The Untold Success Story of A Better World Children's Home

In Ka'ajik, Bome not far from the Mbengwi monastery, there planted are structures harbouring motherless and fatherless kids known as A Better World Children's Home, a subset of A Better World Organisation.

Founded in 2010 by Seta Withgodep Wiertz, the children's home otherwise known as orphanage has raised hundreds of such kids and today, some have become doctors, nurses, teachers, business persons and engineers. Others have flown out of the country to Finland, Germany and the U.K for further studies. 

Seta Withgodep Wiertz with his Kids

The Day Seta Celebrated his Birthday with Kids of all Orphanages in Mbengwi Including his own

In our quest to shine the light on this little institution that's been impacting lives beyond bounds, Mbengwi Online recently visited Ka'ajik where the children are raised. In a chat with Mr. Seta Withgodep Wiertz, the brain behind the organisation, he said "Our goal is not just to give children shelter and food but to equip them with life skills that will prepare them for a better future so they can be champions of community solutions"

During a guided tour round the institution, we were first shown the office where most of the documentation works about the organisation are done. Then we were led to the agricultural section where table birds, pigs, goats, sheep, fowls and dogs are reared, all hybrid including a fish pond.

The kids are the ones rearing these birds and animals thereby gaining agricultural skills as they grow. We were also shown an ICT workshop equipped with computers, a music workshop equipped with various instruments like guitars, pianos, drums, trumpets, flutes and a tailoring workshop equipped with sewing machines where the kids take lessons in these fields.

In the course of our guided tour, we were also led to the chapel, a magnificent small structure fully equipped and looking like a direct route to heaven. As our guide, Seta explained "We are building moral and academic giants that will help their communities, their country and the world in all fields of life as you can see with the chapel, the workshops." Then he furthered, that "We are also building strong international partnerships that give better platforms and opportunities for the children to develop their skills and achieve their dreams, this by sending them to the best schools in and out of the country"

Aerial View of A Better World Children's Home, Ka'ajik, Bome

ICT Lab at the Orphanage

Tailoring Workshop at the Orphanage

Other sections we were shown included the refectory, hall, parking store and well furnished dormitories with good beds, mattresses, pillows, blankets and bedsheets, all covered with mosquito nets, perfectly clean and arranged. In fact, the living conditions and dressing styles plus appearance of all the kids being raised here,  their language power and behavioral patterns leave every visitor wondering if they're really orphans.

As the name implies, all the kids here are actually living in a better world. Apart from proper up bringing, clothing, feeding, education and healthy living, one major breakthrough that awaits almost every child being raised here is an opportunity to fly abroad. Just within the past few years, at least 3 kids that were raised by A Better World Children's Home have gone abroad. 

When Paul was first brought to the orphanage as a child, little did he know by 2022, he will fly to Germany where today, he is currently studying  import and export management, a five year course during which apart from being trained, he has an apartment, service car and is on a monthly token of about 850.000F CFA. Othnel was also  raised at Ka'ajik  from where he flew to Romania to study Marketing and later crossed over to the U.K where he is currently studying Food Processing.

Paul at Work in Germany

Paul, from the Orphanage to Germany Where he's Studying Import and Export Management

Fobang MacMillan now looks like Seta Withgodep's elder brother yet he too wasA  raised at the Children's Home. Today, he is studying Information Technology Engineering in Finland. These are just some of the untold success stories of that little institution hiding somewhere in Bome, Mbengwi. In addition to those who've gone aboard, there are others who've entered the  public service of Cameroon and are today teachers, security officers, doctors while a majority are still in primary, secondary and high schools around. 

Made up of a nursery and primary action, more than 100 kids enrolled there are offered free education till they graduate and the teacher's salaries are paid by A Better World Organization. All the parents in the neighborhood and neighbouring villages have taken advantage of this facility and enrolled their kids there thus minimising family expenditure. 

A Better World Children's Home and the Children's Learning Corner are better places for you to visit and see things for yourself with your naked eyes. Mbengwi Online might have not really painted the picture the way it is in this report till you yourself go there as a group or individual after which you'll join us in telling the world the untold stories of A Better World. 

Paul in Germany

When Fobang Macmillan was just Brought to A Better World

Macmillan and Seta

Macmillan now in Finland

Paul's First Year in Secondary School

Paul Being Welcomed to Germany

When Othnel Was Still Studying Marketing in Romania

Othnel Now Studying Food Processing in the U.K

Paul and Othnel Were Drummers at the Orphanage

Othnel Back Then

When Othnel Was Still in Secondary School

Fobang Macmillan an I.T Engineer in the Making

A Better World Organisation's Chief Executive Officer's Office

Hybrid Fowls Being Reared 

Poultry

Section for Keeping of Birds and Pigs

Music Lab

Refectory

Hall

Wardrobe in the Dormitories

Dormitory 

Works Equipment Room

Front View of ICT Lab/Tailoring Workshop

Front View of Auditorium

Chapel

Altar

Band Section in Chapel

Chapel

Chapel

Hybrid Dogs

Buckaroo

Water Reservoir

Sign Board

Chapel

Red Alert for Dubious Contractors in Momo Division

Contractors fun of playing hanky-panky with state funds in the execution of public contracts in Momo division will henceforth have it hot with members of the participatory committee for the follow-up of government sponsored projects in the division. The decision to now begin talking through (court) action not words again was arrived at during their 4th quarterly meeting that took place on Wednesday 11 January 2023 in the conference hall of the Momo Divisional Delegation of MINEPAT.

In her welcome address, the committee president, Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia, Member of Parliament for Momo East Constituency, Mbengwi told her collaborators "Our main objective here is transparency, provide information to the beneficiary population, ensure respect of the contract terms and collect comments on the qualitative and quantitative realisation of projects executed in the past years." She however regretted that unfortunately, they've not been able to register a 100% success story though their past results of 75 and 85% physical and financial realisation respectively are better but far behind when compared with other divisions in the region.

Committee Members in Session

The Executive Bureau of the Committee

In evaluating the realisation of 2021/2022 projects, it was observed that the ongoing crisis and bad fate of some contractors has kept dragging the division behind and further worsened by the malpractice where some recalcitrant contractors have been noted for always being quick to collect money for no work done. "Through our collective efforts, we have to bounce back" said the committee president to her collaborators. "The population of Momo needs an improvement on their living standards and we have the responsibility to do so through the work we do here" she added.

For over three years now, a project for the rural electrification of Bessi Fomukong village from G.R.A Mbengwi is yet to be realised though records show that money had supposedly changed hands. During several follow-up meetings, this particular project has always been made mention of. From latest information that was disclosed to the committee members, the contractor has been booked and is now being compelled to must effectively realise the project as all eyes are on him from the beneficiary population to the top ranks of the subdivision. Assurances were given that everything being equal, between April and June 2023, Bessi Fomukong should be having light, following legal measures taken against the contractor.

Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia, President of the Follow-up Committee Chairing the Meeting

Stakeholders

The stumbling blocks against the development of Momo division are not only mounted by some contractors but as well as some stakeholders. A case in point that was cited was the repeated absence of the divisional finance controller from all follow-up meetings without any excuse. Cases of contractors collecting money for no work done have been recurrent in the division and committee members always want to know the game played for such dubious financial deals to be effectuated yet the person in charge of giving explanations on the bone of contention is never there.

Faced with this setback that's more worrisome taking into consideration that the concerned is a son of the soil and motivated by the desire not to stagnate  the developmental progress of the division, it was suggested that if by the next meeting he doesn't show up, then a motion will be moved for him to be sacked and replaced with someone who's ready to work. "Collaboration is expected from all of us so that obstacles become stepping stones on which we bounce to higher heights of achievements" said the committee president.

Mayor Andoh Stanislaus Tambu of Widikum Council Attending the Meeting for the First Time 

Family Photo at End of Meeting

One major project that got attendees wagging tongues at length about was the World Bank sponsored Social Safety Net Project meant at raising the statues of the less privileged. While execution was successful in other municipalities, in Mbengwi, cases of fraud, bribery, favouritism, scores settling and other mischievous practices hampered its smooth execution. It took the intervention of high authorities of the subdivision for all the lapses to be sorted out and the real beneficiaries, about 1.000 in number given their due. The mayor of the Mbengwi Council, Ndangsa Kennedy Akam assured all that order has been restored as far as the Safety Net project is concerned. 

Another project that has repeatedly been talked about during every such meeting is the slaughter house in G.R.A Mbengwi that was constructed by the past mayor, Tebe Beatrice and has till date never been put to use. The butchers have persistently been resisting going to make use of the new slaughter house despite the nasty state of the old site around Checkpoint where they've continued to slaughter cows there. The resolution arrived at on this subject matter was that veterinary officers should stop inspecting meat at the old site, that an inspection roster be drawn for the new slaughter house and that before doing all these, a sensitisation meeting has to first be held with the butchers. Will the next follow up meeting not still hold with the new slaughter house not still being used remains the million dollar question.

Statistics from the Divisional Delegation of MINEPAT

Statistics from the Divisional Delegation of MINEPAT

At the close of the meeting, a major setback to the smooth functioning of schools in Mbengwi was reported with the case study being the newly constructed primary school behind the gendarmerie brigade. Said to have close to 400 pupils, a tussle of authority between some state functionaries resulted to many teachers being pulled out of the school on basis that only those of practicing schools have to teach there. Non practicing school teachers are said to have been withdrawn from the school and supposedly posted to work in G.S Dom, Chup and other enclaved schools but in reality, the said teachers don't even know thevlicatuon of the said schools not to talk of ever stepping foot there. The Divisional Delegate of Basic Education for Momo was in effect tasked to restore order amongst the teachers. 

Lastly, it was also resolved that all schools that had relocated due to the crisis must return to their permanent sites next academic year considering that peace now reigns right in the suburbs. Such include the Ku Bome Fish Breeding Station, G.T.T.C (ENIEG) and G.T.T.T.C (ENIET) Mbengwi that have for the past years been operating in Bamenda same as G.T.H.S Mbengwi now functioning at SAR/SM Mbengwi instead of its real site in Njindom. 

Statistics furnished Mbengwi Online by the Momo Divisional Delegate of MINEPAT indicate that in 2022, Momo Division had a total of 61 projects worth 1.450.115.000FCFA and as of 11 January 2023, 33 have been completed, 2 not started and 26 ongoing, giving a financial execution rate of 85.7% and 85.73% physical. Going by council rankings, in terms of physical execution, Batibo is first, followed by Widikum, then Mbengwi, Njikwa and Andek while in terms of financial execution, Mbengwi is first, Andek second, Widikum third, Njikwa fourth and Batibo fifth. 

Momo East M.P "Caught" in Kob

She was caught on camera doing field interventions. Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia, Member of Parliament for Momo East Constituency, Mbengwi has as usual penetrated the bushes of Kob and Njimetu for parliamentary works. Many at times when she succeeds to grab government sponsored projects for her constituents, she always makes sure she descends to the field during or after realisation to see things for herself and not just rely solely on reports sent to her.

On Thursday December 15 2022, Mbengwi Online's cameras caught Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia at the Kob Integrated Health Centre where she led a delegation made up of the mayor of the Mbengwi Council, Ndangsa Kennedy Akam, the President General of the Meta Cultural and Development Association (MECUDA) Prof. Njoh Oliver, medical personnel from the Mbengwi District Hospital among others for a donation exercise. 

Family Photo With Items

Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia and the Medical Team that Accompanied Her

The items were medical equipments worth over 8 millions francs. In her welcome address to the visiting delegation, Mrs. Fonong Yvette née Chum, Chief of Kob Integrated Health Centre remarked that it is a wonderful day for the people of Kob Health Area as the equipments will boost patient care and encourage the villagers to make better use of the centre. She however regretted the devastating effects of the socioeconomic and political crisis that hit the NW/SW region from late 2016 on the health centre.

Other problems as cited by the Chief of Centre include lack of personnel, low population density creating difficulties in generating funds, poor nature of road leading to the centre causing frequent falls from bikes, no nurses' residence, shortage of drugs, no reagents in the laboratory amongst others. 

Mdical Equipments Worth Over 8 Million Francs Donated to the Kob Integrated Health Centre

Mrs. Fonong Yvette née Chum, Chief of Kob Integrated Health Centre Delivering a Welcome Address

Fortunately, the items brought by the M.P were a lasting solution to some of these problems cited in the welcome address of the Chief of Centre. Before the handing over exercise, the visiting delegation toured the various departments of the centre to ascertain the reality of their current state. The Kob Integrated Health Centre has an office for the Chief of Centre, a consultation room, a laboratory, a pharmacy, a hall for Infant Welfare and Antenatal Clinic, a maternity section with a delivery room and post natal ward plus one room for male ward, one for female ward. It has eight internal toilets, four internal baths, six external toilets and a placenta pit. 

In the course of the event, room was given for the people to speak out their minds on any grievances they have against the centre and when the chairman of the Kob traditional council took to the floor, in a strong and embittered tone, he regretted that the items brought will all disappear within the shortest possible time because no staff of the health centre is living in Kob. "God knows what I'm saying, that when people come here, there's nobody to attain to them" said the angry father. 

Embittered Kob Traditional Council

One of the Wards in the Health Centre

He cited an example of how a lady lose her baby while putting to birth because the umbilical chord strangled the foetus and upon rushing to the health centre for emergency intervention, there was nobody and consequently the baby passed away. "If you see this place regressing like this, it's because no staff is living here and we don't know why" he insisted. Unfortunately, the centre has just two workers; one state employed nurse who is the Chief of Centre and one nurse employed and paid by the health facility.  

Dodging from the punch stretched at them by the traditional council chairman, they too defended themselves that the villagers  aren't making use of the centre, that many at times, days go by and no single patient passes by the centre for consultation thus making it discouraging for them workers to come idle there especially as the centre is located in an isolated area surrounded by bushes.

Aerial View of Kob Integrated Health Centre

Visiting Delegation

When Honourable Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia took to the floor to address her constituents, she began with "On behalf of our mother, our sister, our grandmother, our friend, Her Excellency Minister Mbah Acha Rose, I'm very happy to be here. Accept her best regards which she sent through me." Reacting to the worries posed by the beneficiary community and the nurses of the centre, Foo Ngang Prodencia said "As you've gladly come out to receive these items and as you've shown interest in the effective functioning of the place, from now onwards as you'll start coming here, so too shall we be monitoring the chief of centre and colleague to ensure they're effectively on seat during working days and hours."

Kob Integrated Health Centre was created on the 18th of January 2007 and has for 15 years now been of active service to the people of Kob, Tudig, Fun, Nyen, Njinibi, , Zem, Bessi Tibatoh and other neighbouring villages. Services offered at the centre include consultation, lab test, vaccination, family planning, antenatal clinic, deliveries, health education and outreaches. At moment, the centre has just a nurse and needs two more plus two auxiliary workers, that is cleaner and yard man. Also, the centre is in dire need of a lab technician, midwife, pharmacist and security guard.