About the Organization
CTEE, the Cultural Technological Environmental Exchange, is a non-profit organization based at West Ottawa High School in Holland, Michigan under the direction of educator Mr. Mike Jaeger.
The organization, founded in 1996, offers high school students the opportunity to enrich their personal knowledge of world cultures through a variety of projects and activities, including a 17 day work-study program in the Republic of Cameroon.
During their time abroad, students experience West African culture through direct immersion, participate in Peace Corps Agro-Forestry projects, and work to install educational technology in Cameroonian schools. Additional projects have included provision of health care equipment and supplies, mosquito nets, and support of various environmental organizations.
Shipment is Out
About 30 members of the CTEE spent Friday loading an ocean freight container with another consignment of computers destined for West Africa. In just over one hour, 200 stations were packed into a 20′ container destined for the port of Douala in Cameroon, via Detroit, New York, and Lisbon. I am always impressed by what our students are capable of accomplishing. This consignment included computers donated by Gentex, West Ottawa staff and retirees, but the bulk were contributed by Grand Haven Area Public Schools and Grand Valley State University. On behalf of those who are to benefit by their generosity, and the members of the CTEE who built the stations and packaged them for delivery, thank you. It is a really good feeling to know that there is support for these efforts in the wider West Michigan community. GVSU has been a consistent participant, and has even donated one of their student IT assistants. Alec Dhuse of Grand Haven, a graduate of Grand Valley, is now a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon! His university post will benefit directly from GVSU donations to this shipment.
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