PETIT DAN AND SARAH FOUNDATION
Every child is love
About us
An inspiring story
The name of the Petit Dan et Sarah Foundation originates from a traditional Cameroonian tale about two abandoned children. Sarah, the eldest, sacrifices her childhood to care for her younger brother, Dan. This story symbolizes the spirit of solidarity and love that drives our mission.
Our mission
The Petit Dan et Sarah Foundation is a private, non-profit social organization. It is an educational and social action center dedicated to the welcome, supervision, education, and well-being of orphaned and vulnerable children. We offer a warm living environment and personalized support to each child to enable them to grow up in the best possible conditions.
History
Founded in 1982 by Joseph and Marie Madeleine ZINGUI, the Foundation was first established in one of Yaoundé's most disadvantaged neighborhoods, in Elig Edzoa. In 1986, the foundation was recognized by the Ministry of Social Affairs as a private non-profit social organization. A year later, the foundation was granted a larger site located in the Yaoundé suburb of Soa, in the village of Okoa. This land became the foundation's permanent site and was gradually developed to build a true refuge for children. For over 42 years, our team has worked tirelessly to improve living conditions for children. In 1993, the Okoa Primary and Kindergarten School (EPM) was created within the foundation's site, allowing the most disadvantaged and local children to benefit from an education.
For who ?
The Foundation welcomes all children and young people in need of love and support. Often, these children are experiencing social and family difficulties, their living conditions preventing optimal emotional, material, and emotional development. This includes orphans, semi-orphans, and children affected by divorce and/or chronic parental discord. We also welcome families in extreme poverty seeking refuge. We currently have about thirty children aged 3 to 20.
Our actions
We offer a stable and caring environment through:
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Education and Training: Our school is open not only to children living in our institutional setting, but also to children from the neighborhood, generally from poor families. Despite the free public preschool and primary education in Cameroon, many children still do not have access to education, as their parents have virtually no means to pay certain fees that are still due and to provide them with books and school supplies. Some children start the school year and cannot finish it, due to the great precariousness experienced in their family environment. The Petit Dan et Sarah Foundation therefore created this school to give priority and equal opportunities to children with social and family difficulties.
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Academic and professional support: Monitoring young people in their academic and professional careers.
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Accommodation and support: We offer a real home and a structured family environment, with the aim of preparing them for an independent adult life.
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Access to basic care
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Food aid: Thanks to the four French volunteers of 2024 (Cloé, Estelle, Marie and Maëlys), to the generous donations of our friends (via the HelloAsso page) and the association Aide aux Enfants du monde, as well as our support teams, 3 meals per day are provided, to ensure the healthy growth of the children.
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Psychosocial support: Support for children, families in difficulty and women in situations of great hardship.
Our values
The Petit Dan et Sarah Foundation is based on fundamental principles:
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A family spirit: The founders, collaborators, donors, and former and current children and youth of Petit Dan et Sarah form a large, supportive family, united by love and mutual support. Each member, past or present, is an ambassador for the foundation. Today, the family spans every continent: we are proud of this diversity.
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The Right to Love: One of the founding couple's main commitments was to ensure that every child enjoyed a family-like environment. For Marie Madeleine and Joseph, a child's first right was the right to love! Marie Madeleine thus made it her credo: "EVERY CHILD IS LOVE."
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Welcome, Sharing, Humility : Our motto and our daily commitment. Welcome is at the heart of our work: every child who walks through the doors of the Foundation finds a refuge. Sharing is a fundamental value that guides our initiatives: sharing our time, resources, knowledge, cultures, and experiences with children and friends. We warmly welcome the many friends, visitors, and donors who come to meet our community, thus fostering a true exchange between peoples. Finally, humility reminds us that our role is to serve and support with respect and kindness, recognizing the dignity and strength of each child we help.
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Rejecting poverty as inevitable : We believe in the possibility of a better future for every child. Every day, we work hand in hand with our partners to improve children's living conditions.
Our team
Joseph ZINGUI
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Marie Madeleine ZINGUI
Co-founder and permanent secretary
Co-founder
Founding couple
Annette, Mireille, Lydie, Nadège, Charles, Damase
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Pascaline
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Delphine
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Arthur and Christina​​​​
Teachers at the Primary and kindergerden school of Okoa
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Intendant and cook
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Unpaid worker
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Volunteers from the French Civic Service for 2025
Supervising team