Cameroonian Teacher Celebrates birthday by donating didactic materials to 40 Pupils

Beneficiaries of  the  Mr. Liwonjo birthday gifts in family photo with teachers & parents.

 By Christopher Ambe

Millions of people prefer celebrating, lavishly and stylishly, their birthday anniversaries at hotel parties, dining and wining with friends and relations. Hardly do they think of the underprivileged!

But 

Moki Vainda Liwonjo 

Moki  Vainda Liwonjo,a Cameroonian teacher currently  on study leave in the USA, is in the category of those  who have  decided to  celebrate theirs  by sharing the little they have with  underprivileged children. 

“There is nothing as pleasurable as giving to needy children. I love sharing…it feels really good,”Mr. Liwonjo told me in a telephone chat when asked to justify his preference for children. “Children are a blessing and a gift from God, so says the Bible”

Mr.Liwonjo’s decision to dedicate his birthday anniversaries to underprivileged children, and commune with them, was taken several years ago; but it became more pronounced when this elite of Fako Division, founded the MC –VAINDA FOUNDATION, headquartered in Buea.

Mr. Liwonjo, a former President of Buea Teachers Union and First Vice-President of Teachers’ Association of Cameroon (TAC) last  April 17,his birthday, made a significant donation of didactic materials plus foodstuff and 5000Fcfa each to forty(40) underprivileged pupils selected from three state-owned primary  schools in Buea subdivision viz:GS Bokwango,GS Likoko Membea Group I & II.

School authorities overseeing the donation 

The ceremony, which took place at GS Likoko Membea Group II,was  chaired  by Madam Rose Ewune,who sat in for the Inspector for Basic Education for Buea Subdivision. Madam Ewune commended the generosity of the donor and urged the beneficiaries to use the gift to improve on their learning.

The donor’s special representative Madam Josephine Lykowo Mbua,told the beneficiaries ,their parents and teachers present that, Mr. Liwonjo  is a committed teacher who teaches by example and holds  that the blessed should share their blessings with the needy.She said it was not the first time the donor was assisting underprivileged children in the subdivision, adding that he has decided that henceforth (and yearly) his birth day anniversary would be an opportunity for him to share more with less-privileged children.

Also speaking,Mrs. Ikome Irene Limunga, head teacher of GS Likoko Membea II ,on behalf of the beneficiary schools, commended  parents who did accompany their children to witness the donation. 

She expressed the wish to see many others emulate the philanthropic gesture of the donor.

School choir singing during the ceremony

The ceremony opened with a soul-searching meditation, inspired by the Bible book of Genesis 40:23 and titled “God will remember you”. The meditation by Hans Monono Manga, a gifted preacher and Worker of Buea Council, was hugely applauded.

Words of appreciation also came from Madam Linda Pearl, representative of beneficiary parents and two pupils on behalf of the beneficiaries.

The ceremony was animated with birthday songs in honor of the donor and live music by school choirs.
(Armelle Belibi ,University of Buea journalism Intern contributed to this report )