SPC Expands Global Partnership in Cameroon

St. Philip’s College (SPC) faculty arrived in Cameroon in March for a two-week education and professional development program focused on expanding global partnerships, psychoeducation, mental health awareness, and student engagement in Central Africa.

Led by Professor Dr. Solomon Nfor and Assistant Professor Irene Young, the program is part of a broader initiative to integrate Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), mental health education, and experiential learning across international communities. The visit included multiple workshops, lectures, site visits, and meetings with Cameroonian government officials, healthcare leaders, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and education administrators.

The team hosted several mental health workshops at L’Hopital Jamot de Yaoundé, emphasizing adolescent development, nutritionally related ailments, and disparities in treatment access. These sessions support a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to expand mental health education across Cameroon.

“Our mission is not solely to impart knowledge; rather, we aim to foster collaboration, mutual growth, and meaningful exchange,” said Dr. Nfor, who coordinated the educational workshops at Queensway International College (QIC) in Yaoundé. “This endeavor underscores the significance of long-term partnership and mutually beneficial exchange.”

The group also identified potential avenues for future study abroad initiatives, including experiential learning excursions to Kribi’s coastal settlements, visits to a hydroelectric power facility along the Sanaga River, and cultural immersion with the Baka-Bakola-Bagyeli communities.

The college is diligently preparing for its inaugural study abroad program in Kenya in 2027. Site visits by Professor Nfor and Asst. Professor Young to Mount Kenya University and other institutions are scheduled for July 2026.

“From community engagement to global engagement, the relationships we build through international education are dynamic and invaluable,” said Professor Young. “It’s about investing in our future — together.”