FAQ

How many children attend the "Searchlight School"?

Under severe room constraints, we are currently running two kindergarten classes (children aged 3 to 5) as well as a complete primary school (1^st to 6^th form) in two new classrooms and a rented building. Due to the high number of students some of the primary school classes are held in parallel, further adding to the space shortage.

We teach 420 children aged 3 to 10, of which 130 are orphans or half orphans and for whom we cover the school fee. More than half of these children are girls.

What is our budget?
The operating costs for the "Searchlight School" for the year 2010/11 amount to CHF 40'000.- This amount covers the running of the school for 420 Students, 15 teachers, 2 supervisors, a cook and additional help, two bus driver as well as security personnel.

How high are the costs for...?
...the school attendance per child a year:CHF 200.--
...the salary per teacher a year: CHF 2,700.--

What is the school fee for a disadvantaged child?
The disadvantaged children merely pay the yearly registration fee of CHF 12.-. All remaining costs are covered by donations from Switzerland. How do we identify a disadvantaged child?

How do we identify a disadvantaged child?
The "Searchlight School" works closely with the social department of Mamfe whose superintendent has been connected with our school for many years. She visits the different marginal families in their own living surroundings and sets up a standard report about the living situation of each child. Depending on its need and age she issues a recommendation for the acceptance of the child at our school.

Are all the donations used entirely to reach the designated purpose?
Every donated Frank reaches Cameroon without any deductions. The management team in Cameroon also works on a voluntary basis. Thanks to different measures and controls, we can guarantee, that the donations from Switzerland securely reach their destination. Yearly visits, as well as the direct cooperation with Hans Zimmermann, help us make sure of the application of the money. The Swiss Hans Zimmermann has been resident in Mamfe for over 20 years and works for the "Vereinigte Missionsfreunde". He administrates all donations to the organization "Waisenkinder Kamerun". Bi-yearly visits of the management team members, Sabine Biland-Weckerlin and Peter Fierz, further beneficiate the maintenance of our relationships in Cameroon, the quality control of the school as well as the rightful implementation of the donated money.