News and Projects
Parent Support Group
Never has there been a greater need to provide support to parents of children with disabilities in South West Region of Cameroon. The on-going political conflict and civil unrest continues to leave the general population fearing for their safety. Communities have fled villages and sought refuge in towns such as Mamfe. There are now thousands of internally displaced people in the region and among them are families of children with disabilities.
During 2020, Nicky’s Foundation has identified a number of families requiring support on a practical, financial, educational and emotional level and have invited these families to attend a weekly support group to provide a forum and a safe environment to work through their individual circumstances and come up with an action plan for each family.
Input from a social worker and a community rehabilitation worker is provided along with the skills that the parents can contribute.
This short video shows a parent providing a livelihood skills training session to other parents during one of the support group sessions.
December 2018 - News Update
Over the last six months, the progress of many of our projects has been severely affected by the current political situation in south west Cameroon. It has not been possible for volunteers from Europe to go out to assist with the work in Cameroon since March this year. Our Cameroonian colleagues are continuing to support our work but they themselves are surrounded by the conflict and their safety is of paramount importance to us.
The political crisis is affecting so many people living in the southwest region and neighbouring north west region of Cameroon with lives being lost and leaving many homeless. To find out more about the crisis please this link
As soon as it is safe for our volunteers to return to the area we aim to resume our activities there.
Corrective Surgery
For many children with conditions such as knock
knees and bow legs, the condition improves as
they grow and no medical intervention is required.
However, for some, the condition worsens, and
corrective treatments are required to avoid pain,
discomfort and physical limitations in adulthood.
Nicky's Foundation identifies many children each
year where their condition requires an
intervention, but the child's family is unable to
finance expensive treatments.
1st Day Post Op
Rehabilitation
Many families cannot afford the treatments their children need. Treatment can take many weeks and is only available in far off locations. The child will need a lot of care and support throughout the process, taking parents away from other siblings and their livelihood, creating additional stress for the family.
Nicky’s Foundation volunteers support the family both to prepare them for the treatment and to accompany them to the hospital. We support families emotionally, practically and financially to ensure a successful outcome for the child.
Promoting Nicky’s Foundation in the Rural Communities
Many people in the rural communities in southwest Cameroon rarely leave the village in which they live and therefore will not be aware of the range of services that are available to assist them should they need help. This means that those who fall into the category of socially vulnerable persons may not be aware that assistance is available in times of need. In order to inform these people, 2015 has seen Nicky’s Foundation team up with the Ministry of Social Affairs (MINAS) in Meme, Manyu and Kupe Muanenguba divisions to deliver a series of educative talks to a variety of audiences. Some of the talks have been delivered ‘on the spot’ as the team have moved from village to village and some have been delivered after an initial contact visit has been made or via notification by a letter sent ahead of time. Also by working with existing networks such as schools, traditional councils and church groups the team has been able to inform teachers, students, community group leaders and members who have themselves reached their own communities and identified clients who can be assisted by Nicky’s Foundation. This promotional phase is still underway. Here are pictures of some of the events
Thomson, in his dual role of Regional Coordinator for Nicky’s Foundation and representative from the Regional Delegation of Social Affairs, Buea and Nicky giving an educative talk to villagers gathering for an occasion in Mfuni Village, Eyumojock Sub Division
Nicky giving a presentation at a Seminar led by the Divisional
Delegate of Secondary Education for all Principals in Manyu Division
The Chief of Kake Village introducing Nicky’s Foundation to ALPHA, (Association of Persons Living with Disabilities), before Nicky and Thomson delivered a session on how to set up a Micro Project
2014 - Introducing Nicky’s Foundation to southwest Cameroon
During March and April a series of seminars were held in 3 Divisions in SW Cameroon which focused on raising awareness of how Nicky's Foundation could support vulnerable people in the communities by working in partnership with the MINAS (Ministry of Social Affairs) and other non-government organisations. Representatives from partner organisations were invited to attend the seminars which provided an opportunity for all to discuss how best to support people living with disabilities and identifying the most vulnerable within the communities to ensure resources are targeted to those with the greatest need. The seminars were very well attended and Thomson and Nicky along with Nicky's Foundation Divisional Coordinators Eli, Aaron and Hansel enjoyed meeting and sharing our vision for Nicky's Foundation.
Thomson leading a discussion on the role of Nicky's Foundation and other partner organisations in Kumba, Meme Division.
Group discussion with representatives from Nicky's Foundation and other partner organisations at the seminar in Bangem.
Group picture of all attendees following a very successful seminar in Bangem, Kupe Muanenguba Division.
Nicky giving a presentation on the role of Nicky's Foundation at the seminar in Mamfe, Manyu Division.
Small Businesses
Nicky’s Foundation has sponsored individuals and groups to start up their own businesses and local enterprises.
Electronics Business
Gustave (pictured above) was supported through technical college by a partner organisation and Nicky’s Foundation was then able
to buy the essential electronic equipment to enable Gustave to make use of his qualifications and set up a small business in the
local community. Gustave started out operating his business from the verandah of his home and then moved to premises closer to the
centre of town once the business began to take off.
Jewellery Making
Pictured below are two teenage girls who were unable to attend mainstream school due to their disability. Nicky’s Foundation
provided support by purchasing items for jewellery making and together with the knowhow of local field staff from a partner
organisation the girls are able to make items of jewellery to sell. Some of the proceeds are reinvested to buy more materials.
Farming Projects
Nicky’s Foundation has provided support to a number of projects to enable groups of people living with disabilities to be
involved in purposeful activity within their communities. Volunteers are recruited by partner organisations to oversee these and
other such ventures and the volunteers provide an invaluable role in encouraging the participation of group members in carrying
out a variety of activities such as tending to poultry, building small scale plant nurseries for cocoa saplings and pig farming.
Soap Powder Business
The picture below shows a group of disabled people involved in making soap powder to sell. Nicky’s Foundation provided the
necessary raw materials and equipment to start up this business. The group decided to branch out into farming and set up a
cocoa sapling nursery as a next step.
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Nicky’s Foundation Livelihood Skills Project
June 2022 saw the launch of our new Livelihood Skills Centre in Mamfe, SW region of Cameroon. This venture has been made possible through partnership working with the Cameroon Baptist Health Convention Empowerment and Inclusive Development (EDID) programme and Liliane Foundation.
The Centre offers opportunities for young people with a disability who have been displaced by the ongoing civil conflict to get started in a career. These young people have had to flee from their homes to a place of safety and are now reliant on the goodwill of the local community in Mamfe for food and accommodation, but this isn’t a long term solution to their homelessness. By offering young people entrepreneurial skills our project aims to change lives.
The Nicky’s Foundation Livelihood Skills project team based at the Centre includes community rehabilitation staff and trainers who, together, work with communities to raise awareness of creating inclusive business environments in which everyone can work and to mentor, train, and coach young people with disabilities to succeed in their chosen career.
We offer a range of apprenticeships and training courses including graphic design; photography; dressmaking/tailoring; poultry farming and hairdressing and we are working towards achieving a recognised apprenticeship qualification in some subject areas. Here is a snapshot of the work in the centre.
Barbing Department – with new trainees
Dressmaking/ tailoring Department – one to one training
Tailoring Workshop
Trainees attending an Introductory session in Poultry Farming
Graphic Design and Printing Workshop
Would you be interested in sponsoring a trainee to complete an apprenticeship or skills training programme?
Our aim is to offer places to 45 trainees per year and for as little as £45 per month a trainee will receive training and mentoring from their admission onto the programme through to securing work following successful completion of their chosen skill. If you feel you could help a trainee by making a regular monthly donation to Nicky’s Foundation please click here for more information. Thank you
Specialist Equipment
Nicky's Foundation provides specialist equipment to individuals to promote independence and to encourage their involvement in their local community.
Lilian has been unable to walk since she was two years old. She has relied on family and friends to carry her to school.
Nicky's Foundation donated the tricycle to Lilian and now she can attend work where she is training to be a hairdresser.
Lilian is pictured below.
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Amputee Rehabilitation Project 2017-2019
Through successfully working with partners in the UK and Cameroon, a small number of individuals who have had a lower limb amputation are now fully mobile using a prosthetic leg.
Prior to the project commencing, it was virtually impossible for people with an amputation to obtain a prosthetic leg due to the limited number of service providers in the area. This, coupled with the very high cost of a prosthetic leg, has meant individuals have been restricted to moving at best with crutches. This restriction has meant that reaching the workplace and participating in active work and family life has been difficult if not impossible for some and subsequently, the knock on effect has been not being able to adequately provide for themselves and their families.
Casting often has to be done with very limited equipement.
Understanding that supplying a prosthetic leg is only part of the process, Nicky’s Foundation is working in partnership with local technicians as well as a UK based prosthetics company to ensure the fabrication and fitting of the prosthetic leg is completed to the satisfaction of the client.
Local technicians can make the necessary adjustments to the prosthetic leg fabricated in the UK.
This often means a number of follow up visits to ensure fitting is as good as it can be. Alongside and following on from the fitting the individual will be involved in a program of rehabilitation and adjustment to moving without crutches, which, for some, will be the first time they’ve been free to move without crutches for over a decade!
Here is one of the beneficiaries trying out his prosthesis for the first time.
The project is still in its infancy but is going well.
Some more of the beneficiaries are pictured below
Inclusive Education Project – commenced September 2016
In addition to the many vulnerable and orphan children that Nicky’s Foundation sponsors to go to school, we also support children with disabilities to go to school. The principle of inclusive education, whereby children with a disability are included in mainstream school wherever possible, is our primary aim and this school year will see the first government primary school in SW Cameroon becoming an inclusive school where children who are deaf or have an hearing impairment will be learning in the classroom alongside their peers. Nicky’s Foundation is collaborating with Baptist Health convention to jointly sponsor this pioneering project with Nicky and Thomson project managing.
Representives from Nicky's Foundation and Baptist Health Convention working with mainstream teachers, traditional leaders and parents of children with a hearing impairment as part of the introductory phase of the project.
The 8 children registered for academic 2016/17 with their parents on day 1 of term in September.
This pilot project will run for 5 years and has the following objectives:
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To overcome potential barriers and respond to learner’s diverse learning needs by
- providing basic training skills for support staff to assist with children with a disability in the classroom,
- providing learners with disabilities with all classroom materials and access to a general curriculum taking into consideration each learner’s individual needs.
- To recruit trained sign language teachers to teach alongside the regular classroom teachers to ensure that children with a hearing impairment are at the same level of understanding as their peers without such impairments.
- As the project develops, all regular teachers and parents of children living with a disability will be offered refresher courses on sign language to contribute to building inclusive societies.
- To provide annual refresher training with stakeholders for the next five years
- To provide an environment where positive attitudes will prevail.
Educational Support
Nicky's Foundation supports vulnerable children in going to school.
The Abang Ashu Academy, Manyu Division offers a range of educational opportunities for young adults and vulnerable children.
Nicky and Thomson visited the Academy's nursery school, in March 2013, which is situated in Eyangtui. The nursery school has been set up to give
vulnerable children an opportunity to receive education from a very young age and provides a solid basis for them when moving onto
primary education. Nicky and Thomson went back to Eyangtui in November 2013 and, on behalf of Nicky's Foundation, donated uniforms to all
children regularly attending school to give them a sense of identity and belonging. Chalk boards and exercise books were also donated.
The Abang Ashu Academy and Nicky's Foundation are working in collaboration with the local community to encourage parents and extended
families to send their children to school. Following Nicky's and Thomson's promotional visit the founder of the Academy has informed
Nicky's Foundation that the school is full every day.
Nicky's first visit in February 2013. The children were nervous when greeting their visitor
Nicky giving the children their new uniforms
Thomson, Pappi and Clarice (volunteer teachers) with the children outside the nursery school
The children at Rainbow Orphanage, Mamfe, had nowhere to draw or practice their writing. In 2013 Nicky's Foundation donated chalkboards along
with farming equipment and seeds to ensure they had the opportunity to practice what they were learning in class and also have a good
crop of corn, plantain, yam and cassava.
Nicky and Thomson with colleagues and some of the children at the Rainbow Orphanage in February 2013
The children have been using the chalk boards so much that they needed a new coat of paint by the time Nicky visited again in November!