Project Reception

Hey Everyone!

On Monday the group hiked out to Barombi village for the project's reception. The village was extremely welcoming by sharing their traditional dances and a meal with us. The chief of the village prepared a speech, which was read by a member of the Water Committee, which is posted below. After the closing of the reception I returned to Kumba Town for the week to work with Katie on the bio-sand filters while Marissa, Liz, Justin and Mark stayed in the village to start constructing the system.

It is our pleasure to welcome you and thank you for honoring our invitation in reception of our guests from Dayton university USA special thanks go to Mr. Benjamin Feh, Chief of section, rural engineering Kumba and Mark Ewalt of Dayton University USA who have made it possible for the students to be here with us today. We wish to recognize the many letters of encouragement received from Mark Ewalt through Mr. Benjamin Feh and others which gave us hope of your coming. We say bravo and welcome.

Today is a turning point in the history of Barombi Mbo as the day water came to our village. Water is life as the saying goes. This is a gift we least expected, not even to think that students from a far away country could bring us this gift right to our door steps. We thank you vehemently and the professors of Dayton University USA.

Barombi Mbo is a minute village out of thirteen villages in the Barombi clan. The clan is small but straddles two Divisions, Meme and Ndian, and four Sub-Divisions which are Kumba, Mbonge, Ekondo Titi, and Bamusu Sub-Division. It is a link in a chain without which the chain is in complete. Our village is in Kumba sub-division, but consideration has hardly been given us in terms of pipe burn water though the source that generates it to Kumba and its environs comes from us. Our joy is that God Almighty has heard our prayers and our dream to have water has come to be true.

This is also so because, our two governments enjoy good relationship. Barombi people love peace and are friendly. Your stay with us from now henceforth will be enjoyable. Our profound gratitude goes to the US Ambassador toe Cameroon, wishing him and his family God's abundant blessings.

Honorable Guests, Ladies and gentlemen, we thank you all for the patience you have exercised to the end of this ceremony. May Gods traveling mercies take you safely back to your destinations.

Long live Barombi Mbo,

Long Live Dayton Univeristy USA

Long Live the Republic of Cameroon!

-Hrh Ndokpe Joseph Sangwa, Chief of Barombi Village

Stay tuned for more to come,

Hayley