The Bridge International School

The Bridge International School

The Bridge International School is a vibrant, young Cambridge registered school that first admitted students through its doors in September 2013.

The school aims to provide quality teaching and learning for all its pupils, delivering a curriculum for the development of the whole child and one that is fitting for the 21st century, in a safe, secure, happy, caring and stimulating environment.

We serve our community by providing an education of the highest quality within the context and understanding of shared values e.g. care, consideration and co-operation, honesty, respect and openness. The school promotes an understanding of the meaning and significance of these values through the experience it offers its pupils and through the school’s motto: We care. We share. We learn together.

Working at the Bridge

Expatriate staff working at the bridge enjoy a culturally diverse work environment. In the spirit of the school’s vision, mutual enrichment is an important part of working at the Bridge. This involves both professional and cross-cultural exchanges with other staff members of Cameroonian or African origin. Staff members are welcoming and friendly, and are willing to go the extra mile to make new staff members feel welcome both in the school and in the wider community.

Working in Douala and in Cameroon

Entertainment and Cost of Living:

The Bridge is located in one of the safest neighborhoods of the port city of Douala. Though not a great tourist attraction, the cosmopolitan city of Douala provides a rich variety of distractions for it 4 million inhabitants. It offers a rich variety of national restaurants, entertainment, shopping and grocery opportunities for its foreign residents and visitors.

Douala is surrounded by few other towns with access to better touristic attractions. Limbe, one hour drive southwest of Douala, offers its volcanic beaches and a beautiful rainforest experience at the foot of one of the highest mountains in Africa, Mount Cameroon. Kribi, another coastal town offers its white beaches to its visitors, and a tropical touristic experience.

Living cost in Cameroon is comparatively low, particularly for those who are paid in foreign currencies or its equivalent. Feeding, communication, and public transportation are cheap, making it possible for experts to save most of their earnings while in Cameroon. For example, a taxi ride cost less than 0.5 Euros (250 francs CFA) for a shared taxi or about 3 Euros (2000 francs CFA) for single occupancy lasting up to one hour. Feeding is equally as low. A good meal in an average restaurant cost less than 10 Euros (drinks included).

Security

Foreign employees at the Bridge work and live in safe environments. Access to school building are restricted to users. Though crime rate in Douala is relatively low, staff residential areas are located in the safest part of the city. Apartment buildings have restricted accessed and are fenced and guarded. Security has never been a concern for any of our expatriates.

In fact, Cameroon has long been noted as the island of peace and security within the central African region. In recent times, some 1500 km away from Douala, in the extreme northern border of the country, there has been some insecurities in view villages due to the activities of members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect from Nigeria. Government forces have keep the situation under control and away from the rest of the country. Douala has remained safe, free from any security alerts.