INSTITUT UNIVERSITAIRE DE DEVELOPPEMENT INTERNATIONAL B.P. 206 MOKOLO EXTREME NORD CAMEROUN Tel. + (237) 22 29 54 96 ; + 1626 377 0105 Autorisation N 12/06235/N/MINSUP/DDES/ESUP/SAC/MNL/ebm du 28/12/12 TITLE OF PROPOSAL Scholarship Fund for the training of ten student pastors in the Bachelors in Theology program at Francophone University of International Development By Rev. HADAMA Christophe Field Administrator of FUID Amount requested for the three years: FCFA ( 29 270) Amount requested each academic year: FCFA ( 9 757) July 2015 1
I. Introducing FUID Francophone University of International Development (FUID), known in Cameroon with the French name Institut Universitaire de Déeloppement International (IUDI) is a university offering both distance-education based on self-directed learning and on-site learning in a semi-residential format. It is equally a dynamic movement that aims at impacting the world with godly love and excellence through self-directed learning and integral mentoring, while maintaining a balance between faith and reason, theory and practice. As a result, graduates of Francophone University will be uniquely equipped to effectively contribute to the physical, spiritual, intellectual, economic, and social development of all humans regardless of their race, religion, or convictions. FUID is offering online education in the following areas: International development, Business administration, Intercultural studies and theology. Onsite courses actually being offered are: - Bachelor s degree program in On site class in Mokolo Theological studies - Certificate in theology program for Christian laity - Preparatory courses for Baccalaureate in Theology organized by CITAF These onsite courses are organized in rented quarters in Mokolo and students come once or twice every two months for classes. The main physical campus is scheduled to be built in Cameroon, precisely in Mokolo, a town located 80 km from Maroua, headquarter of Far North region of Cameroon. 2
Vision: Francophone University's vision is to be a consummate university that promotes and inspires personal life and community transformation by meeting physical, financial, moral, and spiritual needs of the people. Mission: Francophone University equips men and women with transformational holistic education and development through self-directed learning to impact the world. II. What motivated the creation of FUID in order to serve French speaking African countries? French Speaking nations occupy one of the largest blocks of nations in Africa. Over thirty countries in Africa either have French as one of their official languages or widely use French in the educational system and in business. a. What observed lacks in current institutions of learning does FUID aim to fill? FUID has observed a lack of mission-oriented evangelical university that trains students in areas that would allow them to be employed by governments and private companies and at the same time equip them in such a way that they will continue to do God s mission wherever they will serve. FUID provides unique integration of Christian faith and professional skills for greater missionary impact that is missing in most existing institutions. FUID offers a solid cohort-based distance education in English and in French to students enrolled in our online programs plus once a year on site gathering in various locations. This allows learners to have the advantages of both educational systems. Those presently enrolled in our semi-residential programs also participate in the yearly gatherings which take place in Yaoundé, every year in the month of July. 3
IV- Who is behind the FUID s vision? Rev. Dr. MOUSSA BONGOYOK, Theologian and expert in Missions, is the founder of FUID. He has gained extensive experience in academic teaching in Africa and America. Presently a professor at BIOLA University, USA. He is assisted by members of a board of directors and academic/institutional advisors. V- Motivation and justification for the Bachelor s degree in theology onsite program The first batch of the Bachelor s degree in theology program started classes in the academic year 2013-2014. They are 10 in number and are all pastors serving in their respective churches. Although this program is open to all students who want to serve their churches, priority is given to pastors and evangelists who are already in the field and want to enhance their capacity as pastors. Most of the pastors from various denominations in the Northern part of Cameroon have been trained in Bible Institutes. Because of the continuous growing challenges of the church, the need for complementary training of pastors is greatly felt. The church in Cameroun and in Africa in general is growing, and the Christians are more open to the world than before. The advancement of technology and education, through the effect if globalization, has led African populations get different perception of the realities of the world and different lifestyles. Pastors need to cope with these changes. Many pastors have approached us and expressed the need to improve their education in theology in order to be more effective. They argue that their public is more educated than years back and so they want to be equipped so as to understand the modernday language and also speak an understandable language especially by the youths. Finally, the rise of Islamic radicalism is west and central Africa is a major challenge faced by the church and pastors need to be more equipped through training in order to face the challenges. Why do we request for scholarships 4
i. Financial challenges faced by pastors: A survey carried out by us some years ago indicated that pastors in northern Cameroon and surviving and are mostly involved in agriculture because of the economic poverty characterizing local churches. These churches are mostly found in rural areas where agriculture represents more than 95% of the income of the population. With low agricultural yields, churches tend to be economically weak and unable to substantially support the trainings of their pastors at the university. The monthly income of a pastor is about 70 000 FCFA/month (106 euros / month and 1280 euros / year) while the school fees for the Bachelor s in theology program is 400 000 FCFA/year (610 euros/year). It is therefore practically impossible for a pastor in a local church to finance his undergraduate theological studies as out of his annual 1280 euros income he will need to safe ii. 610 euros which represents 47,5% of his annual income. The challenge of the rise of Islamist radicalism: Many pastors and their churches have suffered boko haram attacks in their villages, thereby losing properties (houses, chapels, shops). Some churches have even recorded losses of their Christians and Sunday worship in the chapels have ceased in some villages for a while. Pastors have suffered the economic effects of the crisis because their income depend on the modest contributions of church members and farming which most pastors do in order to raise funds for their ministry. In general, the church in Northern Cameroon has become weaker because of this situation. At the right, we can see Amchide church completely burnt down. The pastor, Jonas Gadjabougou is a student of FUID seeking for scholarship to pursue his BA in theology studies FUID is therefore requesting for scholarships to fund the Bachelors of theology program for 10 selected pastors in Northern Cameroon. How will it work? 5
Many applications have already being sent to FUID for scholarship and admission into the program. These pastors won t leave their churches. They will continue to serve as pastors in their churches while coming to Mokolo town once every two months for classes. Classes last two weeks. That way, the churches will continue paying monthly supports to the pastors which will serve as living allowance. The scholarship we are requesting will help pay their school fees, fund their living expenses in Mokolo during the two-week classes and fund the purchase of books for the students. VI- OBJECTIVE - Train ten pastors in theology at the level of BTh for three years Description Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Total Request from donors Contributi on of the Church School fees for 10 students (400 000 4 000 000 4 000 000 4 000 000 12 000 000 12 000 000 /student/year) Family living allowance (70 8 400 000 8 400 000 8 400 000 25 200 000 25 200 000 000/student/month) Books for 10 students (80 800 000 800 000 800 000 2 400 000 2 400 000 000/student/year) Student living allowance for twoweek 2 400 000 2 400 000 2 400 000 7 200 000 7 200 000 classes in Mokolo town; accommodation and feeding (30 000/student/cohort) Total 15 600 000 15 600 000 15 600 000 44 400 000 19 200 000 25 200 000 Amount requested from donors for the BTh program: 29 270 euros Amount requested for the 1 st year: 9 757 euros Amount requested for the 2 nd year: 9 757 euros Amount requested for the 3 rd year: 9 757 euros 6