“Celebrate life with kindness, so that the eye may perceive harmony.” It was with these words left behind by her late daughter that Honourable Élise Pokossy Doumbe sought to rekindle hope and inspire the youth at Akwa-Nord High School. On Saturday October 31, the school’s courtyard buzzed with excitement for the grand finale of the inaugural Vanessa Chrystelle Elessa Ngollo Literary Contest, centered on the timely theme of “Kindness.” The ceremony was deeply moving, bringing together key education figures including the Wouri Divisional Delegate for Secondary Education, Mrs. Nathalie Mouen, and the Principal of Akwa-Nord High School alongside various school heads and 44 finalists representing 11 public and private institutions across the Douala III and V districts.In a her adress, Hon.Pokossy Doumbe shared fond memories of the young woman behind the initiative: “She was a beautiful, dynamic, and vibrant young woman thoughtful and, above all, kind. A graduate from Paris Dauphine University, she served as a department director and a municipal councilor for the Douala V subdivision, deeply committed to civic life. She was a hands-on person who truly understood what it meant to serve others.”Shortly before she passed, she left me with those words about celebrating life with kindness. I did not want her message to fade away with her. I wanted it to become a seed and you have helped it grow. Kindness is not weakness; it is the courage to remain good in a world that sometimes pushes us to be harsh. We can choose not to let the world’s harshness strip us of our humanity.” Launched three months ago, the competition aimed to showcase the literary talent of local youth. The decisive round took place on October 17 at Akwa-Nord High School under the supervision of Mr. Ngong Elie, Principal of Malimba Gare Secondary School and the event’s focal point. Given three hours to refine their original works, 44 finalists competed across three categories—poetry, short stories, and slam poetry in both French and English. Entries were rigorously evaluated by a specialized jury appointed by Divisional Delegate Nathalie Mouen.During the ceremony, every participant’s effort was recognized, culminating in the presentation of the prestigiou Golden, Silver, and Bronze Quill Awards (Plume d’Or, Plume d’Argent, and Plume de Bronze).Speaking to the press at the end of the ceremony, Hon. Élise Pokossy Doumbe reflected on the inspiration behind the project. “This idea first came to me when I donated a library to the Logpom Bilingual High School,” she explained.”I saw tremendous enthusiasm there and realized that, despite the digital shift, students still love to read.” Addressing the challenges posed by modern technology, she offered a balanced perspective: “With new technologies and the digital realm, young people have lost some of their passion for reading and research. I am not against digital technology or artificial intelligence, but they can strip away the joy of tactile discovery. In our day, we had thick dictionaries, and I wanted to show youth that there is still joy in that tradition.” She emphasised her broader message for society:”Kindness is a word that speaks directly to our shared humanity and how we treat one another. We often talk about ‘living together,’ but without kindness, that is simply impossible.” The highlight of the event came with an exciting announcement from Hon. Pokossy Doumbe: responding to enthusiasm from students, educators, and local leaders,the Vanessa Chrystelle Elessa Ngollo Literary Contest is officially becoming a permanent annual fixture. “Everyone is asking for this event to continue,” she announced.”I am proud to confirm that this first edition is only the beginning.
My goal is to permanently instill in these young minds a passion for reading, research, culture, and poetry.”Mrs. Nathalie Mouen,Wouri Divisional Delegate for Secondary Education, commended the parliamentarian’s efforts to promote positive school culture: “I am truly touched by the Honorable’s thoughtful gesture, which highlights that our schools are not defined solely by reports of violence. There are refined, bright minds among us who elevate our community through literature. School is a place for learning, and it is a place where kindness must be cultivated.”The emotional peak of the day was the crowning of Christine Andy Coralie, a student from L’Orchidée school, who took home the coveted Golden Quill (Plume d’Or)award. With disarming honesty, the newly minted winner reflected on her victory: “I spent sleepless nights preparing; I even woke up at two in the morning last Friday to review my text. By the grace of God, here I am in first place! The funny thing is, I didn’t think I liked reading or writing at all. But I gave it my absolute all as the saying goes, where there is a will, God provides.” Embracing the theme of the competition, Christine added: *”I tend to give a lot of advice to my peers, and moving forward, I am going to make a point of using kindness to help my classmates who are feeling frustrated or overwhelmed.”
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