Our work
Classroom Connections
Our newest endeavor is fostering cross-cultural learning opportunities between classrooms in Cameroon and classrooms in the US. Students in the Board President’s hometown of Fergus Falls, MN are connecting with students at the Bilingual High School of Bertoua, Cameroon. They exchange letters and emails, engage in Skype video chats, and share photo essays to explore each other’s worlds. Cross-cultural learning opportunities and exposure to the global community fosters understanding and promotes peace. It establishes a foundation for an informed worldview, which is necessary to be successful global citizens and to effectively participate in a globalized economy.
Click on the video below to see Classroom Connections in action:
Related blog posts:
Top 5 of 2012 Dec. 30, 2012
Through language and culture, students connect Nov. 26, 2012
Classroom Connections Featured in Fergus Falls Daily Journal Oct. 27, 2012
Cameras arrive and Classroom Connections officially launches Oct. 8, 2012
Partners for Scholars Success
Opportunity Africa provides scholarships to academically talented students in Cameroon who come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. We strive to support the academic endeavors that inspire each student—whether it’s nursing school, primary school, electronics school, graduate school, business school, or agriculture classes. Students of any age or educational background are encouraged to apply for a scholarship, as we believe that education at any point in a person’s life can benefit them and their community. Read about our scholarship recipients.
Related blog posts:
Top 5 of 2012 Dec. 30, 2012
New scholarship recipients announced — become their Partner! Oct. 17, 2012
Health Education
In the future, Opportunity Africa aims to conduct health education and outreach activities in the communities in which supported students live. This will enable families to keep their children healthier, which means they are more likely to succeed in school. Healthier parents spend less time away from work and have more money to provide for their families’ needs. Some ideas include working with women’s credit associations to identify health education needs, training community health workers to provide health education in our communities, and partnering with local organization to conduct trainings.
Income Generation
In the future, Opportunity Africa intends to conduct vocational trainings and income-generation activities for parents or guardians of supported students. We hope to provide families with new skills that offer them the opportunity to increase their earnings. This will improve their chances for economic self-sufficiency and provide a more stable home environment for supported students. Some ideas include partnering with local NGOs to direct small business trainings, organizing artisan co-ops, and providing mirco-loans to the parents or guardians of students receiving scholarships.
