Remarkable humanitarian GLORES Director Alfred Wingo (Obituary)
Alfred was a remarkable man who has improved the life chances of thousands of children born with disabilities by adopting physiotherapy techniques. He was instrumental is combating the misinformed beliefs of the local population. There were widely held beliefs that disability was because the parents had done something wrong and that disability was a punishment for previous misdemeanors. The debilitating effects of associated stigmas served to compound the negative impact on these children’s lives. He remained a voice of reason.
It is with enormous sadness that we report the loss of our main contact in Bafoussam, Cameroon. After meeting Alfred in 2008 we established assistance for GLORES (Global Rehabilitation Services) a unique service provided for the most vulnerable in society. Modelled on United Kingdom National Health Service treatment should be free at the point of access and based on need. We first encountered Alfred in rented accommodation making do with minimal equipment to transform the life chances of disabled children in Cameroon. The photographic record below vividly shows the rudimentary conditions we witnessed first hand.
Immediate support required
The need for immediate support was self evident and through a sustained programme of support the FIOH fund financed the development of a new bespoke treatment facility , unique to Cameroon. The construction infrastructure was finally completed in 2016.
Alfred was instrumental in developing this idea from it’s planning to inception and continued to serve the disabled children of Cameroon until his untimely Death in Nov 2024. We express our condolences to his family and pay tribute to a remarkable humanitarian. FIOH remain honoured to have been a vital part of his story alongside additional support from a team of Dutch doctors who regularly performed the more complex surgery.
Verification of progress
As overseas donors we endeavoured to promote networking to solve issues and problems and so engaged officers from our partner organisation in Cameroon to visit and produce a comprehensive report on the progress towards the final construction of the bespoke facility.
A VISIT TO GLORES IN BAFOUSSAM BY CAMGEW 5th of October 2015 Requested by: Michael Thomas of Future In Our Hands – UK Objective Assess the progress of work in the GLORES CENTRE Contruction site Discuss challenges of GLORES Determine the date when GLORES will come for exchange visit to CAMGEW Discuss on procedure to apply for a service car for GLORES Time CAMGEW through Wirsiy Emmanuel and Sevidzem Ernestine left for Bafoussam to visit.
Methodology
We arrived the GLORES office and prepared a programme of work. The visit started with movement round the various departments of GLORES. We then moved to the GLORES Centre contruction site using CAMGEW car. After working there, Emmanuel and Alfred had a working session to close closely at construction activities, possibility of completion of work, means of mobility for GLORES and possibility of exchange visit. Activities CAMGEW staff visited all the offices and activities of GLORES in the GLORES office CAMGEW and GLORES move to the GLORES Centre construction site. This visit was done together with technicians to do the work. Alfred told us that the technicians will do the work with the assistance of volunteers who are beneficiaries (parents and guardians of patients). I did ask Alfred to call the technicians for us to reflect together on how to proceed with work. There, ALFRED told us that the small two room house constructed to serve as packing store for material collapsed 2 days ago after continuous rain fall and heavy wind storm. With the technician and Alfred we discussed what must have happened and what lessons must have been learned. We saw that the house was poorly built with poor mixture of sand and cement. The builder promised to redo the work on his cost. We also discovered that the wind blowing from down upward was too strong and needed wind breaks. It was agreed that Alfred should plant some fast growing trees to rescue the situation. Alfred said this was to be done the next day. The technicians that came were different from the ones that constructed the collapsed house. These ones looked more professional. The bricks for the house were still to be moulded this dry season starting from November. It was agreed that bricks made out of soil be used. The bricks were to be constructed on site because the soil is good for bricks. We deliberated on how to get water to the construction site. The government was still putting water pipes around the road close to the site but it was not clear when the water will start flowing. There was a small spring that is always available in the dry season and we assessed and saw that the water from the spring was small. We also looked at possibility of digging a well to get water but saw that the area was too rocky with high possibility of meeting a big rock before getting to see water. We also thought of pumping water from the river down in the valley to the construction site but saw that this was costly in pipes to connect the water, in fuel for the pump and in buying the pump. We thought of getting a land down beside the river to mould bricks and pay students during holidays like Christmas holidays to carry the blocks up to the site and saw that the hill was too steep for somebody to climb. We finally agreed that the spring will be used but Alfred will buy 10 containers of 20 Litres each and use them to carry additional water using his small vehicle every day for use in brick moulding and construction. Renting a car to do this work is costly. In terms of construction Alfred and technicians agreed that the centre has to be constructed to be solid since it will be beside a heavily used road by huge trucks. He said he hope that the house should be constructed and roofed before January. Alfred told me he has 5000 pounds at hand to start the work. He says he need an additional 10000 pounds to finish the work. This does not involve the fence construction and I saw the fence very important. Discussing with Alfred and from the reality he need a good secretary to handle finances, secretariat duties and communication We also agreed that Alfred will come to Oku for exchange visit when he comes we will use the opportunity to work on the GLORES MIVA car project. The visit will involve radio programme to advertise and sentise community on GLORES activities. Alfred could do consultation of his target group who needs help and could later be taken to GLORES Bafoussam for further treatment.
I did admire Alfred’s work. I have a soft spot for it. I pray God bless him and give him energy to do this work and take care of his children
Report prepared by WIRSIY EMMANUEL BINYUY Director of CAMGEW 2
Amabazonia mourns the loss of Transformational humanitarian leader in Cameroon
It is with great sadness that we mourn a true compassionate leader of SHUMAS. It was FIOH through initial contact with Mike Thomas, that were around to stimulate the origins of his story.
Tribute by Emmanuel Wirisy Director of CAMGEW
Our family has lost a great civil society leader, mentor and role model. SHUMAS director Mforme Ndzerem Atephen Njodzeka was a member of this group and guided its functionality. He made little noise but did more in actions. He did much in community development and moreover mentored and coached many who now lead their own NGOs non governmental organisations. We thank you for being an exemplary mentor and our hearts bleed with your premature departure. To make you proud , we pledge to continue your humanitarian and environmental work and to assist the most disadvantaged in society. We pray you rest in peace and send condolences to your family.
12 April 2025 we will be seeing off our Hero, Mentor, Model and Father that death took away from us in January 2025. This is Mforme Ndzerem Stephen Njodzeka who was Director of SHUMAS. He was one of us in this family here. His impact to humanity speaks loud and his forging spirit is what CSO leaders can hold as legacy to keep moving. Our condolence to his family. Go Well Our Hero to join the Great People of Our Community. We love you our Hero.
Emergency response provided by FIOH to disastrous fire
How did FIOH respond to disaster relief, fire in Sierra Leone with our network partner Youth Leading the World.
The unreported world as climate induced extreme dry season has devastating impact
I am writing to you today with a very heavy heart. Today, I went to our mother’s village, and what I witnessed there has left me in tears. We all know how harsh the dry season can be, with the sun beating down and the heat becoming almost unbearable—but today, that heat turned into a nightmare.
As we were gathered for a settlement meeting between two villages, the peace was suddenly shattered. We heard shouting and screaming from the back. When we ran toward the noise, the sight was terrible: houses were already being swallowed up by fire.
In the village, our people work so hard. You know how they plant and harvest their rice with such care. They eat what they need and then, with such hope for the future, they store the rest high up in the ceilings of their homes to keep it safe for the months ahead. It is their life savings, their only security.
Today, that security turned to ash.
I stood there and watched as six homes and then a seventh were completely destroyed.
The villagers fought the flames with everything they had, but the fire was too fast. I saw the very rice they had reserved for their children’s meals falling from the burning roofs, blackened and ruined.
Everything—their clothes, their properties, their shelter—is gone.
As I walked through the scene, taking pictures and talking to the families, I couldn’t stop the tears from falling. These people are now homeless and helpless, and the food they counted on to last for months has vanished in a single afternoon.
I am stepping forward as a humanitarian to coordinate help for them. I have documented the damage and the households affected, but the need is far greater than what one person can do alone.
I am pleading with you, on behalf of YLTW SL, that whatever little support you can provide whether it is for food, clothing, or helping them get materials to start rebuilding their roofs would be a blessing beyond measure.
Even the smallest contribution will help a family find their footing again after losing everything.
Please, let us come to their aid in this darkest hour
With love and hope,
Alpha Mohamed Kargbo
Three of the affected extended families
We are pleased to announce that emergency aid was available directly from FIOH through our cooperation with Youth Leading the World in Sierra Leone. Our response was instantaneous, with aid to rebuild the damaged dwellings with more substantial infrastructure and rice to replace what was lost in the fire. The community responded with thanks and celebrations.
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