Our collaborative project New Laetare Schools in the village of Akwakuma, Nigeria has been in existence since 1991 …
- A Kindergarten with provisional Day Care Center (from 1992 to 1996)
- A Primary school (from 1997 to 2007)
- A Secondary school (from 2008 to 2014)
- A Day Care Center (from 2015 to 2017)
But more important than the buildings are the people who use them every day. This school year no less than 1060 children have been registered. They represent more than 600 families. 142 teachers and 27 staff have been employed.
The directors and teaching staff provide high-quality education. All employees receive one, according to African standards, socially responsible wages. The training center helps children to develop in a sustainable way, to emancipate people and to give them opportunities to take their future into their own hands. The institution is now also fully integrated into the Nigerian school system and in the hands of the local people.
“Education is the most powerful weapon to make a difference in the world” (Nelson Mandela)
Thanks to our scholarship fund, those in charge of the New Laetare schools can achieve their goal of providing free education to 10% of the number of pupils and free childcare and care for 10% of the children in Day Care. Thanks to the hospitality of those in charge in Nigeria, more than 40 young people or adults from our country have already experienced a work or indulgence period at the “New Laetare Schools Training Center” campus in Akwakuma.
Skeptics who argue that North-South cooperation is ineffective are wrong. Our cooperation, which has only been possible with your support and sympathy, will give a better future for many years and to many people.
“Big rivers need the small streams” (Albert Schweitzer)
We sincerely thank you for the support, small or large. Our thanks also go to the King Baudouin Foundation, those responsible for the North-South policy of West Flanders, the Provincial North-South Center of West Flanders, the Bruges Fund for Development and Cooperation for the many years of support and logistical assistance.
