Bambui is situated in the Tubah Sub-Division in the North West Region of Cameroon. It is the first place where the Capuchin friars have settled and initiated the first OFS presence in Cameroon. Today, it is home to the constituted OFS Bambui St. Claire fraternity.
Due to the war in the English-speaking region of the country, many young students have left for the French-speaking region to seek refuge and go to school there. This fact has drastically affected the population of Bambui village and caused a serious water shortage in the area, especially for poor children who cannot afford renting in hostels that have their own wells. The neighbouring village called Bambili has many secondary and higher education institutions (State University, Higher Teacher Training College, School for Agronomy, etc.), and the student population in the area exceeds one million.
The Capuchin friars constructed a Foyer for the poor children on their own land in Bambui. The new house features 4 spacious dormitories and 46 rooms, providing accommodation for 100–150 underprivileged children who will have the opportunity to attend school. With the present water shortage, the village source couldn’t be connected to the new buildings. The Foyer is close to the Capuchin friary, but the well of the friars has a very limited water supply in the dry season and is not clean enough.
The Bambui water project consisted of drilling a borehole, building a water tank, installing two water tanks of 5,000 litres each, connecting a solar pump, and building two water tap stands. The borehole is 80 metres deep and guarantees water all year round, especially in the dry season. The water taps are installed next to the Foyer at the main road, providing access to thousands of children on their way to schools and universities.
The OFS Bambui St. Claire fraternity is responsible for the maintenance of the Bambui water project. The parent-teacher association is ready to cooperate in case some repair work is needed, as they see the great help this project is rendering to the school children. “Though the school children are the main beneficiaries of the water project, the entire village practically rejoices for the God-given gift, as water is carried almost every second since it was connected for use”, fr. Aloysius Ngombi Kongnyuy OFM Cap said on behalf of the Capuchin Friars Minor Custody of St. Francis of Assisi in Cameroon.
The works were implemented by Njanka Construction LTD and Naven Construction LTD from April to December 2024. The amount donated to the project was EUR 11,144.
The aim of “Well4Africa” social initiative is to ensure human right to water and to drill boreholes in poor African areas where the Franciscan Family is present. For possible ways of donation, please refer to https://well4africa.eu/index.php/donate
