Fostering inclusive education: SisterSpeak237 offers scholarships to children with disabilities in Nkambe, Yaounde.

The support was offered by the not-for-profit organisation that amplifies the voices of women and minority groups in Cameroon, SisterSpeak237.

The support from SisterSpeak237 includes money for school fees and registration of the children with disabilities and to get them basic school supplies such as shoes and uniforms. 

Beneficiaries include 20 female Primary School pupils living with disabilities, selected from schools in Nkambe, Donga Mantung Division of the North West Region and 15 others in Yaounde, Mfoundi Division of the Centre Region.

Distribution of the support started Monday, October 23 and will wrap up Friday, October 27. 

In Nkambe, the distribution was done by SisterSpeak237 team in partnership with the Centre for Disability Inclusive Development, CEDID.

CEDID team, led by its Director, Ngabir Paul, assisted in identifying the children with disabilities. He also helped to do the distributions through various schools.  

Beneficiaries in Nkambe were selected from schools such as PS Nkambe New Town, GPS Group I, AGAPAE, G.S Kumsa, IGBPS Nkambe and CS Binshua. 

CEDID Director, Ngabir Paul, handing support to beneficiaries on behalf of SisterSpeak237

Enter SisterSpeak237 Inclusion Lead

Speaking to The Guardian Post, the Inclusion Lead of SisterSpeak237, Rita Acha, explained that the organisation, due to limited resources, decided to assist 20 children in Nkambe out of a total of 32 identified. 

“…we could not assist all. So, we decided to concentrate on girls living with disabilities in primary schools. We decided to pay the school fees for 20 of them,” she said. 

Acha said based on need assessments carried out, it was realised that some of the “Primary School girls didn’t have uniforms and appropriate school shoes”.

This, she said, enabled SisterSpeak237 to also use part of their cash to provide the children school shoes, uniforms and other kits. 

With the festive period fast approaching, Acha said SisterSpeak237 is already strategising on “what we can do during the Christmas season for children living with disabilities”.

Underscores need to educate children with disabilities 

Acha seized the opportunity to call on parents in Nkambe and Donga Mantung Division in general and the country at large, never to relent in educating their children living with disabilities.

“When parents discover that their children have disabilities, they think it is a waste of money trying to educate those children. But we are passing a message that if they are living with disabilities and they have some level of education, it can help them manage their livelihood,” she said. 

“Living with disability and being educated is better than somebody just living with disability and not being able to read and write, and not being able to use even a telephone because of lack of education,” she added.

Aside assisting children with disabilities, Acha said SisterSpeak237 team has also been on a robust campaign, sensitising parents and Head Teachers of schools on the need for no child to be left behind. 

“We tell them that education will improve on their livelihoods rather than abandoning their children at home…,” she said. 

CEDID Director speaking to parents, pupils on outreach to disytribute support from SisterSpeak237

Limited resources stall other projects 

The Inclusion Lead of SisterSpeak237 said limited resources has in the past stalled some of the projects designed to assist persons living with disabilities in Nkambe who have been rendered as Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, by the ongoing armed conflict rocking the North West and South West Regions.  

“We wanted to help those living with disability who escaped the crisis and came to Nkambe…unfortunately, that project didn’t work out well,” she regretted. 

She sounded upbeat that the SisterSpeak237 team is still looking for means to succor those affected by the crisis who are living with disability in the administrative unit. 

“It is more challenging when you are an IDP and a disabled person,” she said, adding that they are many of such cases.  

Head Teachers express gratitude to SisterSpeak237

Speaking after receiving the support for children in her school, the Head Teacher of IGBPS Nkambe, expressed gratitude to SisterSpeak237 and CEDID team for what she said was timely gesture. 

“We want to say that we are very delighted because we were actually in need of these support,” she said, adding that as an inclusive school, IDBPS accommodates children with all forms of impairment added to orphans. 

“We thank you very much for this offer. It will do a lot to the children. What you have given has solved their problems for this year,” the Head Teacher said, assuring that the money will be used solely for the purpose for which it was given. 

She explained that when the PTA levy, examination money for children are deducted from the entire amount, the rest will be used to carter for their needs, especially shoes, uniforms and others. 

Another Head Teacher, said through the support, SisterSpeak237 and CEDID are bringing light to the life of the children.

“The school I heard has benefited from this support. We pray God to bless you and keep you to continue providing more to our needy children,” she said. 

A parent used the opportunity to thank the CEDID boss for the efforts made to support and encourage her child to be educated. 

About SisterSpeak237

SisterSpeak237 is a nonprofit organisation that amplifies the voices of women and minority groups in Cameroon. It was founded by award-winning multimedia journalist, Comfort Mussa. 

The organisation trains and equips especially women with the skills and tools needed to tell their stories and be more visible. The organisation believes that communication is at the heart of social change.