Njinikom: US-based philanthropist, Dr Irin Njuakom, constructs, hands house to widow.

The keys of the new structure constructed at the Balikumato neigbourhood with local materials was handed to the beneficiary, Nawain Nangeh Emmanuella Nayah, on April 13.

According the Dr Njuakom, her motivation to offer decent shelter to widow came, after she learnt of her pathetic situation. 

Nangeh and her children are said to have been living in a single room, which served as kitchen and sleeping space. 

Each time it rained, they had to use buckets and plates to protect their dresses and other belongings from being soaked by rain water from the leaking roof.

The Irina Project Initiative thus made available funds and oversaw the construction of the house.

Volunteers of the organisation handed the keys to the widow in the presence of the quarter head of Balikumatoh, family members, friends as well as religious of the St Anthony's Parish, Njinikom. 

“I am happy the kids can now sleep decently in a spacious house with some dignity and happiness. That gives me joy,” Dr Njuakom said.

According to the philanthropist, one must not be rich to be able to give back to his her community.

She stated that the house she has offered to the widow through the Irina Project Initiative, might not be modern but it at least it gives her and her children the dignity of living in an average home.

It was all song and dance from the villagers who were proud to see smiles return to the face of the once jovial Nangeh Emmanuella. 

Visibly overtaken by the magnitude of the gift, Nangeh could only thank God Almighty for letting the Irina Project Initiative come to her rescue. 

It should be recalled that the organisation is not at its first experience in giving back to society. The Irina Project Initiative constructed the first ultramodern toilet in the Njinikom market in 2014.

The construction of the facility was in line with one of its objectives, which is to eliminate the practice of open defecation in Njinikom.   

The initiative signed a partnership agreement with the local municipal council in 2017 to enhance education, financial capacity, and enforcement. 

About the project & its founder

Irina Project Initiative was founded in 2014 by Dr Irin Njuakom based in Texas, USA. It seeks to sustainably provide humanitarian aid, proper healthcare, child protection, education, food security and youth development programs around Cameroon. 

The initiative has made successful advances to ensure sustainable community development through better health, education for children and environmental protection.

Dr Irin grew up and lived in a community with some of harshest living conditions and has thus decided to invest back in her native Kom and other communities across the country, to help break the shackles of under development.

Her organisation had been active in Njinikom, Bamenda, Mamfe. Annually the organisation donates cloths and foodstuff to poor and needy children, especially orphans across communities they are active in.

Prior to creating Irina Project Initiative, Dr. Irin has been working for the Veterans Affair (travel nurse corps) for over 12 years.

Irin Njuakom holds a Ph.D in Public Health from Walden University, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from University of North Dakota and a Bachelor of Science in Registered Nursing from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and numerous certifications.