PINORICH FOUNDATION STORMS THE BOKWAI COMMUNITY WITH CHRISTMAS

There is no better time to bring home a charity event other than the Christmas season. The fantasies, festive spirit, colors of love, the birth of Christ speaks of a perfect time to organize an outstanding event to reach out to members of a community, this time around kids as Christmas depicts a time of sharing.

The 15th of December was the date set aside for a Christmas party to reach out to the kids of Bokwai village in the south west region of Cameroon. Bokwai is a locality of Cameroon located in the district of Buea in Fako with a population of more than 2,000 persons. Something worth noting about the area is that in recent times it has suffered severe setbacks due to the ongoing tensions and upheavals in the English speaking regions of Cameroon. As such, there has been a decrease in participation of school, an increased number of displaced persons and chaos brought about by fighting and kidnaps.

The event was done in close collaboration with members and volunteers of the Pinorich Foundation who worked co-jointly to harness and nurture the good feeling of Christmas. From a one week session of planning the whole event to another week of camping together in a resident established by the organization to see how to forehand execute the tasks of the day and in a good way promote the culture of volunteerism and communion.

While camping, the troop of volunteers personally raised their efforts to use their special talents and skills to see into it that the occasion slated for Christmas becomes a success. Activities ranged from early morning walks across the village to sensitize the population to come out to the event, explaining the nature of activities to them, details of the foundations objectives (see website for more details) and its aim in supporting under privileged kids.

Next, noticing that some children would not turn up due to certain social challenges and complexes, a special care was provided for needy kids who had their hair plaited in a true African party manner and dresses sown for them to match the importance of Christmas and create a testimonial balance between the various groups of children.

Baking homemade cup cakes was another iota that spiced up the festive spirit as a wholesome cake was made accompanied with series of cupcakes totaling up to 500. The cakes were used at a point in the event to raise funds for the internally displaced children living in and around the village. With a clear intent to show the community how funds can be allocated to restore displaced personalities. (see our previous visits to internally displaced children in kumba)

Another get together period for the kids and field leaders was decorating of the Christmas tree and also the internal and external surrounding of the venue to give a symbolic red and white blend which is typical of the Christmas season. Paper wraps, ribbons, filling of balloons and placing them from the main entrance to the venue were all spiced up activities for the day. Also, some 500 gifts were parceled in preparation of the D-day as a Christmas party without gifts kills the whole memory. With each gift containing at least exercise books, text books, color pencils, pens, hand bands, dresses and crayons for the children. (Age range 1-14) These items were parceled according to the age groups of the kids bearing in mind that these stationeries will help them when school resumes.

A party where the lost Santa will be attending definitely had to be a thing of joy to kids especially as they gave out verbal confessions that this was their first time experiencing this. Popular acclamations “father Christmas I love you”, “Father Christmas where is my gift”…… to site a few. The degree of anxiety flushing through the minds of the kids was exceeding mutual even to their old parents who accompanied them through to the party because they too had barley witnessed a Christmas party of this nature and magnitude.

Throughout the merry making event of course gaming and extracurricular activities took place like singing, dancing, drama (acting the birth of Christ), chair dancing, pop quizzes and many more. Food was served in an open buffet manner for all who came to the party from the cakes to a beef inspired barbeque, some rice, an African inspired pepper-soup and plantains. Each child had a complete meal accompanied with several take home snacks and many drinks to go with.

The party unanimously came to an end with closing remarks from the foundation’s president Mr. Baya Lucas who promised to engage his foundation into many more activities in the Bokwai area. We really think everyone had a good time or rather should have a good time this Christmas season.

Have a merry merry Christmas, God’s good cheer and fervent blessings of the season rest and abide with you as you support our works financially and morally.

Compiled by PRO OFFICE

PINORICH FOUNDATION