Welcome to Mboa Sawa O America, Inc.
We, the Mboa Sawa O America, Inc. (MSOA) members, are delighted to welcome you to our website. MSOA is a Cameroonian cultural association based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. We bring together individuals with roots along the coastal regions of Cameroon, specifically from Manfe in the Southwest to Campo in the South. This community includes the Douala, Batanga, Balimba, Bakweri, Bakoko, Bakossi, Banyangui, Bankon, Bonkeng, Bodiman, Balong, Bandem, Banen, Ewodi, Mboh, Mongo, and Pongo, among others. With MSOA’s support, other sister groups have been established across the USA and Canada.
MSOA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation in the states of Maryland and D.C., organized for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes. Currently, we are also working to register and gain recognition in Cameroon through the Ministries of Territorial Administration and Foreign Affairs. This registration will facilitate various planned initiatives and help us give back to our homeland and Africa.
We have three types of members:
- Regular Members: This group is open to all Sawa individuals by birth, adoption, or marriage living in the U.S. They have voting rights and are eligible for benefits and to hold office.
- Non-Voting Regular Members: These are regular members who have chosen to forgo their voting rights and eligibility.
- Honorary Members: This group includes individuals or organizations committed to the Association’s goals, willing to assist financially or through other donations.
Our general meetings occur on the first Saturday of each month at the residence of one of our members. Members take turns hosting the meetings, which typically start at 7 PM. Due to COVID-19, we transitioned to virtual meetings on ZOOM in April 2020 but resumed in-person gatherings in October 2021. Members unable to attend in person are welcome to join via Zoom.
Our primary focus is to work towards a better future for our members and to alleviate the suffering of our brothers and sisters back home. We provide support to members during bereavement (loss of spouses, parents, siblings, and children) and in times of joy (weddings and births). Our planned events will showcase our rich and diverse culture through history, dance, music, fashion, and cuisine. Cameroon is renowned for its diversity, and we proudly contribute to it.
Our ultimate goal is to unite all Sawa people and engage in activities that promote our culture, social progress, and improved living standards by advancing social equality, economic opportunities, and quality of life for all. We often address issues such as healthcare, education, housing, and human rights. We support and encourage young men and women to pursue educational and career opportunities. We have successfully awarded scholarships to high school students, disabled children, and college students, and we recognize those who uplift our culture.
We also assist our communities in Cameroon in combating COVID-19 and other diseases like cholera, malaria, and flu. Additionally, we fund various programs in our local communities, such as serving meals to the homeless, those in shelters, and residents of nursing homes. We support food banks during distribution and assist farmers during harvest periods.
We hold annual fundraising events to support our various programs and activities. We look forward to your assistance in helping us provide for those in need here and in Africa!
Guillaume Mbappe
President
Mboa Sawa O America, Inc.
gmbappe@hotmail.com