Strategic Humanitarian Services SHUMAS has
graduated nine students living with disabilities from its Bamenda based
Vocational Rehabilitation Centre.
The graduation event in Bamenda Thursday March 29 also provided and opportunity for the graduates being the 7th batch to receive some startup material which will enable them to begin using the skills learnt while in training to facilitate the opening of knitting, hairdressing, sewing, shoe-mending workshops and piggeries as they return home after two years of training.
The graduation event in Bamenda Thursday March 29 also provided and opportunity for the graduates being the 7th batch to receive some startup material which will enable them to begin using the skills learnt while in training to facilitate the opening of knitting, hairdressing, sewing, shoe-mending workshops and piggeries as they return home after two years of training.
Addressing the graduation event, the Director
General of SHUMAS Ndzerem Stephen indicated that the SHUMAS Vocational
Rehabilitation Centre was created to empower persons with disabilities PWDs so
they can be development partners like any other person in the society.
The Director General who is amongst the few
in the Nso land to carry the tittle Nformi because of his service to humanity
also explains that the training has been free so many could be beneficiaries.
He however observed “Realizing that most trainees still faced difficulties
coming to the center due to lodging difficulties, we have constructed a
dormitory facility which is free of charge to help especially trainees coming
in from other divisions or locations around town that are faraway.”
He however regretted that the acceptance of
the graduates with their different disabilities will not be as it was the case
while they were in school during training. He thus urged the parents or
guardians of the graduates to support them so they achieve their dreams.
Nformi Ndzerm Stephen appreciated partners
Rotary International especially Hand Up Rotary Canada, Guelph Rotary Club and
Kumbo Rotary Club for supporting the start-up material for the graduates.
On behalf of the graduates one of the
students with a speech impairment thanked SHUMAS for coming up with a center
that can cater for persons with special needs and Rotary Club International for
supporting them with start-up material. Yaouba Ibrahim President for Kumbo
Rotary Club on behalf of Rotary International in response appreciated SHUMAS
for ensuring effective implementation of the project.
Located in the SHUMAS head office in Bamenda,
The SHUMAS Vocational Rehabilitation Centre offers free accommodation to
trainees during their two years training with a token FCFA 300 requested daily
for their feeding. The center offers training for PWDs in income generating
activities like sewing, traditional embroidery, knitting, shoe-mending,
cane-weaving, hairdressing and jewelry manufacturing.
Not fewer than 40 students have successfully
passed through the center with some graduates now supporting their families
with income from their workshops as SHUMAS ensures success via continues
monitoring even after graduating with the objective of helping their graduates
bypass possible challenges.
The Divisional Officer for Bamenda III Sub
Division whose representative recognized SHUMAS’s developmental effort making
the not-for-profit development NGO a veritable government partner in other
areas and particularly the promotion of inclusive development as the center is
training persons with disabilities reechoing the fact that there is ability in
disability.