During the week of February 1 – 4, 2022, NO LIMIT INTERNATIONAL led by the Co-Founder, Ms. Orlyanka TANTCHOU distributed books, laptops, and tablets in several primary schools in Yaoundé, Cameroon including: the Complex Scolaire COPES/FLOMIK, Ecole Primaire Pere MONTI, Ecole Primaire Franco-Arabe Grande mosque – Yaounde, and FLOURISHING Bilingual High School. The theme of the book/laptop/tablet donation drive was: NO LIMIT INTERNATIONAL – BRIDGING THE LITERACY GAP AND DIGITAL DIVIIDE.
At each stop, students expressed their satisfaction and joy to be among the schools selected to receive the precious donations. “I am very happy for all these books, laptop and the tablet that the school received. As the NGO NO LIMIT INTERNATIONAL founder told us, reading will help us improve our vocabulary and writing skills. So, I am excited of the opportunity to read all those books as well as take advantage of the tablet and laptop donated today”, admits Miss Clara Massi, a form 5 student at the COPES FLOMIK College in Yaounde.
School officials at all the schools visited were impressed with the quality/quantity of the donations and promised the visiting audience that the books/tablets/laptops will be used wisely for the benefit of the entire school community. “We are privileged to have been among the few schools selected by the NGO NO LIMIT INTERNATIONAL. These donations will help our school community improve the children’s literacy rates and bridge the digital gap among our students as well. We hope this is just the beginning as we hope to build a library and computer lab at school, courtesy of NO LIMIT INTERNATIONAL donations. In short, We are always open to future donations”, commented the principal of Flourishing Bilingual School of Nkolbisson, Yaounde.
Out of all the schools visited, the Franco Arab Primary school was unique in a sense that the children attended school in three languages: Arab, French, and English with the majority of students being Muslims. “We are advocates of equal rights for quality education for all and it’s important for children regardless of their race, gender, or religion to have access to quality education for the achievement of sustainable livelihoods in the future,” said Orlyanka TANTCHOU. The principal of the School, Ms. Aminata AHIDJO thanked us for the thoughtful gesture and we seized the opportunity to reassure her of our commitment to assist all the communities, especially young Muslim girls who face adversity sometimes in terms of access to education.
According to the UN, quality early childhood education is one of the best investments a society can make in its children. “At NO LIMIT INTERNATIONAL, we feel it’s important for children to not only have access to education but benefit from quality education that can be provided with well-equipped libraries. Donating books contributes on a small scale to our long term objectives of bridging the literacy gap in Sub-Saharan Africa through the reading empowerment of the youth. The power of a literate mind is priceless and we must address it“, said Orlyanka TANTCHOU.
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed education forever with the rise of e-learning and the increased use of digital platforms. More than ever, the need to equip students with educational technology is crucial and essential to their lifelong development. “We must equip children with the necessary tools to dream and aspire in the digital era. The digital equality is a very important matter in today’s society and our aim is to decrease the digital divide gap by providing access to educational technology such as tablets and laptops, which are equipped with learning activities that are crucial to early childhood development to all the children in the school community in sub-Saharan Africa”, said Orlyanka TANTCHOU.
In conclusion, studies have shown that literacy is crucial to success in school, future earning potential, and the ability to contribute to the nation’s economy. As such, strong literacy education and digital empowerment are key ingredients to the successful workforce of tomorrow. Donating these books/laptops/tablets will help thousands of children develop literacy knowledge and digital skills that align with the global market demands of today and tomorrow. “Our mission at NO LIMIT INTERNATIONAL is to improve the quality of education in Sub-Saharan Africa and contribute to a better society with empowered readers and digital users in the youth community” said Orlyanka TANTCHOU.
