Between 2014 and 2019, a passionate young teacher in Ndop quietly ran a self-funded scholarship program that would eventually inspire the creation of a long-term educational solution for generations to come.
Between 2014-2019, using the limited income from his teaching job, the founder of Sustainable Actions Afrika purchased modular STEM textbooks covering Physics, Biology, and Chemistry and awarded them annually to the three top-performing Form Three students (Grade 8/9) in three different community schools. In total, over 50 high-achieving but low-income students received these books during the five-year program.
Form Three students were specifically targeted because it is the class in which Cameroonian students choose between continuing in the sciences or switching to arts and social sciences. “This is a turning point in their academic journey,” the founder explained. “We wanted to make sure that those with the passion and ability for STEM weren’t left behind simply because they couldn’t afford textbooks.”
The scholarship had a powerful impact but it also highlighted a problem: sustainability. Once the books were handed out, there were no copies left for future students. “Each year brought new bright minds, but limited resources. We realized we needed a long-term solution.”
This realization led to the birth of the Community STEM Library; a shared space where STEM books and resources could be accessed by all students, regardless of their academic rank or financial status. Rather than distributing books to individuals, the library model ensures that materials are available year after year for a broader group of learners.
Supported by Education Information Services International (EISERVI) Cameroon, the library has since grown to house hundreds of books, transforming into a vital hub for learning in a region where access to educational materials is still a significant challenge.
“What started as a personal act of giving became something much bigger,” the founder reflected.
The STEM books scholarship helped a dozen of learners , but the library is here for everyone—for all generations to come. Peter N. Initiator of Scholarship and Library projects.
