Back to School with ACOHOF

Support our "Back to School with ACOHOF" Initiative

The ongoing conflict in Cameroon has displaced thousands, leaving families with little more than hope. At the Afoni Children of Hope Foundation (ACOHOF), we have stood alongside these families through these challenging times. When escalating violence forced us to suspend operations at our original Family Farm School in Tatum, we were deeply saddened, yet our dedication to the children remained unwavering.

When we moved to Bankim, we encountered hundreds of children eager for education but without a place to learn. We couldn't turn them away. To address this increasing demand and ensure every child’s potential is nurtured, we established ACOHOF Bilingual Technical-Vocational College of Agriculture and Entrepreneurship (ATVOCAE) in 2024. This college responds to the needs of displaced families—a safe environment where students can learn agriculture and entrepreneurship while also finding stability to recover. During this 'Back to School' season, support us in keeping these doors open for every child who says, 'I want to learn.'

Today, the ACOHOF Family Farm School and the ACOHOF Bilingual Technical Vocational College of Agriculture and Entrepreneurship are dedicated to nurturing the dreams of many vulnerable children. However, we are currently facing some critical challenges.

The Challenge We Face

As we prepare for the upcoming academic year, funding from our sole financial partner has been substantially reduced. While we are doing everything possible to keep our schools operational, the financial demands have become overwhelming for ACOHOF alone. Our classrooms are filled with eager learners, yet our infrastructure and essential resources are stretched thin.

We kindly reach out to you, our friends, partners, and global community for support.

How You Can Make a Difference:

We invite you to help meet the essential needs of our schools in Bankim. Every act of kindness, no matter how small, plays a crucial role in restoring a child’s dignity.

Your generosity will directly support:

Student Learning Kits:

Education starts with having the proper resources. We are committed to ensuring that financial difficulties do not prevent a child from attending school. By providing full uniforms, shoes, and learning materials, you directly support a student's ability to attend classes regularly and excel academically.

Student Feeding Program:

At ACOHOF, we believe that a hungry child finds it hard to focus on a bright future. We can achieve this by making it possible for each student to start the day with a nourishing meal, transforming 'empty stomachs' into 'full minds' eager to learn. We also provide a warm, structured, and communal space in our school refectory for students living in our dormitories, fostering a sense of community and comfort.

A Safe and Secure Approach Policy:

· Our SSAFE approach guarantees that every boy and girl under our care feels respected and secure. With separate dormitories and a zero-tolerance policy for harassment, we establish an environment in which, although some are separated from their parents, their dignity is preserved, and their focus remains on the future rather than on their fears.

Supporting Our Educators:

Behind every successful student, there's a wonderful teacher who never gives up. We're grateful for your support in sustaining our passionate school staff and volunteers, the caring mentors and devoted caregivers who provide everyday guidance and warmth, turning a simple classroom into a nurturing community filled with hope.

Join Us in Making a Difference:

We understand there are many worthy causes, and we are truly grateful for your consideration of ours. When a child’s life is disrupted by conflict, education becomes the most powerful tool to secure their future.

We warmly invite you to partner with us. Whether through financial support, donating supplies, or sharing our story within your network, your involvement ensures that no child is turned away this academic year.

We will be delighted to clarify any points or answer any questions you may have. Respond to the email or WhatsApp +237 672 970 666.

On behalf of everyone at ACOHOF, we sincerely thank you for your solidarity, compassion, and faith in these resilient children. Together, we can continue to uphold the promise of education

Maintaining Aspirations: Addressing the Issue of Dropout Rates

In communities where survival is often the immediate concern over schooling, helping children stay engaged in the classroom can be quite challenging. During the 2025–2026 academic year alone, unfortunately, 8.5% of our students at ACOHOF schools stopped attending—highlighting the tough realities many face.

Behind this statistic are real children who are losing their opportunity for a better future. When our team went to find them, the reality was sobering:

Two children were observed engaging in selling goods as hawkers at the local market.

A boy was observed loading vehicles at the Bankim motor park.

Three families reported their inability to afford school fees. Consequently, these children are now engaged in subsistence farming or fishing activities alongside their parents, motivated by urgent survival needs and the pursuit of immediate income.

When poverty hits hard, families often have to make tough choices, and sadly, education is usually the first to go. These children aren't quitting school by choice; they're caught in a difficult cycle of financial struggles that their families can't escape.

Here's how you can make a difference!

At ACOHOF, we hold that no child should have to choose between a meal today and an education for tomorrow. Your support for our scholarship and school fee programs can help remove these children from the markets and fields and give them a place back in the classroom.

The Ultimate Sacrifice: When Childhood is Cut Short

Perhaps the most distressing reality we encountered this year was the loss of two of our young girls to early marriage. One of these girls courageously confided in our team, revealing the heartbreaking truth: “She did not want to get married, but was forced into it by her parents”.

In vulnerable communities, young girls often bear the brunt of economic hardship. When families encounter severe poverty, the practice of early marriage for daughters is sometimes considered a strategy to lessen the number of dependents or to acquire a dowry. Consequently, a young girl's childhood is abruptly taken from her, her educational opportunities are permanently curtailed, and her autonomy is compromised.

We can't protect them on our own — it’s a team effort! By working together and supporting each other, we can make a real difference and ensure they receive the care and protection they need. Every contribution counts, and together, we are stronger.

Every day a girl spends in an ACOHOF classroom is a day she is protected, empowered, and given a choice in her own destiny. Education is the most powerful tool we have to break the cycle of forced early marriages, but we are running out of time for many of these students.

Your support does more than cover tuition costs; it acts as a protective shield. It provides the resources we need to intervene, educate parents, and ensure vulnerable girls remain safe in school, enabling them to create their own future.

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