Bamenda: Deaf Youths Association appeals for financial support to pursue dreams careers amidst armed conflict

By David Atangana

Bamenda Deaf Youths Association, B.D.Y.A, an association of common interest for deaf people in Bamenda, North West region of Camerooon have appealed to the public to assist them pursue their careers.

The appeal is contained in a public letter signed by it’s president Fozo Charles.

According to Fozo Charles, they are in need of assistance to empower themselves .

“We had started our association many years back and we did not want to be perpetually dependent” the B.D.Y.A president said adding that “The goal of our association was to support ourselves through personal efforts; but because of the prevailing crisis in the anglophone regions of our country, we cannot more operate safely because of the nature of our disability”

“This is why we are soliciting some sort of support/funding to enable us carry out our endeavour for survival through our groups activities” Fozo Charles went further.

Noting that members of the association are skilled in certain trades, he said the association has come up with an empowerment plan but lacks the necessary capital needed.

“The youths in this our association are skilled in shoe-making, carpentry, shoe-mending, commerce, and many” Fozo Charles continued.

He revealed that they “… want to start an income generating activity which will support the deaf youths of Bamenda with a budget of 500.000 francs (five hundred thousand francs), but we don’t have the capital to start it”.

The current armed conflict, he said has affected them negatively as their endeavors for survival erodes as days go by.

“Since the beginning of present crisis, ghost towns and lockdowns our endeavours have been witnessing some setback which we fear might lead to our downfall” he lamented.

He also said it has not been easy surviving with the current armed conflict in the region given that their disability does not make them to know when to run for their dear lives

“Sometimes because of our nature, we rush out of our homes during gun shots because we could not hear the sounds of the gunshots and could pick any stray bullet if not God who protects us” he lamented saying that “We have difficulties communicating with other people. Some of us have been in special schools where sign language is taught, but the people outside don’t understand us”

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