By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
Turning nostalgia into a blueprint for action, the 2005 graduating class of Government Bilingual High School (GBHS) Kumbo, – “The Orchids – Batch of Excellence,” has unveiled a comprehensive development agenda for the 2026/2027 Academic Year centered on student scholarships and economic empowerment.
Meeting in Bafoussam, West Region of Cameroon from April 24 to 26, the alumni cohort pledged to fund the education of at least five current students while simultaneously launching a financial intervention to help a struggling classmate establish a business, signaling a strategic shift from a social social club to a proactive development engine.
To strengthen the organization’s internal structure, members moved to integrate the National President into the Southwest regional branch, a strategic shift intended to revive the local chapter’s activities. Leadership also issued a call to alumni living in the diaspora, urging them to identify and join specific branches to ensure the association remains a global, cohesive unit focused on progress.
Despite the ambitious goals set during the three-day assembly, Tardzenyuy Richard, National President expressed a mixture of pride and concern regarding the current state of the union. While he lauded the enduring spirit of togetherness that defines the Orchids, he noted that active participation has seen a recent decline.
Tardzenyuy Richard highlighted a dip in formal membership, pointing out that registration fell from 60 to 53 members despite previous commitments made during their last gathering in Douala. He warned against a growing culture of “idontcarism,” citing missed deadlines for contributions and events as significant hurdles to the group’s success.
Reflecting on the year’s benchmarks, the President remarked that the achievement rate for various projects, particularly the effort to locate and reintegrate “lost” classmates, has been underwhelming. In an effort to rebrand the association’s mission and spark a new era of productivity, he proposed a shift in identity for the alumni.
“I propose we move from being just ‘ex-students’ to becoming ‘next-builders,’” Tardzenyuy Richard said, challenging the Batch of Excellence to look beyond their shared past and focus on constructing a legacy of development for the school and its community.
