PROMOTING GIRLS’ EDUCATION
EVELYN CHUABE SCHOLARSHIP AND MENTORSHIP INITIATIVE (ECSMI)
About Our Shero
Evelyn Chuabe was born in 1969, as the first of seven children, to parents, Gabriel Gunyam, a blind coffee farmer and Angelina Yieh, a local seamstress in Mbesa, a remote village in Cameroon’s Northwest region. She had her basic education in Djottin, a neighboring village to Mbesa, and later attended St. Pius X Teacher’s Training College, Tatum, where she trained and graduated as a Grade II teacher. She later married Thaddeus Chia, a prince from Achain, another neighboring village with whom she had 2 children. The couple lived and worked in Yaounde, Cameroon. Evelyn passed away in 2007, at the age of 38 years old, a few years after her beloved husband.
After her studies, Evelyn bore the responsibility of educating her siblings and taking care of her aging parents. She was not just a ravishing beauty, but a loving mother and a reliable sister. She laid the foundation for the education of many who today are leaders and key figures in the Mbesa community. Her children are glad to honor her name and legacy through the establishment of the Evelyn Chuabe Scholarship and Mentorship Initiative, a scheme created to encourage and support not just the education of Mbesa girls, but all African girls, and equally, promote in African communities a culture of higher education in order to foster empowerment and community development.
Programme Overview:
ECSMI offers the opportunity for young Cameroonian girls, internally displaced by the Anglophone Crisis, to gain academic and vocational skills necessary for their empowerment, which will eventually help them break free from poverty. The program is comprised of two components; the Academic and Vocational components. The Academic part is open to holders of the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Levels in any series, to enroll and earn an undergraduate degree in any recognized State University in Cameroon, with a preference for courses related to STEM. The scholarship will also offer mentorship, guidance, and orientation opportunities for career and leadership development to awardees.
The Vocational part is an innovative skills development program in partnership with GreenHouse Ventures Ltd to collaboratively provide training in greenhouse crop production and management to underprivileged young women in Cameroon, particularly IDPs. This initiative aims to empower women from disadvantaged backgrounds by equipping them with vocational skills in sustainable agriculture practice, thereby enhancing their entrepreneurial and employment opportunities. The goal is to help these women break free from poverty, improve their livelihoods, and contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation and environmental protection. Through targeted training and support, this partnership seeks to bridge the gender skills gap, promote economic independence and empowerment for women, and positively impact food security and environmental sustainability in Cameroon.
Dimensions of the Scholarship:
Academic Component:
For a period of three (3) years, till completion of the selected degree program, the scholarship will ensure payment of awardees’ full tuition (FCFA 50,000 per year) dependent on justified PASSED transcript reports. Upon graduation, an outstanding awardee with an overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.5+ on a scale of 4.0 will receive support to apply, and possibly gain a full scholarship to study for a master’s degree in a university abroad.
Vocational Component:
The GreenHouse Academy will deliver a comprehensive training program that includes theoretical lessons, practical exercises, assessments, and a volunteering period to ensure a thorough understanding of greenhouse crop production and management. Tuition fees are reduced per scholarship beneficiary from GirlsHerRising. Upon program completion, GreenHouse Ventures Ltd guarantees employment for all trainees, depending on their dedication and commitment, and offers a 30% discount on greenhouse farm setup for those who wish to start their own farms. All necessary training materials, including manuals, seeds, tools, and equipment, will be provided to enhance the learning experience. This program is only open to holders of GCE O/Levels, who could not further their education.
Application Requirements:
To be considered for the scholarship, applicants must submit in PDF format ONLY the following documents;
- 1. A 250-word motivation letter clearly stating why you should be selected for the scholarship,
- 2. A scanned copy or clear photo of an #identification document either your Passport, National ID Card, or Birth Certificate,
- 3. A scanned copy or clear photo of either: the #GCE Advanced Level Certificate or Slip or #GCE Ordinary Level Certificate or Slip depending on the chosen component,
- 4. Proof of admission into a recognized state university, for academic candidates, and proof of registration into the GreenHouse Academy, for vocational candidates.
- 4. #Affidavit of support from a host, guardian, or parent.