MANY NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISSABILITIES IN CAMEROON

Gered Gereedschap has been actively involved in Cameroon for a long time. Strategic Humanitarian Services (SHUMAS) is one of the organisations that has received tools and machines from Gered Gereedschap several times. This organisation has been committed to improving the lives of Cameroonians since 1997. The aim is to improve lives of the poorest people and disabled people in Cameroon.

Chances for everyone

Gered Gereedschap talked with Ndzerem Stephen Njodzeka, founder and director of SHUMAS Ndzerem: “I grew up in a poor family myself. That was not always easy and I really wanted to help my family. I could support myself and my family by working as a legal consultant for several companies. But most of the people around me still lived in poverty. That’s what made me decide to become more engaged in the community.” With this in mind, he created SHUMAS in 1997. The mission of SHUMAS is to improve lives and reduce poverty.

Focus on education

SHUMAS operates throughout Cameroon and offers support in different ways. Their focus point is education. SHUMAS has built no less than 600 classrooms across Cameroon and equipped several technical schools with tools in the last few years. Stephen Njodzeka: “No less than 90% of the tools are from Gered Gereedschap. When villages and schools say they need tools, SHUMAS comes to the rescue. Tools are used during practical training and contributes to the technical knowledge of the students.”

Vocational training for young people with disabilities

SHUMAS has put in place a vocational rehabilitation centre to train young people with a physical or mental disability. The centre offers training courses to become for example a tailor or shoemaker. One of them is Johnson Nsungnying. “Words cannot describe how grateful I am for who I have become with the support of SHUMAS and the shoes I was taught to make with the tools of Gered Gereedschap”, says Johnson with a big smile on his face when asked about his experience with SHUMAS. Johnson is a disabled young man that, like many others in his situation, struggled with his self-esteem. Before, he didn’t see himself as someone that could achieve something in life. With just little hope he moved from his village to Bamenda, after hearing on the radio about SHUMAS.

It seems to have been his destiny to meet SHUMAS; the volunteers approached him when he was sitting outside their house. He realised that this was a chance of a lifetime. “I said to myself, I cannot let this chance pass. it’s NOW or NEVER.” He registered as a student to the SHUMAS rehabilitation centre and started his training as a shoemaker. Johnson will graduate next year thanks to training he received. All set for a secure future as a shoemaker!