On Tuesday, 22 October 2024, SHUMAS Cameroon’s headquarters in Mile 6, Nkwen, became a haven of hope for several internally displaced women who arrived with their children, some carrying infants, all burdened by the strain of survival in Bamenda.
Many of these women, displaced from their homes and communities due to the ongoing crisis in the North West region, faced anxiety and uncertainty, hoping that the day’s event would bring a fresh start for their families.
These women received essential business start-up packages from SHUMAS Cameroon, carefully selected to provide a foothold in small-scale trading. The “mustard seed” items included flour, plantains, corn, beans, eggs, fish, groundnut oil, and firewood: resources that could be used to start modest businesses, generating income to support their families. Beyond the raw goods, SHUMAS also offered training on managing small businesses to help the women develop sustainable incomes and improve their families’ well-being, healthcare, and education.
“It’s vital to make the most of every resource and opportunity available. Today, you are taking the first steps toward a more secure future. Use these tools to build something meaningful, for yourselves and, more importantly, for your children. Your hardwork is already remarkable; let this start-up be the stepping stone to a brighter future.” ,” Bilian Nyuykighan, SHUMAS Programme Director, saidbas she addressed the group
Bilian Nyuykighan addressing beneficiaries The project is part of a broader collaboration between SHUMAS and UK-based partners Building Schools for Africa (BSFA) and Gompels, designed to build resilience in vulnerable, displaced families who have suffered through traumatic displacements. Many of these women and their children have had their lives put on hold, experiencing barriers to education, healthcare, and basic livelihood opportunities.
According to SHUMAS authorities, for the past two months, they have carried out a thorough process to ensure the aid reaches the most vulnerable within Bamenda II and III with an extention to the Center Region.
Beneficiaries were identified through a set of vulnerability criteria focusing on four core outcomes: education, shelter, household income, and health. Psychological support, group counselling, and training on business planning were all part of the process, which targeted households led by women with children who have been out of school for at least a year, families lacking sufficient shelter, those with sick members unable to access healthcare, and homes with extremely low incomes.
SHUMAS Director, Mfoome Ndzerem Stephen Talking to Hilltopvoices Newspaper, Mfoome Ndzerem Stephen Njodzeka, Director of SHUMAS Cameroon explained that “Our priority is to help those who have truly been left behind by circumstances beyond their control. We carefully selected these women based on need those whose children have been out of school, those in poor health without access to treatment, and those with little to no income. For families in extreme poverty, we have also covered school fees, ensuring their start-up capital goes directly towards building their business.”
Beneficiaries receiving start-up SHUMAS leadership maintains that the initiative doesn’t just aim to provide short-term relief but also promotes sustainable development by encouraging beneficiaries to join Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA), a practical model for communal saving and financial independence. Through VSLA, these women can save, borrow, and invest together, creating a foundation of financial security that is owned and managed by the community.
The day’s event was capped with additional support for education. Twenty-one children received school materials, including exercise books, pens, and coloured pencils, all part of SHUMAS’s commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, which emphasise that “no child should be left behind.”
Bilian Nyuykighan and beneficiaries In collaboration with Building Schools for Africa and Gompels, SHUMAS according to the Director is promoting North-South cooperation to improve the lives of displaced families in Cameroon. This initiative provides both hope and the means to rebuild, empowering these women to forge a future where they can thrive, despite the hardships they’ve endured as a result of the ongoing armed conflict
By Bakah Derick with reports
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