during the event, pioneer Principal of GBHS Fundong, Hon Ndim Albert Waingeh; the Deputy Mayor of Fundong Council, Chia Ernest Tufoin; and the current Principal of the institution, King Exodus, were full of praises for the donation.

Hon Waingeh told beneficiaries that the scholarship is a “debt”. He encouraged them to be at their best in order to not only guarantee their future but in turn offer support to others.

Talking about the donor, the Principal of GBHS Fundong, said: “He passed through a struggling life but continues to have a vision for vulnerable and hardworking students. I’m happy that GBHS Fundong has been selected. For these 10 children that we have given them the scholarship, we are going to follow up as a school and keep track, to ensure that they study well so and become successful”.

The beneficiaries, on their part, expressed gratitude to their benefactor, pledging to be studious. 

Voice of the Voiceless impacting lives

Founded in 2016, the organisation seeks to amplify the voices of the marginalised. Since creation, Voice of the Voiceless have consistently provided support to vulnerable individuals across various aspects of life, including educational programs, youth empowerment programs, emergency response fund and business start-ups.

The organisation has sponsored numerous students in primary, secondary schools, and universities, and equipped many with vocational skills, enabling them to secure gainful employment and achieve sustainability. 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3270 of Friday October 25, 2024