2024-07-05 23:18:15
The beneficiary school is located in the department of Menoua (West Cameroon region). The ceremony relating to it took place this Thursday, July 4, 2024. Figurehead of this charity, Laure Fotso Toukam therefore wanted to perpetuate the memory of her father, the very wealthy patriarch, mayor of the commune of Pete-Bandjoun, Victor Fotso of late memory.
In terms of philanthropic actions, classrooms have been renovated, a borehole built, and numerous scholarships and school supplies offered to the populations of the Lipo village in Foréké. Clearly, Laure Fotso Toukam is determined to perpetuate the works and memory of her illustrious father. A determination materialized this July 4, by the generosity of the Victor Fotso Endowment Fund, at the esplanade of the Lipo public school in Foréké-Dschang. A school which, according to the secretary general of the region, Audrey Epente Tazeu representing the governor of the West region, breathes deeply the air of renovation. The achievement initiated by the administrator of the assets of the Fotso estate, with the support of the members of the association of lawyers of Menoua of Douala, is in line with the educational needs of the beneficiary population. Thanks to funding from the Victor Fotso Endowment Fund, two classrooms used for kindergarten students were renovated and equipped. In addition, a borehole to meet the drinking water needs of students and local populations near the school was built with the assistance of Laure Fotso Toukam.
A woman with a heart of lamb, Laure Toukam Fotso was also actively involved so that the five most deserving students in each class (from kindergarten to CM2) would receive scholarships to cover all of their fees from the Parents’ Association (APE) for the next school year, given that the principle of free primary education in Cameroon is evident in a decree issued by the President of the Republic, Paul Biya, about twenty years ago. This text provides: “Pupils in public primary schools are exempt from the annual contributions required.” A logical follow-up to the World Education Forum, held in Dakar (Senegal) in 2000, the aim of which was to make education truly universal by 2015.
Very generous, Laure Toukam Fosto paid the entire tuition fees of the top students in each class, up to 29,000 CFA francs. She contributed 50% or 30% for the other students on the list of excellence. Notebooks and other teaching materials were given to each deserving student. CM2 students declared successful in the entrance exam for the 6th and 1st years of technical and professional education received scholarships worth 20,000 CFA francs each.
A resounding success rate of 86.04% at the 2024 CEP
Director of the Lipo – Foreke/Dschang public school, Mrs. Tchouto expressed her gratitude following the choice of her school by the Victor Fotso Endowment Fund. She also did not hesitate to draw the attention of the audience to the glowing results of her school’s learners for the 2023-2024 school year. She indicated that out of the 43 candidates presented for the Primary School Certificate (CEP), 37 were declared successful. This makes a success rate of 86.04%. Thunderous applause. Already on March 23, 2023, Laure Toukam Fotso was in Lipo –Foréké to encourage academic excellence, and had on the occasion promised to increase her commitment in the event that the academic results were excellent.
The head of this school who will have to share with her colleagues, the sum of 150,000 FCFA (one hundred and fifty thousand CFA francs) given as a token of encouragement by the daughter of Fotso Victor. The director took the opportunity to request the public authorities to build a barrier to secure the school, not without making the request for the creation of a library and the development of a play area for kindergarten children. On behalf of the State of Cameroon, the Secretary General of the Governor’s Services said he had taken note of the request, and promised that the public authorities, depending on the availability of budgetary resources, would get involved in the modernization of the Lipo public school in Foréké-Dschqng. Following Laure Fotso Toukam, he insisted that the donations given contribute to the sustainability of academic excellence in Foréké-Dschang, and serve several generations of learners. The governor’s representative called for the donations received to be used wisely. A symbol for the heirs of the patriarch Victor Fotso, described by his daughter as “a patriarch who knew how to share and give.”
A minute of silence was observed by the audience to pay tribute to the memory of this “ immortal man » which passed away in March 2020. Two doves were released into the sky of Foréké-Dschang by Lucie Fotso, the eldest of this family and Laure Toukam Fosto, the administrator of the assets of the Fotso estate
As if to say that the beautiful philanthropic adventure is eternal like its inspiration: the patriarch Victor Fotso of regretted memory.