Friends of WEH receives donation

by David Anderson, Friends of WEH Board Chair


It is with great joy that we announce a major gift to the ongoing work of Women Environment and Health in Cameroon. Lee Edwards, son of Arthur and Velma Edwards, has donated $120,000 in memory of his parents, his brother Arthur Edwards III and his wife Norma, sister Elaine Edwards Baxter, and to honor Lee's sister Reesa Edwards Wailor.

The gift has two parts:

  • Arthur and Velma Edwards Family Learning Legacy: $100,000 to further the life-long learning needs of Cameroonian children through WEH's education initiatives.

  • WEH Reesa & Robin VBS Sewing Classroom: $20,000 to fund the purchase, modification, and equipping of a steel container to house a portable sewing classroom.With seven sewing machines, materials, and funding for a teacher, this mobile classroom will be stocked with material to make COVID-19 masks and to fully train students with the sewing skills they need to support their families.For many years Reesa and her friend Robin led vacation bible school (VBS) for children at their church.

Both WEH and its FWEH supporters are very thankful to Mr. Edwards for this generous gift. In 1963 Arthur and Velma Edwards invited Ruth Musunu Titi-Manyaka to live with their family in Leopoldville, Congo, so Ruth could complete her high school education more than 300 miles from her family's home. Arthur and Velma's generosity continues today through this gift from their son Lee.

These new projects will greatly strengthen
WEH’s capacity to provide services our FWEH
donors have funded and continue to support.


Lee said he was motivated to make his gift to WEH because he was convinced of the importance and power of women to make positive changes in families, communities, and nations. He recognized in Ruth and her colleagues at WEH the same commitment to vocational training that he had seen in his father's and mother’s careers around the world. It seemed fitting to continue their work by supporting the expansion of the work of WEH volunteers in Cameroon with the hope that each generation would continue to empower young people and women in meaningful practical ways. His gift seemed to him an appropriate way to honor his father's and mother’s values and legacy.

This is an especially difficult time due to Cameroon's growing civil war that has hampered WEH's efforts to keep children in school and combat COVID-19.

We all appreciate your generous giving to fund WEH’s important work with children, women, and families.