DEHFOPAD Launches Free Education Programme for Pupils of Government School Ebamut

The Dione Etiba Humanitarian Foundation for Peace and Development, DEHFOPAD, has launched a free education initiative for pupils of Government School Ebamut for the 2026/2027 academic year, seeking to ensure that poverty does not keep children out of the classroom.

Under the programme, every child enrolled at the school will receive educational support at no cost, including school bags, books, uniforms, pens, pencils, rulers and other essential learning materials.

The foundation says the initiative will also address additional school-related needs, removing some of the financial burden faced by families in Ebamut and neighbouring communities in Bangem Subdivision, Kupe-Muanenguba Division of the South West Region.

The project is being sponsored by DEHFOPAD’s founder and executive director, Etiba Ndonge Divine, a native of Ebamut village.

Ndonge said the initiative was inspired partly by his own childhood experiences and the difficulties many children in the community continue to face.

“Education is the foundation everything else is built on,” he said.

“Too many children in Ebamut and neighbouring villages face barriers to school, with cost being one of the biggest. I grew up seeing myself and other children going to school barefoot, without school bags, pens or pencils. Sometimes, generous children divided one pencil into two to share with their peers.”

He said the foundation wants to remove those barriers and give every child an opportunity to enrol and remain in school, irrespective of their family’s financial circumstances.

“Every child who enrols at Government School Ebamut for the 2026/2027 academic year will receive a full school starter kit at no cost: a bag, books, pens, pencils, uniforms, rulers and, in fact, all basic school needs,” Ndonge said.

“There are no hidden costs. Every child is welcome.”

‘No child should be left behind’

The Chief of Ebamut village, HRM Chief Nhon Esong Julius Etiba, described the programme as a timely intervention for families struggling to meet the cost of their children’s education.

“This is a great relief to our parents. Many families struggle to buy school materials,” the chief said.

“With DEHFOPAD stepping in, no child will be left behind because of poverty. We thank our son, Etiba Ndonge Divine, for remembering his roots and investing in the future of our children.”

The chairman of the school’s Parent-Teacher Association, Mpang James, also welcomed the initiative and called on parents in Ebamut and surrounding villages to take advantage of the opportunity.

“As the PTA, we welcome this support wholeheartedly. Free education and free materials will increase our enrolment and improve learning outcomes,” he said.

“We call on all parents in Ebamut and surrounding villages to enrol their children now. No fees, no cost; every child is welcome.”

The foundation acknowledged that reaching every child, purchasing supplies and coordinating the distribution of materials would require significant resources and sustained community involvement.

Ndonge, however, said the anticipated impact on the children made the challenge worthwhile.

“Reaching every child, coordinating supplies and making sure nothing falls through the cracks takes real commitment,” he said.

“But the challenge is worth it when you think about the impact on these children’s futures. The chief of Ebamut, the school administration and the entire village are ready to support us in realising this initiative.”

A personal investment in Ebamut

For Ndonge, the project is also a personal investment in the village where his family has its roots.

“Ebamut is my village, and it is said that charity begins at home,” he said.

“Whatever I am today is powered by my ancestors from Ebamut. It is where my roots are and where I have seen firsthand the gap between potential and opportunity. That personal connection is exactly why the foundation started here.”

He described the intervention as a modest attempt to address challenges within his own community before extending support to other areas.

DEHFOPAD says the education programme is not intended to be a one-off donation. The foundation plans to sustain it in subsequent academic years and gradually extend it to other schools, depending on its ability to raise funds and build partnerships.

“Our hope is to make this a recurring commitment, growing it year after year and eventually extending it to more schools in the region,” Ndonge said.

“How long we can sustain it will depend on our capacity to fundraise and expand partnerships, but our long-term vision is sustained support, not a single act.”

Beyond the classroom

DEHFOPAD says its activities go beyond education and include peacebuilding, humanitarian assistance, health and sanitation, digital literacy, environmental protection, good governance, sustainable community development, and the empowerment of young people and women.

“Our vision at DEHFOPAD goes beyond the classroom,” Ndonge said.

“We are committed to peacebuilding, humanitarian relief, sustainable community development, youth and women’s empowerment, and environmental sustainability. But we believe that when a child is educated, supported and protected, the entire community becomes stronger. This initiative is our way of planting that seed in Ebamut.”

The foundation has also announced that it will sponsor the Muanenguba Twin Lakes Race scheduled for January 9, 2027.

It says the sporting event will be used to promote unity, youth development and community empowerment.

Ndonge urged parents and community leaders to continue encouraging children to attend school and remain committed to their education.

“Believe in the value of education and encourage every child, no matter the circumstances, to enrol and stay in school,” he said.

“Change starts with us, and small steps today build a stronger community tomorrow. Small drops of rain make an ocean.”

DEHFOPAD operates under the motto: “Peace, Resilience and Sustainable Progress.”

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