ALL PROTOCOLS DULY RESPECTED,
THE LITERATI,
THE GLITTERATI,
DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I am really honoured to be designated, amongst many other committed and dignified Open Dreams parents to talk about my odyssey with Open Dreams. Before I proceed, permit me pay special tributes to:
the founding fathers of Open Dreams-Hans Kullberg, Cristina Kullberg and Blaise Buma: They knew that the best way to realize one’s dream is not to sleep.
the Country Director, the indefatigable and ubiquitous Mr. Akaba James: whose exemplary stewardship has catapulted Open Dreams to its zenith.
the Chairman, Mr Bill Agha, the versatile and polyvalent midfielder, who articulates OD perspectives all over the world.
In the same breath, I pay glowing tributes to all the international delegates: Hali Access Network and its affiliates, university representatives, especially admission officers: your altruism has levelled the academic playing field for our children. We cannot thank you enough;
Not the least, to all foreign diplomatic representations (Ambassadors, Consul officers, etc. for the trust and confidence bestowed on our children when they come knocking at their doors for visas;
to all the OD scholars: thank you for making us proud as parents, Cameroonians and global citizens. You are the unsung heroes of our time. We love you dearly.
to our dear parents, who toil and moil for their children. I salute and thank you for your self-abnegation.
Open Dreams Country Director James Akaba & Co-founder, Hans Kullberg in a conversation
For those who do not know Open Dreams, it is not only a pro bono college-access organization, but also a way of life, a culture, a brand, a trademark. It is the Open Sesame, the master key that opens the doors into most of the hermetic universities with pretty labyrinthine application processes. Only a couple of years ago, graduates from Ivy League and other top-notch universities were as rare as dog’s tears in our streets. Today, Open Dreams, in collaboration with these universities, have created a fair and conducive atmosphere for our children to blossom.
Courage Kah, Chairman Bill N. Agha, Prince Donald Forghab, Seka Jean-Blaise and Ibrahim Garba in a panel discussion
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, it is not lost on us that the academic success story of Cameroon can never be substantially addressed and completely told without the active participation and contribution of Open Dreams. Open Dreams has contributed immensely to the major academic paradigm shift of this country by re-engineering, re-thinking, re-imagining, and re-branding education. Talk to any OD scholar and you will know they are a special breed.
As you all know, my discourse consists in talking about my odyssey with Open Dreams. Over and above the thrills and euphoria created by this event, need I remind us that the high stakes that underpin it are celebrating Open Dreams and educating the masses on how to access these universities? Today, in hindsight, I remember what my late father once told me, ‘’The best way to beat your chest is to allow others to beat it for you’’.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, going by the anecdote supra, and for fear of you misconstruing me, permit that I present something that will help some parents get a better grasp of what it takes to adequately prepare their children for admission into these prestigious universities. I will give some excerpts of what I did to help my child to succeed; more to demonstrate to some parents that it is feasible, than as an attempt to show off. From time to time, I would talk in general terms and come back to what I did as a parent.
First of all, I made my son my best friend and tried as much as possible to make him believe in me, more from what I did than from what I said. By my lifestyle, I showed him I don’t go in for mediocrity, at least, as far as academics are concerned. I told him if he wants to succeed and excel in life, he must strive to be the best in all his endeavours.
Dear parents, this is the foundation you should first lay. Each time, try to examine your child’s progress report card critically. If your child has already seen your own poor progress report card, plead with him and beg him to do better than you did. This reminds me of the story of a very rich man who had a lone son who was so allergic to academics. One day, he said to him: “Sonny, give me just 4 GCE O Levels and I send you Britain. The first attempt, the son had 3 C grades. The father was crestfallen but gave him a second chance. Second attempt. Results published. Father asked son, “Peter, did you pass your GCE? The son replied, “John too failed”. I pray this does not happen to any parent here present.
Open Dreams co-founder, Hans Kullberg, from California USA, addressing the audience
SOME OF THE THINGS PARENTS COULD DO TO BETTER PREPARE THEIR CHILDREN FOR ADMISSION INTO THESE PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITIES
While in Primary school, I bought my son only educative tablets. No cell phone, no laptop and no television set in their room. There was a desktop computer and a television set in the living room they could use under my supervision. Bed time was 9 p.m.
I made sure he revised all his lessons every day before going to bed. I went through all his books at least once a week
Don’t bring in a home teacher except the case is woefully pathetic. And if you do, not too many of them, and it should not be the same teachers who teach them at school. Make adequate provisions for their age, their relaxation and play time.
Once in a while, a little bit of arm-twisting and guerilla tactics should not be completely ruled out. This helps refresh the child’s memory better and faster. In Africa, father’s rights supersede all other rights if it is in the best interest of the child. This is not violation of human or children’s rights. It is tropicalised upbringing.
From Primary 3, in the company of his older brothers, I took him to INJS every Wednesday and Saturday for two hours of sports each time.
Every Thursdays and Saturdays, he learnt how to play the guitar and piano.
House chores was mandatory and most of the times, he played androgynous roles-doing the dishes and cooking. There is no gender distribution of labour in our home.
On Sunday, in church, we don’t give him church offering. He uses his pocket money to thank God. Similarly, the day we visit an orphanage, he cooks and prepares like everybody. From his pocket money, he contributes to the envelope we will present to the orphanage. In the same vein, every child buys a birthday present for their brother using their pocket money.
Once in a while, take them out for a treat or spectacle down-town. Reduce as much as possible the number of his friends to 3, and also try to know his friends’ parents and their homes.
For pocket money, don’t give your child too much or too little money. Give them just what is necessary. The mean should range from 10/20 to 12/20 for boys-10 being the minimum and 12, the maximum. For girls, the mean should be between 11/20 and 13/20.
In Secondary School, all of the above applies, except that you can buy them a cell phone and laptop contingent on them giving you impressive and positive academic results. You reserve the right to withdraw these gadgets from them if they impact negatively on their academic performance. Each day, before they go to bed at 10 pm, collect the phone and laptop.
During holidays, I gave my son books / novels to read. Depending on the volume of the book and making adequate allowance for other things and play time, I gave him 3 to 7 days to read the book, write a summary and make an oral presentation to me. This continued till the end of the holiday. He did a lot of peer-tutoring and took active part in cleaning the neighbourhood when the need arose. One time, he served as volunteer with the RED CROSS, and another, with N4SHE NGO.
Immediately after writing his GCE O Level, I started schooling him on the mechanics of applications into these universities. He also went to the internet to learn for himself. When he made an impressive GCE O Level result, I advised him to start practising how to write his personal statement and attempting online SAT questions.
During the Lower Sixth holiday, I registered him at the American Language Centre to prepare the SAT. A month afterwards, he was admitted to the Open Dreams Summer Academy. It was really tedious. He had to work extra hard to be able to apply to some few universities before resuming school at Sacred Heart. I played the role of a critic all along. In the end, by God’s grace, he was admitted to an Ivy League University.
Open Dreams at 10 events at IRIC Yaoundé
Before I end my discourse, permit me make allusions to Open Dreams Centre of Excellence. As the dividing line separating those who are admitted to ODSA and those who are not admitted becomes more blurred as years go by, Open Dreams is obliged to build the Open Dreams Centre of Excellence which will enable them to accommodate a great majority of the unadmitted students who are no less deserving. I therefore make a special plea to all people of good will and the government whose eyes and ears are here present, to contribute generously to the realization of this mammoth project.
Long Live Open Dreams;
Long Live Cameroon.
Ebebe Daniel | OD Dad
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