Students Visit Landslide Survivors in Northwestern Cameroon

Under the canopy of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, more than 50 students and teachers of St. Maria Gorretti Comprehensive High School (SAMAGS), a Tertiary Sisters school in Njinikom, in northwestern Cameroon undertook a solidarity visit on 4 October 2026 to the victims and survivors of the devastating landslide disaster in Ntiniformbi Village. The disaster, which occurred on 11 September 2026, claimed lives and destroyed homes and property. 

The visit expressed the school’s commitment to standing with people in moments of pain, loss, and vulnerability. It also provided an opportunity to put into practice the message of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’, particularly its call to care for our common home and for one another. 

Preparation for the Visit 

Before embarking on the journey, the students and teachers participated in a brief reflection on the importance of creation and our responsibility towards it. Drawing inspiration from Laudato Si’, the reflection emphasized the need to care for our common home, recognizing that creation is God’s gift entrusted to all of us. The students were reminded that caring for creation goes beyond protecting trees, water, soil, and the environment. It also involves caring for people, particularly those who suffer when natural disasters and environmental challenges affect their lives and livelihoods. Since everything is interconnected, the suffering of one part of our community concerns us all. The visit therefore became an opportunity for the SAMAGS family to see, listen and share, condole and console. 

A Journey of Solidarity 

More than 30 SAMAGS students, accompanied by teachers, travelled to Ntiniformbi to meet the affected families. Upon arrival, the SAMAGS family was welcomed by survivors who shared their emotional experiences of the disaster. They recounted how they had experienced the landslide and described its devastating consequences. Listening to their stories was deeply moving. It enabled the students to understand that behind every disaster are real people, families, dreams, and stories of loss, courage, and survival. The visit was not simply about providing material assistance. Above all, it was about being present, listening to the affected people, and assuring them that they had not been forgotten. As a modest gesture of solidarity, the SAMAGS family presented rice and envelopes containing financial assistance to some of the affected families. 

Sharing Pain and Hope 

The testimonies of the survivors touched the hearts of the students and teachers. Their willingness to share their experiences created a profound moment of human encounter and solidarity. Despite the painful memories and losses they had endured, the affected families welcomed the SAMAGS group with joy, gratitude, and openness. Their joy at receiving the visitors was itself a powerful reminder that even a simple presence, a listening ear, and a gesture of concern can bring hope to people going through difficult moments. For the students, this was a lesson that extended beyond the classroom. They experienced firsthand that education is not only about academic achievement but also about developing compassionate hearts, responsible citizens, and people who are willing to stand with others in times of need. 

A Franciscan Response 

As a school under the care of the Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis, the visit reflected the Franciscan call to respect God’s creation and stand in solidarity with those who suffer. St. Francis of Assisi had a profound love and respect for God’s creation. In the spirit of Laudato Si’, the SAMAGS family recognizes that care for creation and care for people cannot be separated. The visit challenged the students to reflect on their own responsibility toward creation and toward those around them: How can I become a better caretaker of our common home? How do my choices affect other people and the environment? How can I respond when someone in my community is suffering? 

Conclusion and Gratitude 

The SAMAGS solidarity visit to Ntiniformbi on 4 October 2026 was much more than a visit to a disaster site. It was a meaningful JPIC experience of encounter, compassion, solidarity, and hope. Through the presence of more than 30 students and their teachers, SAMAGS sought to live out the message of Laudato Si’ that everything is interconnected and that caring for our common home necessarily includes caring for our brothers and sisters. The experience reminded the SAMAGS family that we are one family. When one member suffers, the whole family is called to respond with love, compassion, and solidarity.

We render immense gratitude to our benefactor Maria Pellegrino, who assisted us with the finances to carry out this gesture, and to all the benefactors who, through the years, continue to support and believe in our mission of being an empowering presence through our various Ministries in different parts of the world.