5th batch of students graduate from SHUMAS Rehab Center

By Njodzefe Nestor in Bamenda

The selltlement of thousands of refugees in north

Cameroon have aggravated the food insecurity of the region

Five students with various disabilities have received their end of training attestations from the SHUMAS Vocational Rehabilitation Centre in Bamenda after two years of intensive course work and hands on training in either sewing, knitting, traditional embroidery and shoe-mending.

                In a colourful graduation ceremony presided at by the Divisional Officer for Bamenda III Sub Division, Tarkang Walters, on June, 29, 2016 at the SHUMAS head office, the students also received some start up material to help them insert them in the different trades they have learnt.

                In a welcome address during the ceremony, the Director of the SHUMAS Vocational Rehabilitation Centre said the center has as main objective “to empower persons with disabilities socio-economically and their reinsertion into society as development partners adding that the graduation was an opportunity to celebrate the “milestone achievements” of the students.

                “These children are not only empowered in life skills, they are totally impacted with basic business and management skills to assure their survival out there in society” she observed.

                One of the graduates, Tekeh Catherine who has speech impairment in her address thanked the SHUMAS and her partners for helping them out of the “dark rooms of defeat, psychological and economic torture”.

                “People with disability in Cameroon and elsewhere in the world are the most vulnerable and are often victims of discrimination. We are not often given the chance to purse education adequately as to enable us enter the job market” she noted.

                Tekeh Catherine affirmed that through the training “SHUMAS is telling the world that there is great ability in disability”.

                On his part, the Director General of SHUMAS Ndzerem Stephen Njodzeka while presenting the organization said the training fits with the sustainable development goals that advocate for inclusive development.

                He frowned at society in general and the parents of persons with disability in particular for underestimating the capabilities of PWDs.

The Divisional Officer for Bamenda III Sub Division, Tarkang Walters in his speech thanked SHUMAS for accompanying government in promoting inclusive development by training PWDs emphasizing that disability is not inability.

                He noted that persons with disabilities that contribute to national development if they are empowered with appropriate skills.

                The SHUMAS Vocational Rehabilitation Centre, located at the head office in Bamenda, offers training in income-generating life skills such as sewing, knitting, traditional embroidery, shoe-mending, cane-weaving, hairdressing and jewelry.

                People with special needs are trained in one of these trades and basic life skills through a free two-year individually adapted training course.

                There is a dormitory on- site for those who come from far away. Upon successful completion of the course, graduates receive materials to help them set up their own workshops in their communities.

                After the training, SHUMAS continues to monitor their progress and work with parents/guardians to overcome obstacles. So far, more than 60 students have completed or are completing their training. Some graduates are able to support their families through the proceeds of their workshops.

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Shumas CEO handing over end of course certificate to a laureate ver increasing number of fleeing refugees adds to the over 100.000 internally displaced locals who have also fled their villages in the far north region. The resultant population explosion in some villages has aggravated the food insecurity and hunger situation thus exerting serious pressure on RELUFA’s community grain banks,” Jaff Napoleon regretted, noting that despite this RELUFA will not relent in its efforts in alleviating hunger in these villages.

                “RELUFA is planning to reinforce the work it has done in the region in the last 10 years by creating new grain banks in communities hosting refugees or those close to the refugee camps. We also plan to secure the stock of grain by providing adequate storage facilities,” Jaff Napoleon assured the local populations.