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As part of its strategy towards advancing girls education, and to ensure completion of secondary education, ExSSA USA, has identified and awarded scholarships to 8 girls in Saker Baptist college. The ExSSA USA scholarship project is implemented through its Houston chapter. The scholarship award ceremony took place on December 9, 2014 in Saker Baptist College presided over by the principal, with parents of scholarship recipients and Sakerettes in attendance.

Four students from graduating classes, two from form five and two from upper sixth, were originally chosen from 20 pre-selected candidates based on financial need, academic performance, leadership skills and extracurricular activities, to receive the total sum of 400.000 FCFA to cover tuition and all school related expenses. However, in an unprecedented show of love and sisterhood, the four, who were much aware of other classmates in dire need of finances to advance their education, approached the principal and offered to split their awards with four other girls. This unprecedented act by the selected four students sheds light on a huge gap often missed when guidelines for scholarships are set: financial stress and concern over paying tuition and financing school needs may indeed affect a girl’s performance in school. In Cameroon, like many other sub Saharan African countries, the extent of female illiteracy and the underprivileged situation of girls with regard to access to and retention in education institutions continue to pose a serious problem.