There was a cocktail of sounds and colors this wednesday, october 9, 2024 at the ABIETE YEKOMBO school complex to celebrate the return of the SIKOLO ANE MFI initiative. It was a day rich in activities, marked by the presence of many distinguished guests, including His Majesty OYONO EKATA’A BULU NORD paramount chief.

8 schools, including four nursery schools (ABIETE, MEKAMEVOM, NGOMESSAN and the MENGONG bilingual nursery school) and four elementary school (MENGONG group I, MENGONG group II, ABIETE YEKOMBO and the MENGONG bilingual elementary school), with a total of over 2,000 pupils and some 50 teachers, celebrated the return of the SIKOLO ANE MFI initiative.

Created three years ago by THE BELINGA FOUNDATION , this initiative aims to promote education in the MENGONG county and bring together members of the educational community to ensure students receive a quality education.

The program of activities included « quizzes », a traditional dance competition, a modern dance competition, a playback competition, a soccer tournament, a best pupil award, a best teacher award and a best headmaster award.

It was precisely 10 a.m. when Mr. EVELE ESSO’ONE ALEXIS MENGONG county inspector for basic education, entered the ABIETE YEKOMBO school complex, marking the effective start of activities. He was welcomed by Mr MFOU’OU SAMBA Joseph, representative of the founder, the head of the Education department at The BELINGA FOUNDATION CLAYE ATANGANA MANDA and the headmistress of the host school Mrs NGOULI GENEVIÈVE.

After the welcome and presentation of the bouquet of flowers, the national anthem is played in Bulu by pupils from ABIETE YEKOMBO public school. The protocol phase continues with a review of the constituted bodies and speeches by the headmistress of ABIETE YEKOMBO public school, the head of the Education sector at THE BELINGA FOUNDATION and the representative of the founder of THE BELINGA FOUNDATION

In her speech, the headmistress of the host school thanked The BELINGA FOUNDATION for providing a platform for young talent to express tthemselve and urged the FOUNDATION to continue its exciting work and to do even more.

After this ceremonial phase, the activities began with a performance by nursery school pupils. The MEKAMEVOM nursery school took the lion’s share, finishing with the best overall performance. The elementary school were a little more balanced, although the MENGONG bilingual elementary school came out on top. The day ended with the presentation of prizes and diplomas of excellence to the winners.

In his closing speech, the MENGONG county’s inspector for Basic Education Mr EVELE ESSO’ONE ALEXIS praised the SIKOLO ANE MFI initiative, which encourages healthy competition between pupils and offers the pupils of the MENGONG county « an activity only seen in the country’s big cities », and called on teachers and supervisors to seize this opportunity to promote education and evaluate their learners.