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REACH BACK
Welcome to REACH BACK
At REACH BACK, we are committed to transforming lives and building resilient communities.
Our mission is to raise the next generation of leaders and provide an enabling environment to them to effectively reach back and champion change in their own communities.
With the urge of making our schools and communities safe and conducive to foster growth, collaboration and realization, we run Reach One Teach One programs (ROTO programs) in schools and our Temporary Learning Spaces to ensuring that children aged 4-17 and youth aged 18-35
- Have access to quality education.
- Benefit from WASH services and basic healthcare.
- Gain hands-on skills.
- Engage in extracurricular activities.
- Showcase and preserve their culture.
- Adopt friendly environmental practices.
- Are protected from neglect, abuse, exploitation and violence.
- And finally, are equipped with technology and a spirit of patriotism.
In crisis affected areas such as in the NWSW regions of Cameroon, we set up Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS) which also serve as Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) where affected children and youth can benefit from
- Basic WASH services and healthcare.
- Non-formal and civic education.
- Recreational activities.
- Case Management and the possibility of being re-integrated into formal schools.
These Temporal Learning Spaces are managed by highly trained ROTO supervisors and facilitators.
In the NWSW regions of Cameroon, we currently run 03 Temporary Learning Spaces: 01 in Buea, precisely in Bokwaongo; 01 in Bamenda, precisely in Mile 90 Nsongwa; and 01 in Banso, precisely in Kingomen village.
In formal schools, we collaborate with the school administration to strengthen and reinforce the following.
- ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION:
Here, we assist to- Identify underprivileged learners and provide necessary financial assistance to help reduce dropout rates and increase school attendance.
- Give learners the opportunity to complement formal education with some hands-on skills acquisition to bridge theory and practice.
- Improve and/or provide adequate educational infrastructure support such as classrooms, laboratories, textbooks and technology.
- Organize awareness and advocacy campaigns and workshops on the importance of education for every child especially for girls and children with disabilities.
- WASH SERVICES (Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene promotion):
Together with the school administration, we thrive to ensure that the school
- Has access to constant potable water.
- is clean and respect standard hygiene measures.
- Establishes an easy-to-manage solid waste disposal mechanism.
- Has access to clean protected and separated latrines/toilets for students (male and female) and staff (male and female).
- Has access to a functional school infirmary and a decent canteen or “dining shed”.
- CHILD PROTECTION (Prevention of and Response to Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation and Violence against Children):
Here, we collaborate with the school administration and counselors to ensure that learners
- Benefit from Awareness and Response campaigns on Child Protection.
- Are free from drugs, gangs and other indulgences that negatively affect their wellbeing.
- Are free from sexual exploitation and abuse.
- Are free from other exploitation, harassment, abuse and violence.
- Affected properly receive MHPSS (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support) and professional referral.
- Perpetrators are booked and brought to justice.
- SCHOOL GOVERNANCE AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:
In very close collaboration with the school administration, students and teachers, we
- Support in organizing free and fair student government elections (class prefects, school prefects and club leaders) to promote ethical leadership and active citizenship.
- Train the elected student leaders in leadership, good governance and policymaking.
- Provide complementary support to the school’s clubs and other extracurricular activities.
- Encourage and assist those aged 20 years and above to register, vote and protect their votes during local and national elections.
In conclusion, we currently run Temporary Learning Spaces in Buea, Bamenda and Banso. And work in close collaboration with some schools in Buea but we intend to extend to other schools and set up more Temporary Learning Spaces in the NWSW regions and country at large depending on our resources. We are moving one step at a time.
Join us in our mission in creating a brighter, more sustainable future for all. Together, we can reach back and lift up.
Impacts We've Made
Through our Sustainable Livelihood Project, Election 4 All Project and Tomorrow Leaders Project, we have been able to make the following social impacts.
Collaborating and supervising the smooth and transparent running of the GHS Buea student government elections since 2019.
Since 2019, through the Elections 4 All project and the Tomorrow Leaders project, we have organized 04 self-funded student government elections, engaged and equipped over 4000+ students, 100 teachers, 16 parents and 20 school administrative staff that have participated in their student government elections as either voters, candidates, whistleblowers, or electoral committee members as trained.
Also, we have trained over 160 student government leaders, registered 70 of them and 20 teachers of ages 20 and above for the February 09, 2022 municipal and legislative elections in Cameroon. 65 of them actively participated in the elections at their discretion despite the deterring death threats to anyone in the North West and South West regions who would participate in that election due to the ongoing anglophone crisis in these regions.
Through the partnership between REACH BACK, the Nsongwa Students Union and Nsongwa village elites, we have been successfully sponsoring and collaborating in organizing their 10-days annual student cultural week since 2018.
This fellowship brings together Nsongwa students all over Cameroon and the diaspora so that they can share their various experiences, learn about the customs and traditions of Nsongwa, benefit from personal and professional workshops, go for excursion and receive excellence scholarship awards for GCE ordinary Level, Advanced Level and University Level.
About 60 Nsongwa students attend this fellowship every summer holiday and more than 8 receive excellence scholarships every year.
Since 2021, in collaboration with the school administration of GHS Buea, we organize the ROTO Interclass sporting competition in football and athletics.
This permits us identify and promote talents within our schools.
We intend spreading to other schools so as to organize the ROTO Interschool tournament for a much broader scouting of talents in these schools.
ROTO Sustainable Livelihood Project
Since 2020, Glory, Immaculate and Pascal have benefitted from this project.
Glory now owns a tailoring workshop in Buea; has trained over 5 apprentices and enrolled in an evening school to sit in for the 2023 Cameroon GCE Ordinary level.
Immaculate owns a manicure and pedicure beauty shop in Buea as well; has trained over 10 apprentices and is properly taking good care of her 4 kids from the proceeds she makes from her beauty shop.
Finally, Pascal an unemployed university graduate but equipped with barbering skills was placed by REACH BACK to operate a barbershop for over 2 years; he now owns his own barbershop, has trained over 7 apprentices, currently providing employment for more than 2 workers and properly taking care of his mother and singlehandedly supporting his siblings.