By Ikome Christie-Noella Eposi in Buea
The children of Ndame Island in Limbe II Subdivision will walk into the new school year with renewed smiles, thanks to the generosity of the Wonya Ngale Foundation. On Saturday, August 16, 2025, the foundation, led by its CEO, Simon Ngale Ekambi fondly known as Wonya Ngale, successfully organised the fourth edition of its Back-to-School for the Underprivileged initiative at the Ndame Chief’s Palace. This year’s edition carried the theme: “Let’s Change the World with a Book and a Pen.”
The event brought together over 50 underprivileged children from the coastal villages of Limbe, many of whom face enormous barriers to accessing basic educational supplies. In his usual spirit of service, Simon Ngale Ekambi and his team distributed school bags, exercise books, pens, pencils, rulers, and erasers to the children.
Speaking at the occasion, Ngale Ekambi expressed joy at hosting this edition in Ndame, describing it as one of the best since the initiative was launched. “I am so happy to do this project in Ndame Island,” he said, noting the warm reception from the community and their traditional leadership. “The things you see here today are not only from me. They are from our brothers and sisters at home and abroad who supported this project. To the children, use these items to study well, pass your exams, make your parents proud, and in turn, help others tomorrow.”
He emphasised that education remains the surest path out of poverty and appealed to the children to cherish the materials, reminding them that they represent both opportunity and responsibility.
In a press interview after the ceremony, Ngale Ekambi shed more light on his motivation. “What inspired me to come up with this year’s theme is the need to educate the underprivileged. They don’t have access to basic didactic materials, and that is why we are here to support them,” he explained. He recounted the logistical challenges of gathering children from Ndame Island, given its location at sea, but praised the community leaders for making the event possible.
Highlighting the foundation’s broader vision, he said: “We plan to visit other similar areas facing difficulties. My goal is to always go where the people have challenges. This is not a solo effort, we work with Bakweri people at home and abroad who generously support the foundation. Together, we will sustain these children, even beyond the start of the academic year.”
Wonya Ngale also called on other organisations and individuals of goodwill to turn their attention to underprivileged communities. He spoke from personal experience, recalling the hardships he faced as a child. “I know how it feels to go through such difficult circumstances,” he said. “That is why I am appealing to others to step in and support underprivileged children.”
The significance of the initiative was not lost on the host community. His Royal Majesty, Osward Njombo Ekomboni, Chief of Ndame Island, praised the gesture as a vital investment in the community’s future. “This is a moment of renewal, a fresh chapter in our shared journey to build a brighter future through education,” he said in his address. “Mr. Ngale Simon, your kindness demonstrates your belief in the potential of our children. Your support will inspire a love for learning and empower them to achieve their dreams.”
The Chief urged children to embrace discipline, curiosity, and determination in their studies, while calling on parents to actively support their education. He stressed that “it takes a village to raise a child,” reaffirming that the partnership between Ndame and the Wonya Ngale Foundation would continue to bear fruit.
In a separate press exchange, Chief Njombo Ekomboni further underscored the timeliness of the gesture, noting the current economic hardships facing parents. “When I heard that Wonya Ngale had chosen Ndame this year, I was so happy,” he said. “Our parents cried to me that things were rough and they did not know how they would send their children back to school. This support has brought hope.”
Beyond education, Chief Ekomboni outlined some of the challenges and prospects of Ndame Island, ranging from its difficult settlement conditions to its rich cultural and tourist heritage. He appealed for more sponsors and government involvement to help transform the island into a hub of tourism and cultural preservation, noting its historical significance as the site where the Germans first annexed Cameroon.
The Chairman of the Ndame Traditional Council, Jean Salla Litombo in his welcome intervention said this was a huge achievement recorded in Ndame Island. He thanked the CEO of the Wonya Ngale Foundation for his efforts and sacrifices to Ndame Island. “Your work reminds us that kindness knows no boundaries, and a true service to humanity lies in reaching out to others genuinely” he noted.
For the children of Ndame, however, the day was more than history or tourism, it was a promise of brighter tomorrows. Thanks to the Wonya Ngale Foundation, they step into the academic year equipped, motivated, and inspired to succeed.
As the sun set over the coastal community, one thing was clear: with a book and a pen, and with champions like Simon Ngale Ekambi, the dreams of underprivileged children will continue to find wings.