The anglophone crisis in Cameroon between the English and French speakers affects nearly 2.2 million people. This resulted in an estimated 574,000 internally displaced people, most of whom have fled to Bamenda. Since the school system is one of the main triggers of the crisis, it is also considered one of the primary targets of attacks. As a result, many educational institutions are closed or overcrowded (especially in urban areas), so in this region alone 700,000 school children are directly affected by school closures, violence or flight.
Malteser International and Caritas Bamenda have been providing support in the region for a long time and are offering protection and alternative education to the children affected by the crisis in the Big Mankoon Cathedral, which is, however, reaching the limits of its capacity.
With the construction of a new building on the church grounds, a safe place for conflict-affected children is to be created in eight months, where they can receive psychological care and make up for their school failures. With the support of the Regine Sixt Children's Aid Foundation DRYING LITTLE TEARS, the project now realized and in the long term 500 children a year can receive a school education and a safe place.
