Background

The recent collapse of the public school system in Cameroon has created a huge gap between the “haves” and “have-nots” among the population. Parents who can afford to pay higher fees send their children to private schools. Low-income families, on the other hand, find themselves helpless, disenfranchised, and forced to give up on hopes of educating their children, due to poverty. The situation of orphans is by far worse.

Biangoro Institute of Science Technology and Arts (BISTA)

Biangoro Institute of Science, Technology, and Arts (BISTA) was created in 1995 to try to revive hope among the poor and encourage low-income families to take the education of their children very seriously. Biangoro Institute of Science, Technology, and Arts (BISTA) was created in 1995 to provide young boys and girls from poor neighborhoods with an integrated environment for acquiring scientific and technological knowledge. BISTA is open to students of all faiths willing to acquire knowledge in a disciplined and self-respected environment. BISTA is licensed by the Cameroon Ministry of Education to provide education from kindergarten to college and university.

Ihsan Foundation made a $2,000 donation to BISTA in 2004 to provide school supplies to its students and to the school. It was a very successful program and a relief for the parents. Ihsan Foundation also granted $15,000 in 2005 to fund the renovation of BISTA for compliance with the security and sanitary requirements imposed by the government. BISTA has been very successful in providing education to a growing number of students from poor neighborhoods of Yaounde. Thanks to Ihsan’s contribution, BISTA has more than doubled enrollment from less than 250 students in 2005 to over 500 students this year, with 50 teachers. BISTA was an award winner in 2005 as the best bilingual school (French and English) in the entire Southern region.

Ihsan’s priorities for BISTA

Ihsan will seek to assist BISTA in increasing its student intake to one thousand (1,000) by building a fully dedicated secondary school facility. As of now BISTA’s seconadary school classes are being run in its primary school building.

Beyond 2007, BISTA will work on delivering University/College level classes. Our ultimate goal is to have an integrated educational environment from Kindergarten to University.

Relief Efforts in Cameroon

Ihsan Foundation and Hidaya Foundation jointly organized a relief program in Cameroon to provide food to the poor during the month of Ramadan of 2005. Over 500 families of the neighborhoods of Yaounde and surrounding villages benefited from this program.

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