Hope Amidst Crisis: Empowering Vulnerable Persons in Ntamulung Community

The ongoing Anglophone crisis has led to widespread displacement, forcing many residents to flee their homes in search of safety in neighboring communities. Ntamulung community has become a refuge for some of these vulnerable internally displaced persons (IDPs). In response to their urgent needs, the Center for Advocacy in Gender Equality and Action for Development (CAGEAD), in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched a collaborative project to economically empower these IDPs, reducing the high level of economic dependency and promoting peace and social cohesion.  

After a successful distribution and how impactful these IGAs have been to beneficiaries of the first phase of the project, CAGEAD and IOM did another round of distribution of startup kits matching beneficiaries’ specific skills to empower them. Carefully selected by the Ntamulung core facilitation team and trained by CAGEAD and IOM on book keeping, business management, marketing and waste management, the beneficiaries were reminded during the ceremony of their rights and accountability over the items they received. 

These kits were designed to support various petit businesses, including tailoring, hairdressing, poultry farming, table marketing, mobile money business, pastries, barbing, pots production, shoe making, and restaurant services, among others. The initiative aims to foster economic stability and promote resilience among displaced populations.

 The beneficiaries expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the startup kits, with many sharing emotional testimonies about the impact it will have in their lives. Madam Afuh Judith, a beneficiary, filled with joy, stated how happy she was after receiving her own start up kits, 'I don be alive again and I be very happy for these my things… from these things, I fit send ma pikin them for school, pay house rents, and buy myself medicine when I di sick”.

Another beneficiary, Kiven Kelton Pride, added with tears of gratitude, 'Due to this crisis, I lost some very close family members who were assisting me. This opportunity came my way, and I registered. Today, I have received my items. I thank God for CAGEAD and IOM. From today, I can bring something out of myself despite the crisis.” These testimonials underscore the project's profound impact on the lives of IDPs in Ntamulung community.

This project has brought renewed hope and significant empowerment to IDPs in the Ntamulung community, remarkably enabling them to rebuild their shattered lives, restore their dignity, and create a substantially brighter future for themselves and their families. By providing a lifeline to those most in need, CAGEAD and IOM have demonstrated the profound impact of collaborative efforts in fostering resilience, peace, and social cohesion in the face of adversity.

 

By Muh Yvonne Nchim