3 min.
“First of all, I would like to greet Renata Polverini, the Governor of Lazio, and her collaborators; the Cameroon Embassy in Italy, the Delegate of the Holy Seat Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Fatehr Janvier Yameogo, Cesare Borin of the Act-Now Alliance and, particularly, the Roman schools that are present today.
Moreover, I warmly greet the Prefect of the Lebialem Division who is connected with us, the Mayor of Menji Fontem and the Regional Directors for National Education who have made it possible for the schools in Lebialem Fontem to participate in Project Digital Bridge. Today, you are all actors with your partners from the schools of Rome in the unique event.
I would like to thank the authorities and particularly the Lazio Region for having firmly believed in the dreams of school students in Lazio to ovecome the digital divide that exists between the North and South of the world and weave new intercultural relationship.
I’d also like to thank the Ministry for Secondary Education in Cameroon that has supported this project from the outset and is currently extending the computer labs in all secondary and upper schools in the Region of Lebialem following the success of Project Digital Bridge.
I would like to thank the Embassy of Italy in Cameroon and that of Cameroon in Italy for their constant support in this initiative and how could I not thank the two regional delegates from National Education in Lebialem in videoconference with us. They have fully participated in this project and helped school administrators in Lebialem participate as well as allowing students to use IT to open their windows and access the Internet as delineated in the Millennium Goals of the United Nations.
And how could I not thank the European Space Agency for their donation of satellite channels to allow connectivity and the Italian Space Agency with ICT for training and development. I believe the beneficiaries of this knowledge that are here represented – you students – will know how to make the most out of this opportunity.
Finally, it’s superfluous to thank the headmasters, principles and school administrators of high schools and colleges and the teachers, men and women, who have been the project referents. Clearly, this project would never have been such a great success without you. You represent its sustainability as permanent resources of your institutions. Accompanying students in their desire for meeting and cultural exchanges orients them towards a certain future of peace, solidarity and reciprocity.
Isn’t this a way to prevent clashes of civilisation and senseless wars? Barriers can be overcome with technological and digital bridges. This is the sense of our work and Project Digital Bridge - a technological bridge between Italy, Saharawi and Cameroon.
I would sincerely like to thank the Fondazione Mondo Digital for their efficient coordination to make this project come true.
In conclusion, let me thank AMU – Associazione Internazionale Mondo Unito for having successfully completed the first phase of Project Digital Bridge and, in particular, training the local technicians in Cameroon and the central remote site in Rome with Mr. Cesare Bordin and his collaborators.
I thank all of you for your time and wish you a fruitful time.”
Martin Nkafu Nkemnkia, Coordinator Project Digital Bridge Cameroon and President of LATS Cameroon.
