Three years ago, an idea refused to leave me alone - Echoes from Open Dreams Douala | Guilian Asongtia
- Open Dreams
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
I had seen the impact the Open Dreams Summer Academy was having on students in Bamenda and Yaoundé.
At the time, Open Dreams Douala existed mainly as a virtual community. We visited schools, introduced students to opportunities, answered their questions..., but when it came time for the Summer Academy, we had to tell them:
"You'll have to travel to Yaoundé or Bamenda."
That never sat well with me.
I kept asking myself:
Why not Douala?
I shared the idea with James Akaba
We didn't have a venue. We didn't have a detailed plan.
We simply believed that students in Douala deserved the same opportunity.
He reached out to one of our partner institutions - St. Louis University, Douala - and I went there in person to make the case to Dr. Mrs. Florence Ngwayam & Dr. Nick Ngwanyam, the CEO of St. Louis institutions.
That simple conversation became the beginning of the very first Open Dreams Summer Academy in Douala in 2023.
Looking back today, I'm reminded that many meaningful journeys don't begin with perfect plans. They begin with a conviction that something better is possible.
Three Summer Academies later, we have mentored hundreds of students, watched dreams take shape, and seen young people access opportunities they once thought were beyond their reach.
Today, we are taking another step in that journey.
We are working to establish a permanent learning center—a space where students can continue learning, growing, and preparing for opportunities throughout the year, not just during the Summer Academy.
Three years ago, we asked, "Why not Douala?"
Today, we're asking a new question:
What more becomes possible when every student has a place to learn, dream, and grow?
If this vision resonates with you and you would like to be part of this journey, you will find details on how to support the initiative in the pictures below.
If you want to securely donate online, go to this link. And if you would like to read our full fundraising proposal and learn more about the vision behind the learning center, please download the document below.
Guilian Asongtia | Regional Program Coordinator, Open Dreams Douala | Deputy Tech Chief | Open Dreams Mentorship Program
When I see the lengths some teams go to ,for a guaranteed future for youths - I feel truly inspired
Kudos to the OD organization!