Enhanced skill development center

‘We have raised awareness, Educated, sensitized, held focus group discussion with different stakeholders, raised our voices and carried out advocacy campaigns on the importance of giving women and girls equal opportunities to improve on their livelihood”

I live in beautiful Bamenda, Cameroon known for its rich cultural diversity with different native languages associated to different villages. Great variety of organic food prepared differently and depending on your village of origin. We are known for our popular dish called “achu” loved by many and described as one finger around the World as its eaten using the index finger.

Unfortunately, we are also known for the ever-increasing myths and taboos surrounding disabilities. Persons with disabilities are continuously being relegated to the background as they are seen as unworthy. Women with disabilities are even more vulnerable compared to men. Worst still is the case of persons with hearing impairment as communication barriers imposes an additional burden to them.

Training on a skill and getting a start up kit is extremely difficult for these category of women as most of the time they are deliberately excluded from these skill development opportunities.

The number of women with disabilities and other forms of vulnerability have increased in the past 6 years as Bamenda is the one of the area that is most hit by the ongoing sociopolitical crisis. Lots of these women have lost their source of livelihood and so are financially dependent.

These numbers are on the increase as more people are being injured every day from gun firing and stray bullets leading to disability. Others are also running for safety from the surrounding rural areas which are highly affected by war into Bamenda city as Internally displaced persons.

We have raised awareness, Educated, sensitized, held focus group discussions with different stakeholders, raised our voices and carried out advocacy campaigns on the importance of giving women and girls with disabilities equal opportunities to excel.  We have accompanied girls with hearing impairment to women empowerment centers to discuss on the need for sign language interpreters at those centers to enable them learn livelihood skills effectively, but this has fell on deaf ears.

We have questioned why these women can’t be given adequate livelihood skill development opportunities, wandering where these women and girls have gone wrong. This phenomenon does not only exist here, but is also common in other communities.

The deprivation of these women and girls from acquiring skills that will enable them have a source of income is chalked up to so many excuses. But the consequences on these women is devastating including lack of self- confidence, low self -esteem, continuous financial dependency resulting to gender- based violence which impacts the lives of their children, families and the community as a whole.  

It pains us when women with disabilities cannot afford their basic needs because they have not been given equal opportunities. These women need to be self-reliant and be able to afford their needs. We need to continue to advocate for them so as to bring change to Bamenda, Cameroon and the rest of the world.

Change has to start from the women and girls with disabilities themselves. They have been brought up to embrace self -pity rather than believing in their abilities. They must take advantage of skill development opportunities so as to be able to improve in their livelihood.

The families and caregivers of persons with disabilities must see these empowerment opportunities as a right and not a privilege and so women and girls with disabilities must be included.

Community members must embrace these persons as an important part of the community and make sure they get appropriate information whenever the opportunity arises.

Government must direct more funding to organisations and stakeholders who are ensuring these women and girls are equipped with skills that will give them financial independence.

My dream is to be able to provide a new beginning for each of these women. A safe heaven where each of these women and girls will acquire a skill that can enable them earn money to be able to take care of themselves and families. Women that are more self -confident, self-reliant, respected and contribute to the communities in which they live. That these women and girls can be empowered to empower other women.

I have a vision to expand on my already existing empowerment workshop to accommodate many more women and girls with hearing impairment, other women with disabilities and vulnerable women.  Here women will be able to acquire skills on beaded shoes, beaded necklaces and bags, interior decoration, soap production and a variety of fast foods. We are already mapping out collaborators and partners that would provide skills that we are unable to provide to make this vision a reality. There will be constant digital training and follow up to ensure these products are also sold online and to ensure safety online. Some will be sold at this center, while others in the retail market for income generation.

Profits from empowerment workshop for the deaf and vulnerable persons will be used to create a revolving fund where women and girls can have funds for start up supports for their businesses to achieve their goals. Our focus is on making these women create a positive mindset, attribute their successes to themselves, build digital skills and services that create good value for which customers can pay. We are also focused on programs that will provide holistic intervention aimed at improved livelihood for persons with disabilities