Archive for March, 2011

Catalyst Sponsors Mildred In Cameroon

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

mildred 1As part of the ongoing work we are doing with GMMAfrica educating underprivileged children in Cameroon, Catalyst Exhibits is happy to announce that we are now sponsoring the education of Mildred, one of the many young teenagers there in need of funding.

Catalyst’s CEO, Paul Stahlberg, has agreed to sponsor Mildred’s education for a year, which will include the cost of all her school fees, books etc.

Mildred is one of many children that Reverend Teh Francis is helping educate through the GMMAfrica charity group. For many children in the area, there is no other route to education  - the only way to escape the poverty trap that many of these kids find themselves in.

In recent weeks, we have heard back from Teh about the impact the motorbikes we have helped buy have had on the group’s education program and finances.

You can read more about that in previous stories just below this post.

We’d just like to say ‘Best of Luck’ to Mildred from everyone here at Catalyst Exhibits and wish her the very best for the coming school year.


Breaking The Circle Of Poverty – Part II

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011

gmm students 2Last week, in our first installment, we caught up with Teh Francis about the impact the motorbikes we here at Catalyst Exhibits helped fund out in Cameroon, are having on the children.

This week, Teh tells us how the money the bikes have raised from being used as taxis by the locals, have directly improved the life of one young teenager.

“We are happy to announce that the motorbike fund is sending Pilate Diangha to driving school. He is a poor orphan boy and we are already sponsoring his younger brother and sister. He grew up with a foster family that did not take good care of him and finally he ended up in a cocoa farm in the Littoral Region of Cameroon.

Read the rest of this entry »


Breaking The Circle Of Poverty

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011

catalyst bike and passenger_crThe headline says it all: breaking the circle of poverty. It’s hard to believe that a couple of motorbikes could make such a huge difference in the lives of so many kids with nothing. But they have.

Last year, Catalyst Exhibits provided a motorbike to GMM Africa, which is doing amazing work helping and educating underprivileged children in Cameroon. That bike allowed the group to transport the teachers around to remote villages and schools to teach the children. Remember, in these areas there is little or no public transport and the roads are nothing but pothole-dotted dirt tracks.

That bike proved so useful, the locals started to use it as a taxi too. So, with the help of Bekins Van Lines, another bike was bought to act exclusively as a taxi and the funds it raised went to help sponsor more children for education.

Almost a year on, Teh Francis has been in touch to let us know the huge impact they have had.

“I am glad again to share some good news with you people. I am always excited telling you about positive things that happen here due to your timely intervention. Thank you for recognizing that we are doing something here of great worth even though you are not in Africa. We are honoured and this encourages us to work even harder.

You know the motor-bikes have really helped us in several ways:

Read the rest of this entry »


Cameroon Volunteer Hunt Success?

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011

jinkfuin school 1It may be a bit early for celebrations but we are delighted to report that there has been some genuine interest in the blog we ran last week looking for volunteers to help with the Cameroon children’s education projects.

The blog – Cameroon Education Needs You! – outlined how GMMAfrica, which is doing vital work with Cameroon’s underprivileged kids, was losing one of its best volunteers, Dee Ryan from Ireland. The group desperately needs new blood to fill the gap and while Dee stayed for a year, Teh Francis and his team are hoping that others will be willing to come for few months to help out with what should be a very rewarding and worthwhile endeavour.

Teh was in touch to say that there has been some good reaction to the first blog:

“I have just returned from Fundong town after I went and taught at a college and thought of dropping you a note. Thank you for posting our need for a volunteer at your Area 3 blog. Some interested volunteers are already asking for information from us. I just pray it works and we have somebody to replace Dee Ryan when she is leaving. Thanks for all the great support you’ve made to come our way.”

If you think you have the right stuff and are looking to step out of the 9-to-5 rat race for a little while, then contact Teh at revteh@gmmafrica.org


Happy Valentines From Thailand

Tuesday, March 1st, 2011

st valentines art

OK, so it’s a couple of weeks late but it’s the thought that counts. Right?

It should be because the great kids being taught arts and crafts by the wonderful Chatchada Kruakaew and her brilliant travelling art program in Thailand have really put their hearts into sending us all some wonderful St. Valentines artwork.

As you can see, love is in the air alright and we were delighted to receive this latest update from Chatchada, who organizes art and art therapy classes for children across various districts in Thailand. Her goal is not only to teach children how to paint but to teach them how to express themselves through art and to help them overcome difficulties in their lives so far.

Jump now for a few more photos and keep up the good work Chatchada.

Through our Area 3 blog, we at Catalyst Exhibits have been highlighting the great work Chatchada does but keeping the travelling art program going, and expanding it, needs money. If you’d like to help, then contact Paul Stahlberg, our CEO, at Catalyst Exhibits, here. Read the rest of this entry »