Rugby to support education from early childhood

In Cameroon, more than one third of the population lives below the poverty line. Children are the most affected. Those born into poor families are twice as likely not to complete primary education and four times more likely to suffer from stunted growth.

The Serge Betsen Academy (SBA) at the Jardin Eden Center in Yaoundé and the SBA at the Zoétélé Center (100 km from Yaoundé) receive disadvantaged children with difficult family and school situations. Children in Yaoundé “hang around” in the neighborhood after school, especially as the education system lacks facilities and teachers, meaning children only have school every other week.
Children at the Zoétélé Center live in extreme poverty. They often test positive for malaria and have parasites.

Through this project, the partners aim to extend their activities to “toddlers” and thereby have a positive impact from a very early age.

• Rugby: weekly discovery and practice sessions
• Education: tutoring sessions several times a week by qualified teachers
• Health: information and awareness-raising campaigns in the SBA infirmaries
• Development of several activities for young people (including tutoring, infirmary work, gardening, maintaining vegetable gardens, and handicraft work)

• 50 children (26 girls and 50 boys) aged between 2 and 13 in Yaoundé and Zoétélé, 2 rugby coaches and 4 young people from the SBA centers
• Improved living conditions in the villages where the SBA has opened centers
• Experience sharing and support for the implementation of similar projects in Cambodia, Madagascar and Liberia