The 23rd Annual General Assembly of the Circle of Friends of Cameroon (CERAC) that took place yesterday December 16, 2015 was an event full of pomp and glamour as was expected by the multitude of guests who attended the event at the association’s headquarters in Yaounde.

The Founding President of the charity association, Mrs Chantal Biya, joined a majority of the association’s members magnificently dressed in an alluring yellow fashion attire, to celebrate a well accomplished year that coincides with the association’s 20 years of humanitarian crusade, assisting surviving children of the Nsam disaster, the elderly, orphans and vulnerable children, the sick and former victims of leprosy, children with sickle cell anaemia, youth threatened by HIV/AIDs, rural women as well as underprivileged persons, amongst others.

The General Assembly kicked off at 10:00 a.m., with deliberations on the activities of the association for this year. Presiding at the congress was the General Coordinator of CERAC, Linda Yang who said despite the tense security challenges witnessed this year, CERAC members could still stretch their imagination to maintain efficiency in meeting the needs of any needy person, widow or orphan.

At the end of the discussions, a positive balance-sheet was rendered, implying that CERAC had attained its objectives for this year, though not without difficulty, but to the great satisfaction of all, especially its beneficiaries. This laudable update was the signal for the festivities and celebrations to begin. The major highlight was the arrival of the organisation’s Founding President, Mrs Chantal Biya, amidst a hilarious welcome and thunderous applause. As usual, Mrs Chantal Biya immediately handed gifts to some orphan children who were at the ceremony. Through a banner, the children told the First Lady “vulnerable population, beneficiaries of your good works laud your 20 years leadership and relentless efforts to improve our living conditions”.

The decor at CERAC’s headquarters and the score of artists present at the carousing revealed the gracefulness which has become a characteristic symbol of CERAC’s get together. Over a special lunch, CERAC ladies thrilled their audiences in spectacular musical displays. Local artists such as Grace Decca, Lab’l, Mani Bella, Krystle Georges Amoa, Richard Amougou, Sam Fan Thomas and Ama Pierrot joined the women to celebrate solidarity, friendship and love, which are some of the fundamental goals for the group’s existence. Displays from different artists and some of CERAC’s members (national and diplomatic wings) did not leave Mrs Chantal Biya indifferent.

At several moments, the First Lady left her seat to join the artists on the dancing arena. A breathtaking fashion parade by CERAC women on forms of marriages in the different regions in the country left the audience spellbound. Choreographic displays, a birthday song and the cutting of a birthday cake marked the 20th anniversary of CERAC. As the event came to its end, colourful balloons flew around the premises with the First Lady’s effigy attached to them. While guests exchanged niceties, CERAC women again took the commitment to intensify their humanitarian actions in all the nooks and crannies of the country come 2016.