Janvier Wopoule
was a visiting seminary student from the village Can in the
Cameroon.
He was ordained three years ago in the Detroit diocese and remained to get
his masters degree in counseling.
He has been a resident priest and counselor at St. Regis in Bloomfield
Michigan.
The Can-Do project was started several years ago in the St Regis parish to help the
village of Can rebuild their church and school.
The church had lost its roof in a monsoon storm - $100,000 was raised and it
was used to rebuilt it
The original school, build with local
standard building materials consisting mainly of bamboo, mud and straw, was
damaged beyond repair - so far about $120,000 has been raised of the
total of $195,000 that is needed.Mary Veldman started the Container
part of the Can-Do project
She and other people tirelessly contacted
individuals to donate supplies for two schools and general items for use in the village Can
Here is a partial description of the over 550 boxes that are now in a
forty foot container destined for Cameroon.
200 School desks, school chairs, file cabinets
42 Bicycles
2 Pianos
Electric Generator with six cordless power tools (brand new)
Five (working) computers
School supplies, books, paper,
pencils, crayons, binders, folders, backpacks
Sewing material, clothing, shoes, sandals, personal hygiene supplies, dry
laundry soap, blankets
Hardware (nails, screws), tools (hammers, saws, pliers, etc), toolboxes
Garden tools of all kinds (Shovels, spades, rakes), wheelbarrows
Sports equipment (Soccer balls and shoes, basketballs)
Two tables for table tennis, basketball hoop with stand
Moving dollies and carts
Etc, etc.
Lesson learned: We are surrounded by generous
and caring people.
Another lesson learned: Next time we
should do this in the summer and not in snowy January.
