The official launching of The Gentry Support Scheme took place under the patronage of the Senior Divisional Officer for Donga Mantung Division, Basiliken George Magloire Emmanuel.
Addressing teachers, parents, students and pupils during the official launching and handing over ceremony at Ocean King Hotel, in Nkambe, the SDO congratulated Prof. Fuh Calistus Gentry on his timely support to encourage back to school in Donga Mantung Division. Basiliken also used the opportunity adding that The Gentry Support Scheme is leaving an indelible mark of greatness in impacting lives. He said the financial support to startups, award of excellence through scholarships and donation of school needs to over 1000 orphans in Donga Mantung is laudable. To the beneficiaries, Basiliken emphasized that the support should be used for the purpose intended.
On the other hand, the Coordinator of The Gentry Support Scheme said that the scheme has come to stay. Tarlishi Oliver Yinyu said that during this official launching, The GENTRY SUPPORT SCHEME will foster sustainable development by encouraging and supporting education through Excellence Awards, Entrepreneurship by providing seed funding for startups as well as support the education and welfare of the needy in Donga Mantung Division. A total of 18 advanced level students shared the sum of FCFA 3, 150 000 ranging between FCA 150 000 and FCFA 200 000 per laureate. The first two students in the 2024 June Advanced levels in GCE and TVE were awarded. Besides that a total of 5000 exercise books, 10 000 pens and rulers as well as 500 school bags were dispatched to the various subdivisions to support back to school. The support was mainly for orphans. The Gentry Support Scheme also announced allocation of support to 7 new Startups and additional funding to 7 old startups. One of the interesting aspects of the event was the success storytelling by beneficiaries. Four different youths testified how the scheme has helped them to achieve their lifetime projects. Abanda Rachael who three years ago received support to set up a small poultry farm said she started with 100 day old chicks but today she employs three workers. Mbia Gideon from Ako who received seed fund to establish a barbing workshop revealed that he now employs two other youths. Kashara Patience who three years ago received the excellence award, sa she is holder of Bsc in accounting from the University of Bamenda. At the end of the event, all hailed Prof. Fuh Calistus Gentry the initiator and sponsor of The Gentry Support Scheme for his sustainable actions in empowering youths and communities in Donga Mantung.
