Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow
belongs to those who prepare for it today. – Malcolm X
“You don’t have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just
get people to stop reading them.” – Ray Bradbury
AYEUME?
Ayeume is a non-profit association, legally recognized in France (approved in May 2020 and published in the French Journal) supporting education by organizing, supporting and financing activities related to reading with the aim of giving the taste of reading as a beautiful leisure to children and youth.The name Ayeume comes from « ayem » which means « to know » in Ewondo, one of the +200 local languages of Cameroon.
268 books offered, +300 young readers within 2 projects, +3000€ collected in 2 years, +10 members volunteering, presents in 2 countries, 1 reading club launched and more with your help!
As of July 2022
WHERE?
In Africa, especially in rural schools. We have a preference for schools located in backyards because in many African countries, there is a huge gap between the capital and the small villages. Gaps in terms of infrastructures, roads, schools, hospitals, electricity, clean water and school facilities.For all these reasons, we have chosen to focus our effort within schools located in villages.
WHAT ARE WE DOING?
As a matter of fact, there are many ways to support education. As reading is a great way to reinforce education, and one of the pillars of literacy, we are supporting education by encouraging and promoting reading habits of children and youth.
UNESCO
“Literacy empowers and liberates people. Beyond its importance as part of the right to education, literacy improves lives by expanding capabilities which in turn reduces poverty, increases participation in the labour market and has positive effects on health and sustainable development. Women empowered by literacy have a positive ripple effect on all aspects of development. They have greater life choices for themselves and an immediate impact on the health and education of their families, and in particular, the education of girl children.”
HOW?
We have many means but the main one is the reading rallye. Is a reading competition where the winners receive a prize.
Ayeume provides the books, the process and the prize.
ARE YOU IN CHARGE OF THE ORGANIZATION?
Not really. It is important for us to have a partner. Ayeume is mostly working in primary and high schools. Each school with whom we are working with is a partner. Ayeume brings his part and the school also has some duties (looking after the books, following up the competition…).
OUR SECOND CAUSE
We also want to promote African literature. For this reason, the books selected for our reading rallye are from African authors. For each of our projects, we are purchasing books selected by the teachers of the schools. Spreading African stories is also one of our motivations.
If you want to know more about our reading rallye, please watch the video below.
OUR PROJECTS:
Abang-Nkongoa (Cameroun), Public High school
Sandiara (Senegal), Private primary school
Very soon, Burkina Faso
What is specific about our work in each school is mostly the way we work. The school staff is fully involved in each project. We are doing a one shot project, as we are convinced that creating a sustainable impact require time. For this reason our projects are designed for 2 or even 3 years.
WE NEED YOU TO DO MORE
Each project required us to buy books and prizes which are our biggest expenses to allow us to continue and even do more, thank you for contributing.
100% of our funding goes directly into resourcing our projects. Thank you !
Thomas Davin, UNICEF Representative for Thailand
“…reading has a tremendous impact on a child’s cognitive development and is the foundation for future learning. It ignites children’s imagination, leads them to greater creativity, improves their vocabulary and communication skills, helps develop analytical and critical thinking, and enhances their ability to focus. To become readers for life, children must love the very first stories they read. The more books a child reads, the more his or her reading improves. (…) “To put it simply: Reading makes children smarter and helps them develop to their full potential.”
ASSOCIATION AYEUME 