Rise with Merit Association - Blog Post Detail

Prison Outreach: A Call to Dignity

On May 18, the Rise with Merit Association will take a bold and compassionate step beyond the walls of our campus to the gates of Yaoundé Central Prison—widely known as Kondengui. This visit represents more than a charitable outreach; it’s a call to dignity, human connection, and restorative justice.

As a student-led NGO committed to social upliftment and inclusive development, our association believes that every individual—regardless of their circumstances—deserves to be treated with respect and humanity. With this belief, we are preparing to engage with inmates through meaningful interaction and acts of kindness that go beyond material donations.

In the lead-up to the visit, our members have been collecting hygiene supplies, food items, reading materials, and motivational resources. These items, while essential, are just one part of the mission. The real gift we aim to offer is empathy—the power of presence, of listening, of acknowledging humanity behind bars.

Yaoundé Central Prison houses a wide range of inmates, including many who are still awaiting trial. It is a place often associated with overcrowding and hardship, but also resilience. Through this visit, Rise with Merit hopes to bring a moment of relief, dignity, and encouragement to those living within its walls.

The day will include:

Distributions of care packages to selected inmates.
Interactive conversations aimed at fostering emotional support.
A motivational session led by members of our association, centered on hope, education, and personal growth—even in difficult environments.

This initiative is not about charity; it’s about solidarity. It is a reminder that we, as a community of young people, have the power to influence change not only through protest or policy but also through compassion and presence.

We believe that our actions on May 18 will plant seeds of hope—some visible, some quiet, but all deeply meaningful.

Stay connected with Rise with Merit Association as we prepare for this transformative experience. We’ll be sharing reflections, lessons, and stories after the visit, because the impact doesn't end at the prison gates—it continues with all of us.

Nourishing Minds: The University Restaurant Initiative

In a vibrant and progressive move toward student welfare and community support, Rise with Merit Association proudly sponsors the newly launched University Restaurant, a space where good food, accessibility, and student empowerment come together under one roof.

This initiative is more than just a place to eat—it's a mission to ensure that no student goes through the day hungry, distracted, or unsupported. At its core, the college restaurant reflects Rise with Merit’s long-standing commitment to social equity, academic excellence, and practical empowerment.

Located within the college premises, the restaurant provides:

Affordable and nutritious meals tailored to students’ needs and budgets.
A welcoming, inclusive space for relaxation, conversation, and study breaks.
Part-time opportunities for students to engage in service, management, and skill-building roles.

The idea was born from countless conversations with students struggling to balance academic life with rising living costs. Hunger and financial stress are silent obstacles to learning, and this restaurant was designed to address both with dignity and innovation.

Menus are carefully curated to be healthy, budget-friendly, and culturally familiar, with occasional special dishes reflecting student diversity. What’s more, a “Pay-It-Forward” system allows students and staff to anonymously sponsor meals for peers who may be facing a difficult time—fostering a true sense of solidarity and mutual care.

“This is not just a place to eat—it’s a place to belong,” says one of the student volunteers involved in the daily operations. Indeed, the atmosphere is one of warmth, collaboration, and purpose. Whether it’s a quick lunch between lectures or a quiet evening snack, the College Restaurant is becoming a heartbeat of student life.

For Rise with Merit Association, the sponsorship is part of a broader vision: to ensure that academic achievement is not hindered by basic unmet needs. By addressing food insecurity and creating opportunities for engagement, the restaurant is another step toward a more just and thriving student community.

As the aroma of shared meals fills the air and laughter echoes from table to table, one thing is clear: when we invest in people, especially students, we build stronger, more compassionate futures.

Planting Seeds of Impact: Our Vision

Every big change starts with a small, determined step. The Rise with Merit Association was founded not out of abundance, but from a deep desire to respond to the needs of our community with empathy, purpose, and action. Though our journey has just begun, our vision is bold, and our commitment is real.

As a student-led NGO, we are grounded in one simple belief: everyone deserves a fair chance to rise—with dignity, with support, and with merit. Whether it’s access to education, health, food, or hope, our mission is to stand in the gap and provide what we can, when we can, with passion and transparency.

While we are still planting the seeds of our work, our hearts are already full of plans that we believe will bloom into real, lasting impact.

Our Vision in Motion

Here’s a glimpse of what we’re working toward:

Prison Outreach (Launching May 18): Bringing care, dignity, and conversation to inmates at Yaoundé Central Prison (Kondengui), reminding them that they are not forgotten.
Student Welfare Projects: From affordable meals to mental health support, we’re exploring initiatives to ease the daily burdens faced by students on campus.
Community Upliftment Drives: Soon, we hope to extend our impact to rural areas through school supply distributions, mentoring programs, and skill-building workshops.
Volunteer Engagement: Creating opportunities for students to grow through service, leadership, and real-life experience in community development.

Why We Rise

We rise not because we have everything figured out—but because we believe waiting for perfect conditions delays progress. We rise because we know that compassion, when put into action, can spark hope in the darkest places.

And we rise together—with each new member, partner, and supporter who joins our mission.

Join Us in Shaping What Comes Next

We’re still at the beginning of our story, and that’s what makes this moment so powerful. There is space for ideas, energy, creativity, and growth. Whether you’re a student, a donor, a dreamer, or a doer—we invite you to build with us.

Follow our updates, support our causes, or reach out to collaborate. Rise with Merit is more than a name—it’s a promise. And we’re just getting started.