Ettringen/Düngenheim. The young support association “Caremeroon” has made it its mission to support the school project in the African country not only during the construction phase, but also in the long term. In Kribi, a city in the south of Cameroon with around 60,000 inhabitants, the construction of an initially two-class school with an inclusive focus is planned. The idea goes back to Anne Krämer-Wendel, the chairwoman of the support association, who, together with her family and friends, has invested a lot of heart and soul into the project.
“After many discussions in Alsace and Bingen, the Sisters of the Cross, founded in Strasbourg in 1848, will begin construction with our support,” says Krämer-Wendel.
The order has facilities in France, southwest Germany, Cameroon and the Congo. In 1966, the sisters founded the St. Martin educational and nursing home in Düngenheim. The chairwoman of the support association, a pedagogical specialist by profession, met Sister Albertine Etendé from Cameroon there, who was working in the facility as part of her social work studies. The now 52-year-old sister is passionate about implementing things in her homeland that she has learned here. This is how the idea of building a school in Cameroon came about.
A call on social media got things rolling
“Impressed by the prosperity in which we live, Sister Albertine began to collect everyday objects and clothes to send to Cameroon,” reports Krämer-Wendel. “Initially, everything was stored in the basement of the special needs school.” The association’s chairwoman helped the nun with the collection and also with the packing. The sister had full faith in God that she would be able to bring the donated items back home safely. But there was a lack of money. Krämer-Wendel quickly launched an appeal via the messaging service “WhatsApp” for financial support for the cause. A colleague started a collection campaign at the Düngenheim school. “But it wasn’t just the money – the willingness and joy with which people offered their help also touched me,” reports the mother of three. The idea of combining the positive energy of Sister Albertine, that of the donors and the good connection to Cameroon and using it for the good cause grew in her mind.
Without outside help, we would not be able to launch or maintain the project.
Sister Albertine
Around three years after the start of the collaboration, Krämer-Wendel met with Sister Albertine and Mother Superior Ancilla-Maria Ruf from Bingen in Düngenheim a few weeks ago. The 86-year-old is confident about the school project: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Sister Albertine’s face also shows anticipation. She sees herself as a kind of bridge that connects her home country with help from Europe and, above all, from the new association in Ettringen. “Without outside help, we would not be able to launch or maintain the project.” It is not just about building the school, but also about the necessary funds to run it: “We take our responsibility to ensure financial transparency very seriously, especially with regard to the use of donations.”
There is a great need for schools in Cameroon. “What we as Sisters of the Holy Cross want to bring is the inclusive approach. In school, children with and without disabilities should learn and live together.” Education is the basis for a secure future for every person. “For me it is very important that the abilities of all children are promoted – in my home country and everywhere else. I am keen to make this a reality in Kribi – and later perhaps in other regions too,” says the African nun. In addition to the school, a garden for vegetables, manioc, corn and a banana plantation are to be built.
