Cameroon

Located in the heart of the African continent, Cameroon is a country in Central Africa, usually referred to as Africa in miniature due to the human, cultural and natural diversity that characterises it.

In addition to French and English which are its official languages, we also meet more than two hundred ethnic groups with different mother tongues. It has a subsoil, a fauna and a flora which are more than well-off and still barely exploited, as well as cultural traditions which vary depending on the place or the tribe where one finds oneself.

It's natural aspect, conducive to the flourishing of domestic or wild animals, is what will have most inspired the budding authors of the two collections of tales and stories. Many authors have chosen animals as characters, including "A well in the village", "The dove and the raven", "The snake totem" to name a few.

They addressed humanist themes which teach about altruism, honesty, equal opportunities, respect for laws or traditions... As for the places mentioned, they are undoubtedly similar to the villages of origin of the authors, even if some are imaginary.

Sponsored by the Ministry of Arts and Culture, these young writers, aged between 10 and 13, were introduced to the art of writing in writing workshops led by their teachers and Ms. Viviane Moluh Peyou, under the aegis of APEC (the Association of Cameroonian Poets and Writers) as well as its president, Dr. Pabe Mongo. 

These committed young teachers volunteered to participate in the African Children's Stories program, after communications from the heads of their respective establishments during the gatherings generally taking place every Monday morning for the raising of the colours.

Thus, Ducere Foundation selected five educational establishments from the departments of Mfoundi and Noun, consecutively located in the Central and Western regions of Cameroon, including: 

• Elig-Essono High School,
• Mballa II High School,
• Foumbot Nkoundoumbain High School,
• François Xavier Vogt College, and
• Jean Tabi College.

All participating schools produced enough impressive texts to encourage to finance not just one collection of stories but two!

It was with the support of Ducere Foundation whom produced, printed and then distributed thousands of copies across Cameroon, to schools, city libraries, orphanages and a variety of international cultural organisations represented in Cameroon.

The entire National Triangle of this miniature Africa is deeply grateful to the Ducere Foundation and to Dr Oumar Diouf for having included it among the beneficiary countries which have unearthed precious talents among young children.