UPDATE on the ICHOUMBA/MAKA VILLAGE PROJECT

On June 16, 2007 (the day of my birthday), I held a very successful event to launch the Ichoumba Village Project.  I was very pleased to see how my Vancouver community responded to my call for help.

The goals of the project were many, and the ambition big.  Too big…  I went to Cameroon in December 2007 / January 2008 to present the project to the villagers (in Madouma) and after community consultation, not only did they accept the project but they donated the necessary piece of property as a sign of their good faith and in the hope to be a full partner of the project rather than simply recipients of Western charity. This project is totally about collaboration.

A stunning story board created by Brycken Olive was displayed at the launch event to outline the ambitious project in more details.

What has happened since?

We were able to raise $ 2,475 at the event plus various donations subsequently received by mail.  After reimbursement of all the expenses related to putting together the launch event, a small amount was used in Cameroon in December 2007 (small donation to the community to open the dialogue and in the respect of the tradition, hiring a cameraman for several days, minor equipment purchases related to the filming of our “expedition” in the rainforest, to survey the property that was being donated to the project).  Because the Society had not yet been officially registered and there was therefore no relevant bank account, payments by cheque were not cashed, and in order not to confuse the funds related to Jacky Essombe’s business with the various payments made by credit cards at the silent auction, none of the credit card money was ever cashed.  Therefore, out of the $2,475 raised, only the cash amount was actually available.  To date, the remaining cash amount is $225+. All past cheques and credit card issued are still in file, but obviously they cannot be cashed now.  The people who donated or paid by cheque or credit card have no doubt noticed that their purchase or donation WAS NEVER CASHED. Those generous givers will be contacted and given an opportunity to update and finalize their donation.  To that end, I am looking for someone who can 1) make phone calls to those past donors, and 2) keep a clear accounting of all donations and expenses.  

Just before the launch event, I started to suffer from tremendous back pain which would keep me out of work for weeks at a time.  After my trip to Cameroon in January 2008, because of my health condition I had to lighten my schedule considerably in order to take care of myself.  As a result, the project has been dormant ever since.  Now that I have re-defined the project to fit with my original intention, and I have identified the next step (organize the first Maka culture festival in December 2012), I am happy to say that the project is ALIVE again!  It is happening organically because it is about people.  And because this project is so personal to me (many of the people who will be helped are members of my family), it is important that the human aspect remains at the center of everything. It is about people helping other people find themselves.  This is NOT charity...

I intend to organize for donations of clothing for children and other materials on a regular basis, and some of the money raised will be used to ship those clothes and any necessary equipment to Cameroon. More details about how you could contribute will be posted soon.

This project is very dear to me, and I am and will continue to put all my available energy to make it work. It is an ambitious project, but I know that with the help of all the beautiful angels that I have been blessed to meet since I have been in Canada, it will be a success. This is my own commitment to my people.

I am looking forward to having you join this exciting adventure where you can both give and receive so much.  Please check again soon as the website will keep being updated in order to properly present this project.

Thank you.

With love, gratitude and blessings,

Jacky Essombe

Who will benefit from the project?

The Makas are a tribe and a Bantu language from the east of Cameroon.  We are considered to be the cousins of the Pygmies in Cameroon, and as such unfortunately we do not enjoy a high level of consideration from fellow countrymen.  There is virtually no information available about the Maka people anywhere (could that be a testimony to their perceived insignificance?). Unlike the Pygmies whose fate has been recognized by international organization and therefore efforts are made to protect their rights and their lifestyle, the Makas did not benefit from such attention and have been left to fend for themselves…  We have a sad history of being exploited with no compensation whatsoever (i.e. logging), a high level of alcoholism in villages and little infrastructures.  The Maka Village Project's primary focus is to help re-build people’s self esteem so that they themselves decide to take charge of their lives and re-discover and define their own cultural identity.

About the Maka Village project – Changes from the Ichoumba Village Project

The most important goal will be to build a Maka Cultural Centre that will provide information and inspiration to all Maka tribes, and to help raise their level of self esteem so that they are inspired to create a better life for themselves.  To that end, we will organize the first Maka Culture Festival in December 2012.

How will money help? 

Any money collected will be used to:

• Set up the project’s legal society in Cameroon in June 2012
  
  
• Prepare and pay for all necessary arrangements related to the organization of a festival in June 2012
  
  
• Organize the first Maka storytelling, music & dance festival in December 2012

• Help finance the filming of the festival and later the projection of the film in isolated villages

• Help purchase the necessary material for the construction of the first Maka Cultural Centre, that will be located in Madouma village (where land has been donated for the project)

*Profits from the sale of tickets for the Spirit of the Village events will go directly toward the project. Please click below for more details about the next event.

JOIN THE SPIRIT OF THE VILLAGE EVENT AND HELP SUPPORT THE MAKA VILLAGE PROJECT

Next Spirit event will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2012