Grassroots Development and Empowerment Action Platform (GDEAP) has recently realized the first phase in an ongoing educational project called "The Dust to Desk Project". This project benefitted Government Bilingual School Ekwo- Bafanji in the North West Region of Cameroon. The project was proposed by an elite of the community who sought financial support to give the school kids a promising start of school year by September 2013. The realisation of the project was carried out between the months of June to September 2013 and involved providing the kids with writing desks, teacher’s desk and chairs to a community School. The school desperately needed some desks as prior to that, the population of the school was about 300 kids, with only seven desks provided by the Parents Teachers Association in 2012.

The majority of kids literally squatted on the dusty floors in two rooms serving four classes, with each room hosting two classes, and the two rooms having only one “mobile blackboard”. The school has two teachers who themselves had no writing desk like the kids. With individual contributions from elites of this community and financial support from GDEAP, the school has now acquired some desks though not sufficient to accommodate all the students. However, GDEAP will through its educational program bring to light the plight of community schools like this to the front line and will seek for resources to support many other schools through its vision 2025.

Touched by the appeal for assistance, GDEAP through its Executive Director dubbed this project “The Dust to Desk Project” and have financed this project to the tune of One Hundred and Ninety-three Thousands Six Hundred Francs (193,600FCFA) approx. ($400). The finances contributed GDEAP have been able to provide some desks to the kids and two comfortable writing desk and chairs for the two teachers of the school in addition to what members of the community have contributed. GDEAP’s founder believes that young kids must be given the enabling environment and a chance to show their worth. Education leverages personal development and only capable active citizens can leverage long-term and sustainable change.

Therefore giving these young kids an opportunity to study in a fairly comfortable environment, is a duty and GDEAP hopes to continue providing needed assistance to community schools around the country within its means.