HEARTS COVID 19 RELIEF SEPTEMBER 2020

HEARTS FOUNDATION

BAPATLA, GUNTUR DIST, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA.

COVID-19 (CORONA VIRUS) RELIEF ASSISTANCE

SUPPORTED BY FUTURE IN OUR HANDS, U.K.

 

BACKGROUND:

The Covid 19 crisis began in January 2020 in Wuhan, China and within days spread across the world and till today has become a major challenging factor and created a global health emergency. India is alerted starting from Kerala by identifying passengers coming to Indian Airports from overseas. The first lockdown in India was started on 20^th March, 2020 and till today (15-09-2020) normalcy has not been established. The current Indian population is 1.3 billion people. Everyone feared the impact of Covid-19 if not brought under control. Thanks to the Indian Government and State Governments for tackling this outbreak collectively. An impressive role was played by the Doctors, Nurses, Sanitary Workers and Police in combating spreading of this virus. The Indian Council of Medical Research suggests that it is not over and can be repeated if health related precautions are not taken care of i.e. Mask, Sanitizer, Cleanliness, Social Distance etc. The current statistics in India related to Covid-19 is declining but the virus is still prevailing in a few locations across the country. Our Prime Minister warned the country to not fear the virus and respect the people who are positive and the reality is for everyone to live with it. It can be cured and vaccines are coming shortly to tackle the problem. Current Indian statistics show the total number of positive cases is 5.02 million and deaths are 82,066. In Andhra Pradesh the state total number of positive cases is 514,000 and deaths are 5,041.

Hearts covered relief assistance in four Tribal colonies in and around Bapatla town and rural areas two times till date. The word Tribe is based on Caste reservation system called Scheduled Tribe (ST) and some others are Scheduled Caste (SC), Backward Classes (BC), Minorities (Muslim) and rest are general who are upper caste i.e. Brahmins, Pundits, Merchants etc. India is a huge populated country and illiteracy plays a major role for academic and employment opportunities. Therefore without reservations for underprivileged population, there is no chance at all for their children getting into Universities, Government jobs etc. Under the Caste system, Scheduled Tribes are downtrodden, looked down upon and particularly on those who are illiterate. Usually they live out of the towns especially on river or canal banks. The Government talks about equality for ST population in line with others but in practice it’s not happening.

We have identified four colonies where the population are living in thatched roof palm leaf houses and it is shocking to know the many hurdles they are facing under the lockdown due to Covid-19. In one of the colony, Hearts runs a Day Care Centre for children to come to school.

Colonies helped:        Tribal population in four colonies namely:

1) Krupanagar Colony – 85 families

2) Ramnagar Colony – 90 families

3) Venkata Reddy Colony – 60 families

4) Matsyapuri Colony – 30 families

Total – 265 families

A family includes husband, wife, children and grand parents, if any. Approximately on an average we have reached 1,000 people who are children and adults.

Activities:                    We have carried out following activities:

• Purchasing of food supplies (Rice & Groceries), vegetables, fruits, milk etc.
• Purchasing of masks, sanitizers, medicines etc.
• Distribution of food supplies and other items as per pre plans and discussions with the beneficiaries
• Involving local community resource persons i.e. school teachers, health workers, Pastors etc.
• Creating awareness on Covid-19 precautions

Details:                       

• Each family received approx. 5 kilos Rice, 1 kilo Red gram dal, 1 kilo Wheat, 1 kilo Sugar, 1 kilo Oil.

• Each family received approx. 1 kilo each variety of vegetables i.e. tomatoes, potatoes, onions, brinjal, beans, chillies, milk and a dozen eggs.

• Each family received a pack of Mask & Sanitizer

• Each family received a pack of first aid medicines i.e fever, cold, cough, diarrhoea, de-worming and multi vitamins.

Apart from Tribal colonies, Hearts also helped children’s parents from Hearts Children Home. Since lockdown the parents or guardians of children are out of work. They have struggled a lot financially. The Government supplied Rice and Dal but they had to buy other ingredients to cook a meal.

Please support the work of the Future in Our Hands Education and Development Fund whose aim is to help and empower some of the world’s poorest and most marginalised people by:

• UK residents can provide long term support by completing the FIOH FUND DONATION FORM and sending to the address shown on the form:
• Direct grant to the charity’s bank account or by cheque to:        Bank account details:
  Co-operative Bank
  IBAN: GB07CPBK08929965050707
  BIC: CPBKGB22

Cheques should be made payable to the
Future in Our Hands E&D Fund
—————————————————————————-

Fundraising to help the work of the charities would be greatly appreciated

CAMGEW AWARDED THE EQUATOR PRIZE

Integrated Agricultural Association

Integrated Agricultural Association (I.A.A) is a Cameroonian non-profit, non-sectarian and apolitical Organization founded on the 5^th of March 2016 by the founder Dungrila Pascal Mbimenyuy to  promote social, economic, and environmental well-being by:
(i) helping to create “sustainable economic development in rural communities in Cameroon,
(ii) empower and train youths and women-owned producer cooperatives, and
(iii) educate Cameroonians about the importance of organic farming and organic food.

I.A.A is a Youth led Organization with a main focus on empowering farmers through organic food production and commerce.
I.A.A also transforms subsistence farms into profitable businesses by helping smallholder farmers access good training, affordable capital, quality inputs and better crop prices.
I.A.A is passionate about creating social change and  has over two years of experience in nonprofit leadership with a focus on smallholder farmer empowerment, defending indigenous minority rights, education, health care and community development.

Specific Objectives.
To build and strengthen the capacities of peasant farmers through local trainings on cultivation and marketing techniques.

• To ensure the greater involvement of the youths in agriculture through sensitization, trainings and support.
• To promote innovative ideas among farmers which are concerned with soil management.
• To alleviate poverty by working in collaboration with communities and implementing programs and projects that increase their income through the encouragement of collective production and marketing among farmers.
• To strive for socio-economic empowerment of the disadvantaged farmers and other community member groups through improved agriculture.
• To promote farming practices that lead to sustainable agriculture and meet the needs of small scale farmers. That is, discouraging the use of chemicals and encouraging natural farming.

Area of Action: North West, Southwest and West Regions of the Republic of Cameroon and beyond.

Target Groups: Peasant women, Children, Youths, Farmers and Persons living with disabilities.

Values

• Competence
• Accountability
• Justice and equity
• Democracy
• Citizenship
• Responsibility
• Admissibility

Approach
We seek to meet our objectives in two different ways. The kinds of approaches we use are as follows:-

• Participatory approach.
  We Provide an enhanced and alternative local livelihoods, including sustainable agriculture and value-added products to support local economies, which engages all stakeholders in the community and other development groups. We foster civic engagement of communities through creative facilitation and other methods of stakeholder involvement (such as, public meetings and community-mapping exercises).
• Systematic approach.
  We collaborate with like-minded organizations worldwide and create possible partnerships, which can help us mobilize resources needed to address community challenges. These include financial, human and material resources. We collaborate with technicians and development agencies as well as community development associations to help us attain our objectives.

PROGRAMMES:
Integrated Agricultural Association (I.A.A) is working under eight different programme areas which include:

AGRICULTURAL TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT.
I.A.A helps to transform subsistence farms into profitable businesses by helping smallholder farmers access good training, affordable capital, quality inputs and better crop prices. She also launches food safety awareness raising campaign to educate the public in nutrition.
Many farmers’ livelihoods are stable but vulnerable. When working with these communities, we use conservation agriculture techniques and territorial value-chain development. The goal is sustainable growth while building stronger production and marketing groups, and creating market links between producers and buyers. Our approach enables farmers to access and manage financial services and improve their use of natural resources. We also strengthen the capacity of farmers and field agents to help them plan businesses and evaluate profitability. With our experience, farmers can connect better to markets and use technologies that raise yields. To help farmers and field agents succeed, we developed a digital tool kit called ICT4Ag Suite which facilitates training, business planning, and monitoring and evaluation, making it easier for farmers to grow their businesses.

METHODS USED.
Territorial approach to value-chain development: We work with farmers to identify and develop products that have potential for local, regional and national markets. We emphasize improving farmers’ production and market opportunities, but we work to improve the entire value chain so it will function more efficiently for all stakeholders. This process increases production, strengthens services for business development, improves post-harvest utilization and builds better market engagement.
Conservation agriculture: In response to global climate change, we help farmers learn techniques for conservation agriculture, which is the foundation of climate-smart agriculture. Techniques include using cover crops, planting with green manure and “no till” practices, conserving water and using native varieties of crops to manage pests. These approaches increase productivity, decrease costs and improve soil fertility.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT. We organize meetings to raise awareness of the importance of protecting the local environment and adopting strategies to deal with a changing climate.  We carry out tree planting exercises and train local groups and families to establish tree nurseries to supply tree seedlings to the local community, with the aim to foster community engagement in afforestation. We train more than 5,600 people each year in tree planting and care and work with school children to educate them on the importance of trees to the environment and the value of agro-forestry. We also conserve biological diversity, indigenous forests and maintain ecosystem services (water, soil, and carbon sequestration).

EDUCATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING.
We provide scholarship opportunities for children from low income families and marketable skills for those with special needs.
We provide vocational training to children with disabilities and support them with equipment to set up workshops that will enable them to be economically self-reliant, participate in community activities and be socially recognized.
We promote ICT and quality education both in urban and rural communities by equipping schools with computers and books libraries, construction and equipping school classrooms as well as the provision of sanitation equipment and water.

HEALTH EDUCATION.
In Cameroon the rural population does not have access to quality health care and services. The situation remains the same in public hospitals everywhere in the country. The rural population travel an approximate distance of 25 kms or more just to have medical attention, while those visiting public hospitals complain about poor approach by medical personnel. I.A.A strives to overcome these health disparities by training community health workers, building the capacities of hospital personnel, refurbishing and constructing community health facilities and offering nursing scholarship to rural youths especially those coming from poor families.

WATER AND SANITATION.
In Cameroon, water crisis has become the order of the day both in urban centres and rural areas. This is a critical issue that affects mostly women and their children which have had severe consequences on their lives, notably; education and health. Children stay away from school just because they don’t want to carry water on their head every day. And women travel 5 kms or more to fetch dirty water. I.A.A provides access to safe and clean water (water pumps and distribution systems, well drilling, bore holes, spring capping).

HUMAN RIGHTS.
I.A.A is working to advocate for peace through peace building initiatives and humanitarian response, defending children against trafficking, early marriages and forced labour and ensuring that the rights and dignity of women, children and persons living with disabilities are protected and fulfilled.

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT.
Women are often marginalized, less educated, lack access to finances, collateral security and are not always able to participate in decision making processes locally. Opportunities on entrepreneurship, capacity buildings and access to land are always limited. Where these facilities are available, they are not reliable, affordable and accessible. They suffer from domestic violence and their girls fall victims of child trafficking and early marriages. These situations are common in rural areas in Cameroon and elsewhere in the world. I.A.A is empowering women with micro- business skills and supporting them with startup loans for new businesses and improve existing ones. I.A.A assists women with entrepreneurial skills through micro-business training and financing so that they can be able to build wealth for their families and participate in nation building.

APICULTURE
Bees are important insects that play an important role in the environment by increasing ecosystem services through pollination. It remains imperative to understand and manage pollination services; farmers in rural communities have the potential to substantially increase their crop yields and income, as well as safeguarding micronutrient supplies from foods such as fruits, nuts and vegetables. This has important implications for food security, poverty alleviation and global health. However, promoting bee farming increases pollination services and provide progress towards several important UN Sustainable Development Goals. It is important that development and environmental outcomes are closely aligned, such that there is a long-term sustainability. Beekeeping, pollination and ecological farming are important goals of development and environmental protection.

APICULTURE AND FOREST GOVERNANCE PROJECT
We train forest communities in sustainable forest management. Many of these communities depend on agriculture for their livelihood which often results in the destruction of the forest for farm land. We train these communities in bee farming and foster their engagement in aforestation as alternatives to protect the forest and fight poverty. We provide opportunities for rural people in tree nursery management, planting and care, and in agro-forestry techniques. I.A.A. distribute forest seeds, agro-forestry seeds and bee farming materials as well as locally manufactured bee hives to vulnerable people. The goal of this project is to promote apiculture as a strong financial incentive for rural people to alleviate poverty and protect biodiversity.

The objectives of this project are as follows:-

(1) Teaching beehive construction, apiary set-up and maintenance, honey harvesting and tree-planting.

(2) Establishment and capacity building for community-based beekeeper cooperatives.

(3) Establish a honey shop and marketing hub; give advice and training about honey marketing.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES.

• Improved honey-based livelihood opportunities.
• Community led sustainable management of honey bees.
• Increased levels of understanding of different issues relating to honey bees from biological, economical, policy and social viewpoints.

SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PROJECT
In Kumbo, Secondary school girls become pregnant as a result of lack of understanding about family planning. This is also because the information on reproductive health is not widely disseminated for better access by young girls and women of reproductive age. School girls’ records show poor academic performance as a result of menstruation. During this period, these girls stay away from school because of stigmatization and lack of basic menstrual hygiene information and the school administration do not make available a safe environment for these girls to take care of the menstrual situation with dignity. Married women deliver children too close as a result of lack of reproductive health information and family planning which result in poor health, and unsafe abortions. I.A.A has designed this project to increase access to reproductive health information among school girls and the women of Kumbo.

I.A.A set-up workshops throughout Kumbo with different groups of individuals in order to discuss reproductive health, and address the questions of the participants. The workshops involved secondary school students (one for male students and one for female students), sex workers, and local communities. For each workshop, every effort is made to make the participants feel that they are in a safe environment.

All workshops usually start with an open question session to answer the sexual health questions of all participants. In addition to these workshops, radio talk shows are held in local languages, which also include a call-in question and answer session.

PROJECT GOAL.
The overall goal of this project is to increase access to reproductive health information by providing young people with the knowledge and skills to promote their health and well-being as they mature into sexually healthy adults.

OBJECTIVES.

• To work with community leaders to widely disseminate reproductive health information among young girls and women.
• To increase access to comprehensive reproductive health services.
• To address stigma and discriminatory social norms related to menstrual hygiene management with health providers, media, parents, teachers and wider community stakeholders.

Integrated Agricultural Association
Foncha Street, Nkwen, Bamenda
Nw Region, Cameroon, Central Africa

EMail: integratedagriculturalass@gmail.com
Tel (+237) 682 v98 51

FIOH Fund Newsletter – Winter 2017

Alfred Wingo,the founder and director of GLORES, is shown here with one of the children being treated.

NEWSLETTER – ISSUE2 – WINTER 2017

FIOH FUND NEWSLETTER 2 – WINTER 2017

This newsletter summarises and illustrates some of the activities which have taken place in a new treatment and rehabilitation centre established in the Cameroon with the financial support of the FIOH Fund. The centre is run by Global Rehabilitation Services (GLORES), a local NGO, which moved from its former rented accommodation in April 2017.

 

Please support the work of the Future in Our Hands Education and Development Fund whose aim is to help and empower some of the world’s poorest and most marginalised people by:

• UK residents can provide long term support by completing the FIOH FUND DONATION FORM and sending to the address shown on the form:
• Direct grant to the charity’s bank account or by cheque to:        Bank account details:
  Co-operative Bank
  IBAN: GB07CPBK08929965050707
  BIC: CPBKGB22

Cheques should be made payable to the
Future in Our Hands E&D Fund
—————————————————————————-

Fundraising to help the work of the charities would be greatly appreciated

People helped by the work of Global Rehabilitation Services

Global Rehabilitation Services has since its foundation carried out successful prosthetics treatment, including the arrangement of corrective surgery when required, for over 1,500 severely disabled children and youths.

Testimonials of six of these children are given below:

Jackson Kuetche
This child at the age of five had a severe cogenetal deformation (Bilateral valgus knees).  The picture on the right shows the boy after corrective surgery and physiotherapy.

My Name is Jackson Kuetche and I am 7 years of age.  My mother told me that when I was born, my legs were normal but later started deforming as I developed.
I went to school like other children until my legs got so serious that I found it difficult to walk to school.  There came a time that I could not walk any more.  I could only drag my buttucks on the ground to displace myself from one place to the other.  Other children were laughing at me at school and I felt so bad and could not stop crying. The problem became so serious that my parents asked me to stop schooling and stay at home.  I was sad because my brothers and sisters were going to school and I could not.
My parents were informed in the village meeting that there was a Handicap Treatment Centre called GLORES.  The village group helped my parents through contributions to pay transportation to the GLORES Centre in Bafoussam.
In GLORES they told me that my deformations were so serious that surgery was needed.  They also told my parents that I had ricketitis, a disease that causes severe deformations of the bones and retards growth and develoment.  My parents did not have money for the operation.  I started crying with my mother.  GLORES worked out a financial assistance for the operation of my legs and put me on medical treatment.  My parents only paid a small portion of the operation charges.
My legs are corrected and are straight. I can now go to school.  I am happy with my family because I have returned to school.  My family and I do not know how to thank GLORES programme.

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2. Mapta Yomgue
This two days old baby had a severe cogenetal deformity. The picture on the right shows her after one month of physiotherapy.

This testimony was given by the mother of a three year old child who was refered to GLORES for treatment for a severe congenital deformation of the right leg by the Bafoussam Regional Reference Hospital.

Mother’s observation
God still continue to perform miracles today through individual and charitable organizations like GLORES.  I believe in what I am saying because of my experience with my little girl whom I brought to GLORES at the age of two days with serious deformation of the right leg after birth.  The hospital where the child was born told me that something can only be done through surgery when the child reaches the age of 25 years.  They, however, refered the child to the Handicap Treatment Centre called GLORES.  If the hospital of that calibre could not do anything, I was left with no choice than to cry.
I brought the child to GLORES in tears. I was comforted and told not to worry.  I could not believe what they were saying.  They consulted the child and put her on treatment for one month.  To my utter amazement the child’s leg returned to normal. I could not believe myself.  I thought I was dreaming.
Now my little girl is growing up normally like other children and shows no sign of any problem at birth.  This was a miracle to me. I started thanking the therapists in GLORES but they told me that they only treat and God heals.
Thank God for giving us a treatment Centre like GLORES.  God through GLORES prevents disabilities in Children! Let God give more inspiration to the Therapists in GLORES so that they can help more handicap children in Cameroon.
Knefack Evelyn Yomgue
« Mother of Mapta Yomgue »

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3. Efone Jacque
This boy was without a left femur. The picture on the right shows him after physiotherapy

My name is Efone Jacques from Bafoussam. My parents did not want to send me to school because I found it difficult to walk due to my left leg that was deformed and shorter than the right leg from birth.  They said that going to school was not necessary since I would not be able to walk making it difficult to find a job.
When I went to GLORES they made it possible for me to walk with the help of splints and now I am in school and doing very well with my school work.  My parents, villagers and I am happy.

Efone Jacques

Note: The splints this child is using are temporal and he will continue to wear them until the age of 25 when the deformed leg will be amputated and replaced with a permanent prosthesis.

——————————————————————-

4. Freddy Pokam
This boy had a severe limb deformation (bilateral valgus knees). The picture on the right shows him after corrective surgery, physiotherapy and splinting.

I am speechless.  I returned to the village after treatment and people could not recognize me again, even my relatives.  One of them even asked if I went to the native Doctor for the magic done on my legs.  This is really like magic.
It was already getting difficult for me to go to school. My legs were crossing over each other making it hard to walk.  The worst thing is that other children in my school were often laughing at me.  Some of them called me distorted legs.  Things like these made my school grades to go down because I was not at ease at all.
To the utter amazement and to the surprise of the villagers, I can walk normally with no sign of disability any more. I am like other children.
Thanks be to GLORES and to God above all.

Freddy Pokam

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5. Patrick Kenfack
This young man had a cogenetal deformation. The picture on the right shows him after prosthetics treatment.

I am an 18 year old boy from Bafoussam, Cameroon.  I was born with my legs deformed.  To displace myself from one place to the other I had to creep and roll.  I was brought to see the Orthopaedic surgeons from Holland for corrective surgery.  They consulted me and said that nothing could be done to my legs.  My mother and I started crying in the hospital.  The Physiotherapist from GLORES told us not to cry and that we should come to GLORES so they can see what could be done.
We did not have the confidence because the surgeons said that nothing could be done.  We, however, went to GLORES treatment Centre in Bafoussam.  I was evaluated and internalized there for three months.  They were able to straighten my deformed legs, put on prosthesis and trained me to walk.
Now I can walk and go to school and I am the secretary of the handicapped people organization (Arc -En- Ciel) in Bafoussam.  I am looking forward to finding a job after my education.

Patrick Kenfack

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6. Brunhilda Tsakong
This girl had varus knees when she was five years old. The picture on the right shows her with legs straightened by physiotherapy.

My name is Brunhilda Tsakong.  I am now 10 years of age.  My legs were deformed when I was 5 years of age.  I am from a family of 10 children and my father is a village chief with 3 wives.  My father is a farmer and his income is so small that he is unable to send all the children to school.  The 5 children that go to school are boys.  Girls are encouraged to go to the farm with their mothers.
My father could not afford to send me to the hospital for the treatment of my legs.  He once attended a village meeting which was organised by GLORES.  In the meeting, they talked about disability, treatment of handicaps and showed pictures of treated children.  My father was thrilled and took me to the GLORES Treatment Centre in Bafoussam, Cameroon.  There I was consulted and referred for corrective surgery followed be physiotherapy.
They invited my parents and encouraged them to send the girls to school with the help of GLORES.  Now I am preparing to go to the secondary school.  And my legs are straight and normal.  As a girl I feel beautiful.
Thanks to GLORES Treatment Centre.  Because of GLORES programme I can walk straight, go to school and feel beautiful.

Please support the work of the Future in Our Hands Education and Development Fund whose aim is to help and empower some of the world’s poorest and most marginalised people by:

• UK residents can provide long term support by completing the FIOH FUND DONATION FORM and sending to the address shown on the form:
• Direct grant to the charity’s bank account or by cheque to:        Bank account details:
  Co-operative Bank
  IBAN: GB07CPBK08929965050707
  BIC: CPBKGB22

Cheques should be made payable to the
Future in Our Hands E&D Fund
—————————————————————————-

Fundraising to help the work of the charities would be greatly appreciated

k:
www.facebook.com/fiohfund

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Please share our links with your friends to help us reach a wider audience.

New treatment centre for disabled children

Donate
Global Rehabilitation Services (GLORES) is a non-government organisation based in Bafoussam, Cameroon treating severely disabled children.  GLORES  is badly in need of a new centre to expand its services to meet a growing need.
The sum of £29,770 is needed for this of which £25,721 has already been provided by the FIOH Fund.

 

 

Background
GLORES rehabilitation approach is global, as its name implies. That is, we are not only concerned about treating disability, but ensure that our beneficiaries lead self-reliant and socio-economically independent lives.

GLORES major mission, therefore, is to prevent disability in children; identify and treat those already affected; support education, provide vocational training, placement and follow-up in their communities to achieve effective socio-economic integration.

Global Rehabilitation Services was authorized by administrative order No 238/RDA/F35/BAPP of November 2004 and registered as a non-profit association at the service of disabled children.  GLORES is made up of a group of Cameroonians of all walks of life, men and women, concerned about the plight of an increasing number of underprivileged disabled children in the West Region, who decided to make their contribution in the fight against poverty, specifically among disabled children.   GLORES is the first comprehensive rehabilitation centre in the region.

GLORES opened its doors to physically disabled children in July 2005.  Despite the micro resources available, 1,500 physically disable children have received direct services while 4,500 persons have had indirect services from GLORES.

These beneficiaries came not only from this region but also from the northwest, littoral and central provinces of Cameroon. GLORES organises the following activities from a basic rented building in Bafoussam:

PHYSIOTHERAPY DEPARTMENT
This is the first objective in our rehabilitation process where functional re-education is provided through intensive physical therapy, functional re-education, and mobility training. The aim is to ensure mobility and use of limbs because we believe that without mobility a disabled person cannot lead a productive and independent life.  During therapy, parents and the disabled persons are themselves educated to become their own therapists upon discharge from the centre.

ORTHOPAEDIC WORKSHOP
This is where splints and mobility aids are produced including orthopaedic shoes, splints and other assistive devices.  This serves as a training place for those disabled who would like to become either shoemakers or orthopaedic technicians.

 

VOCATIONAL TRAINING
After treatment, beneficiaries choose from such income-generating professions as shoe making, tailoring, hairdressing and cane work.  Upon successful completion of the training, beneficiaries are placed in either individual or group business ventures in their communities with follow-up to ensure success.

COMMUNITY BASED REHABILITATION
This is a follow-up programme in which maintenance treatment is also assured.  This involves the family and the community at large. In this programme, the families and the disabled become their own therapists.  Preventive measures are taken and disabled children are identified and referred for appropriate treatment.  Disability prevention services, human rights education, information about discrimination against the disabled are provided and self help, social, and group activities including community development participation are introduced and supported.

ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME
GLORES also runs assistance programmes to sponsor treatment and corrective orthopaedic surgery for those children with severe disabilities who are unable to afford the symbolic treatment fees.  GLORES pays particular attention to orphaned disabled children.  GLORES hopes to extend the project to include other disabilities other than physical disabilities as the project expands and develops.

The need for the new centre
Despite the successes of the activities of GLORES, the most important difficulty has been the lack of space in the present Centre to accommodate the many children being referred for treatment.  The present rented building only has four small bedrooms, a small physiotherapy treatment room, an adapted internal kitchen that is being used as the administrative office and treatment room at the same time and an external kitchen which is being used as the orthopaedic workshop.  Besides these, there is a small external traditional toilet, and two internal toilets which often fail to function due to mechanical malfunctioning and shortage of water which is common in the Bafoussam town.  In fact the house was conceived as a residential house not for other activities.

GLORES, therefore needs a larger space in order to effectively carry out the many activities as specified above. To summarise, a larger building is needed for the following reasons:

1. A larger building will help cut down the high rents we have to pay for the existing house.  The heavy rents could be use in purchasing other items for the centre.
2. We will be able to serve the many children who are asking for our help from neighbouring regions in Cameroon, GLORES being the only comprehensive rehabilitation centre for physically disabled children.
3. A more spacious workshop will help us in the production of more orthopaedic equipments without leaving children to wait for long to get ambulation and other equipments.  It will also provide space for the training of disabled children in the production of orthopaedic equipments.
4. A larger treatment room will help us better position treatment equipments and consequently we will be able able to treat many children simultaneously.  With the present structure children have to be put on the waiting list to have treatment.
5. There will be enough dormitories to accommodate children, most of whom come from distant villages and have no place to stay for follow-up treatment.
6. The hygiene situation will be solved with available toilets and the water system.
7. The New building will be situated by a major surfaced road and is more reachable by public transport unlike the present centre.
8. The new building will be more adapted for handicapped persons.
9. There will be space to train disabled children to engage in income-generating professions.
10. A new centre will provide a conference room which will be rented by the public for meetings thus generating income for the centre.

The land for the centre was purchased in 2014.

Delivering sand
The completed foundations.
Making blocks.
Wall construction

 

Water is collected by hand from a local stream.

Roof construction.
Completed roof.
Window protection – September 2016.

 

 

 

Alfred Wingo assists visiting Dutch surgeons with an operation.

Moving testimonials of six of the children treated by GLORES

Fo

Please support the work of the Future in Our Hands Education and Development Fund whose aim is to help and empower some of the world’s poorest and most marginalised people by:

• UK residents can provide long term support by completing the FIOH FUND DONATION FORM and sending to the address shown on the form:
• Direct grant to the charity’s bank account or by cheque to:        Bank account details:
  Co-operative Bank
  IBAN: GB07CPBK08929965050707
  BIC: CPBKGB22

Cheques should be made payable to the
Future in Our Hands E&D Fund
—————————————————————————-

Fundraising to help the work of the charities would be greatly appreciated

Future in Our Hands Education and Development Fund
48 Churchward Avenue
Swindon, Wiltshire SN2 1NH
United Kingdom
Registered Charity No. 1047953

Global Rehabilitation Services

Global rehabilitation Services (GLORES)
GLORES was started in 2004 by Cameroonian, Alfred Wingo, after receiving prosthetics training in the USA.
The work of GLORES in a poor rented building in Bafoussam, capital of the West Region of Cameroon, was observed by FIOH Fund trustee, Mike Thomas in 2009. He was impressed by what  GLORES was achieving with very basic equipment.

A video showing Mike Thomas interviewing Alfred Wingo.
Disabled people in the West Region of Cameroon, especially children, suffer from neglect and discrimination due to ignorance and cultural beliefs about disability.  There is a general lack of care and rehabilitation planning in the country and disabled children, who are mostly from poor families, rarely obtain an education and employment.  They are often viewed as being possessed of evil spirits and a curse upon their parents.  Hence they may be locked up at home and fed like animals and hidden from society.  It is estimated that about 70% of disabled children suffer from neglect and discrimination.

GLORES organises its work in three major sections:

1. Prevention of disabilities through health education and encouragement of parents to vaccinate their children against diseases causing disabilities. Part of the education focuses on prenatal/postnatal care, nutrition, hygiene, genetic information and environmental pollution.
2. Physical therapy that includes therapeutic exercises, mobility training, functional re-education, occupational therapy and activity training for coping with everyday life.
3. Vocational training in 3 trades.  The disabled person makes the choice of trade and is then able to undergo training in that trade for one year in a sheltered workshop environment. Younger children who cannot work are sent to local schools for their education.  While the child is in school parents will take an active part in its education and prepare to take over responsibility for the child’s welfare later on.  After successful completion of the training disabled persons are settled in their individual group ventures or employment and there will be follow-up by GLORES for a few months after treatment and training has finished.

Once a disabled person goes through the GLORES project he or she becomes a member of the GLORES family.  GLORES monitors all the outcomes of its work in order to evaluate its effectiveness and introduce improvements where necessary.

The pictures below show some of the disabled youths and children before, during and after treatment:

Moving testimonials of six of the children treated by GLORES

If you would like to support the work of the Future in Our Hands Education and Development Fund please make a donation:

 

Please support the work of the Future in Our Hands Education and Development Fund whose aim is to help and empower some of the world’s poorest and most marginalised people by:

• UK residents can provide long term support by completing the FIOH FUND DONATION FORM and sending to the address shown on the form:
• Direct grant to the charity’s bank account or by cheque to:        Bank account details:
  Co-operative Bank
  IBAN: GB07CPBK08929965050707
  BIC: CPBKGB22

Cheques should be made payable to the
Future in Our Hands E&D Fund
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Fundraising to help the work of the charities would be greatly appreciated

Cameroon Gender and Environment Watch report 2016

This is a summary of the CAMGEW 2016 annual report a complete copy of which can be seen here:

 CAMGEW 2016 ANNUAL REPORT READY

Cameroon Gender and Environment Watch (CAMGEW) reflects its holistic approach to development  through the activities described in its 2016 annual report prepared by its director, Wirsiy Emmanuel Binyuy. Most of these activities are located in and around Kilum-Ijim Forest area in the NW Region of Cameroon with her office in Oku.

Activities included:

• Planting of indigenous trees to regenerate the important Kilum-Ijim natural forest.
• Training and practical support for bee farming to produce the local distinctive white honey.
• Marketing training and the establishment of a shop in Bamenda (capital of the region of North West) to sell the honey, its products and equipment.

 

• Training in organic farming methods and raising of nitrogen-fixing trees for agroforestry.
• Vocational training in dress-making, hair dressing, shoe making and repair.
• Establishing a micro-credit and savings scheme for women and training in business management, including the use of computers.
• Training for women in health and nutrition.
• Training for communities in the basic human, statutory and legal rights of women.
• Provision of counselling and advice for women who are subjected to physical and/or mental abuse.
• Environmental and computer education for children.
• Tree planting around the new centre for the treatment of disabled children which is located in Bafoussam, West Region.

Forest regeneration
The Kilum-Ijim natural forest contains several endangered species of flora and fauna, including the Bannerman’s Turaco (fauna), Newtonia camerunensis(flora) and has an important role to play in the mitigation of global warming. Despite these and the many economic benefits which can be derived directly from the forest, a large section of the original forest has been cut down to create farming land.

CAMGEW has played an important role in safeguarding the remaining forest by educating people about the environmental importance of preserving the forest and showing local people how they can gain an economic benefit from the natural products the forest provides.

CAMGEW has established nurseries to grow native tree species, including Prunus Africana, Croton Macrotachyst, Carapas Grandifolia, Pittusporum Veridiflorium, Zysigium Staundtii, Solanecio Mannii, Newtonia Camerunensis, Psydrax Dunlapii, Briellia Speciosa, Pyschotria Pendularis, Acacia, Leuceana, Mysposis, Tephrosia, Sesbania and Tree Tomatoes. Many of these have been planted in the forest by children and local community groups to regenerate sections of forest destroyed by domestic animals and fire.

Nitrogen fixing seedlings have been distributed to local farmers who are using agroforestry methods. Three nurseries have been established (Manchok, Mbockenghas and Ikal) with a capacity to raise 200,000 trees. The different species have been labelled with scientific and local names and their uses to educate the local community and school children.

In order to restrict the spread of ferns cuttings of Schefflera abysisinica and Solanecio  mannii have been planted in the forest. The fern plants die once the trees grow above them.

Bee farming
Bee farming is an important activity in the preservation of the Kilum Ijim forest as the farmers have a vested interest in preserving the natural flora which provides nectar for the bees and preventing forest fires. CAMGEW has provided hives, training in good bee management activities and organised the farmers into cooperatives/village groups. It has also provided a shop in Bamenda to assist with marketing the honey. The training has involved 212 farmers and 85 cooperative executive members in 22 villages in 2016. CAMGEW has also provided training in the production of bee wax which is more profitable than honey. It also involves full utilization of the honey combs which might otherwise be discarded. 116 community members were trained in 2016, 21 of whom were women.

CAMGEW distributed 10 honey drainers, 100 suits, 30 buckets and provided management training including the establishment of a constitution and by-laws and the production of an instruction manual in cooperative law.

Organic farming and agroforestry training
CAMGEW distributed more than 900,000 seeds of Leucena, Tephrosia and Sesbania (for animal fodder) to over 139 farmers, including 38 women in 7 villages. These species are nitrogen fixing and can be grown together with crops including coffee, potatoes, beans, huckleberry, cabbage, yams, corn. In addition to providing nitrogen for crops, the trees provide shade and help prevent erosion on sloping ground.
CAMGEW also distributed 60Kg of bracharia seeds for obtaining fodder in the dry season when other feed is scarce. This will prevent farmers having to move their animals long distances to find pasture.

Vocational training
Unfortunately the CAMGEW training centre had to close down as a result of the lack of funding. However, the equipment was distributed to the trainers who then located to Elak where there was a greater customer base.  Also since the CAMGEW initiative other training centres have been established in the community. Many of the trainees at the CAMGEW centre have established workshops in their own communities.

 

Health, human rights and nutrition training for women
CAMGEW has provided training about women rights to health services, nutrition, legal marriage and counselling as a result of physical and psychological abuse. This included education to reduce early pregnancies and nutrition to improve the health of teenage mothers and their children.

Information was also provided about sexually transmitted diseases and the benefits of legalised marriages. Information was also provided with the aim of reducing child trafficking.

Much of this work has been carried out with the young women of the Muslim Mbororo tribe who are known for high birth rates and low literacy.  Most of the men keep grazing animals which are their main source of income. Counselling of the girls involved marital crises physical and psychological abuse, frustration arising from child trafficking, loneliness and stigma from unplanned teenage pregnancy.

Micro credit and savings scheme training for women
CAMGEW has been running a micro-credit scheme for women since 2015. Loans  are given at an interest rate of 2% per CFA 1,000 with a 6 month repayment period. Each recipient must have undergone training provided by CAMGEW. 500 women had benefited from the scheme by December 2016.

Most women do not have enough the money required to open a bank savings account. The CAMGEW savings scheme enables women to open an account with as little as 500 CFA (about 35p). CAMGEW keeps its funds with the Manchok Credit Union.  In 2015 CAMGEW trained 193 women and 153 received loans and in 2016 trained 483 women and gave loans to 390 women. Loans ranged from 30,000 to 120,000 CFA.

Environmental education
The nurseries established by CAMGEW have served as learning areas for children, schools and community groups in types of forest trees and their uses. Children have gained hands-on experience  working in the nurseries and also gathering seeds from the forest.

Computer training for women and children
CAMGEW has provided basic computer training for women and children.

Tree planting at the GLORES treatment centre for disabled children
In 2016 CAMGEW planted 500 tree seedlings around a new centre for the treatment of severely disabled children based in Bafoussam in the West Region. These included, prunus africana, pittosporum, ornamental, palms, mangoes, plums and oranges.

Video productions about CAMGEW and its director
The following productions provide clear presentation of the comprehensive range of CAMGEW activities and how they contribute to the inter-relationship between various aspects of sustainable development:

Kilum-Ijim forest apiculture:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBqEgnjsWSg 

Organic coffee farming in Oku:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHKY15LEuos

Short video featuring CAMGEW director, Emmanuel Wirsy
http://www.dw.com/en/money-for-forest-honey/a-37473719 

CAMGEW in other documentaries. (Emmanuel’s work is featured about 9 minutes into the video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCVVzGDXQmw&t=129s

CAMGEW FOREST VIDEO. This video is an excellent presentation of the work of CAMGEW and illustrates the link between bee farming and the preservation of the forest. It also shows children actively involved in the both the raising and out-planting of seedlings in to the forest :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TwdiXGj3zk

CAMGEW GENERAL ACTIVITIES VIDEO. This is a brief overview of activities of CAMGEW including its vocational training: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyM89iaLnHw&feature=youtu.be&hd=1

WEB SITE:

www.camgew.org or www.camgew.com.

Children helped by the work of HEARTS – case studies

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CASE STUDIES

Child Name:                           Jagadeesh Babu Jonnalagadda

Class studying: Polytechnic final year (pre-engineering – 3 years course)

Age:  17 years

 Family background:  His parents died from HIV/AIDS when he was six years old.  He has two elder sisters and an elder brother.  Three of them are married and working.  His brother used to come to see Jagadeesh but stopped coming since he got married.  Jagadeesh doesn’t like the family because they don’t care for him.  They don’t even invite him for vacations.  Hence he likes to stay in the children’s home even for holidays.  Considering his family background, we had to keep him in the home and send to college.

Education progress 2016:  Jagadeesh is about to complete year 3 in Polytechnic after successfully securing ‘A’ grade in 10^th class final exams.  He has joined in Bapatla Polytechnic College in Mechanical branch which is a three years course.  In these three years of Diploma, he obtained 95% marks.  After completion of three years, he is eligible to upgrade to Engineering 2^nd year or to get a job.

Hobbies / other activities:    

• He likes drawing, reading, dancing and outdoor games like cricket, kabadi and volleyball.
• In the High School, he won several certificates in Drawing competitions and essay writings.

In the home, as a senior boy, Jagadeesh helps other boys in getting ready to school and related activities.

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Child Name:  Sampath Kumar Guntur

Class studying:  10^th class

Age:  15 years

 

Family background:  Sampath’s parents died of Jaundice seven years ago.  He has an elder sister and an elder brother. His sister is married and working in a cloth shop.  His brother also recently married and is working as a Barber since they belong to this particular community.  His grandfather died of a heart attack last year.  He used to be visited by a distant uncle who is working in a bank but he got transferred to a neighbouring district hence he could not come to visit Sampath anymore.  His sister never comes to see him.  His brother and an aunt come to see him occasionally.

Education progress 2016:  Sampath passed 9^th class in ‘B’ grade in final exams.  He is an average student but trying hard to improve for the next class.  He goes to Municipal High School in the town by a bicycle provided by Hearts. This year he will come to 10^th class which is a public examination.

Hobbies / other activities:    

• He likes drawing, dancing and games like kabadi, carom board and cricket.
• In the school he received a certificate and dictionary for the participation of planting trees.

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Child Name: Bhagya Laxmi Manchala

Class studying:  9^th class

Age: 14 years

 

Family background: Bhagya Laxmi’s father left the house and mother died of Cancer when she was a small girl.  In the family they are four girls and one boy.  She and her brother Bala Krishna are staying in the children’s home.  Considering their family circumstances,  Hearts agreed to look after them both.  One of the elder sisters is married and died last year. Bhagya Laxmi is visited by her two sisters whenever they can. They go to work for their living.  In the recent floods, their house collapsed.  At present her sisters are living in a small hut which was built with donations from the community.

Education progress 2016:  She has passed 8^th class in ‘A+’ grade in the final exams.  In the units and half yearly exams she scored from 95% to 98% marks.  Bhagya Laxmi is a brilliant student in the entire class.  This year she will be studying English.                                                            

Hobbies / other activities:

• She likes reading, drawing, dancing and games like skipping, coco and badmington.
• In the school she won several prizes for studies in ‘A’ grade, essay writings and talent competitions.

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Child Name: Bala Krishna Manchala

Class studying: 9^th class

Age: 15 years

 

Family background: Bala Krishna’s father left the house and mother died of cancer when he was a small boy.  In the family they are four girls and one boy.  He and his sister Bhagya Laxmi are staying in the children’s home.  Considering their family circumstances Hearts agreed to look after them both.  One of the elder sisters is married and died last year. Bala Krishna is visited by their two sisters whenever they can. They go to work for their living.  In the recent floods, their house is collapsed. At present their sisters are living in a small hut which was built with donations from the community.

Education progress 2016:  He has passed 8^th class in ‘A’ grade in the final exams.  He studies well but due to his interest in sports he got less marks in the units and half yearly exams.  This year for class 9^th he will be going to high school in the town.  He will also be studying English.

Hobbies / other activities:    

• He likes drawing, dancing and games like cricket and kabadi.
• In the school he won several prizes for sports and cultural activities.
• In the children’s home he performs well in any drama or cultural programmes.
• He is a helping hand for other children in the home.

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Child Name: Dinesh Kandiyar

Class studying: Degree 1^st year

Age: 16 years

 

Family background: Dinesh’s father left the house nearly 10 years ago. His mother runs a small Tiffin centre left by the father.  The family came to know that the father died of tuberculosis last year. Dinesh has an elder brother who is working and a twin sister who has at present discontinued studies.  She used to stay in the children’s home but left because her mother wanted her to work.

Dinesh is visited by the mother and brother occasionally.

Education progress 2016: He has passed Intermediate and scored 7.5 points out of 10.  He is an average student but trying to improve in college studies.  In 2013 he attended 10^th class and passed in all subjects.  He took the group MPC (Maths, Physics and Chemistry).

This year he is studying Degree (graduation) 1^st year with the same subjects.  After completion of degree studies, he will be eligible to study university or to get a job.

Hobbies / other activities:

• He likes reading and playing games like cricket, kabadi and carom board.
• He won several prizes for essay writings on national leaders.

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Child Name: Chenna Kesavulu Maruprolu

Class studying: 10^th class

Age: 14 years

 

Family background: His father died from jaundice 10 years ago.  His mother works as a daily labourer.  He has an elder brother who has discontinued studies and working due to mother being unwell.  The mother and brother live in a small hut beside the canal.

Chenna Kesavulu is visited by the mother occasionally.

Education progress 2016: He is a brilliant student in studies and studying English.  He has scored 95% marks in the final exams of class 9^th.  This year he is studying 10^th class and will be writing public exams.  He has good handwriting and is a role model for students in the school and children’s home.

Hobbies / other activities:

• He likes reading, drawing and games like kabadi and coco.
• In the school he won several prizes for essay writings and cultural activities.
• In the children’s home he participates in activities i.e planting trees, saving water and energy.

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 Child Name:  Jhansi Varadala

Class studying: 9^th class

Age:  14 years

 

Family background: Jhansi’s parents are daily labourers. Her father goes to building mason work and mother goes to agriculture works.  She has an elder brother studying at home. They live in a small hut in Bapatla town.  Jhansi’s parents are very poor and often migrate to neighboring districts to work. Jhansi likes to study and continue education.  Her parents also like Jhansi to study unlike them.  Her mother comes to see Jhansi whenever she can.

Education progress 2016: Jhansi passed 8^th class in ‘B’ grade in the final exams.  She is an average student in studies but showing interest to improve.  She finds English medium difficult this year because until last year she studied Telugu (mother tongue) medium.  She will be studying 9^th class this year in English.

Hobbies / other activities:

• She likes reading, drawing, dancing and playing games like skipping and carom board.
• In the school she participated in science exhibition and won a prize and certificate.
• In the children’s home she participated in cultural programmes.

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Child Name: Esther Jangam

Class studying: 8^th class

Age:  14 years

 

Family background: Esther’s mother died when she was a small girl.  She has a younger brother who was given for adoption at the age of six months.  Then the father left the house and married someone else.  Esther was left with her great grandmother who is very aged and could not go to work. Esther is happily staying in the children’s home.  She is loved by everyone.  Her grandma comes to visit her whenever she can.  Recently a distant uncle is also coming to visit her.

Education progress 2016: Esther passed 7^th class in ‘A’ grade in the final exams.  She is a brilliant student.  Since she joined the children’s home in the year June 2009, she is always coming first in her classes.  Even though she studied Telugu medium until 2012, she picked up greatly to study English in 2013.  This year she will be studying 8^th class in English.

Hobbies / other activities:                

• She likes reading, drawing, dancing and games like coco and carom board.
• In the school she won several prizes and certificates for essay writings and cultural programmes.

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Child Name: Rafi Shaik Mohammed

Class studying: 10^th class

Age: 14 years

 

 Family background: Rafi’s father is an invalid who is suffering from haemophilia.  His mother is a daily labourer who works at a limestone factory.  He has a younger brother studying at home.  His mother has lot of burden to look after the family since the father needs medication very often.  Rafi’s parents cannot come to see him but speak to him over telephone.  His grandmother visits him whenever she can.

Education progress 2016: Rafi passed 9^th class in ‘B’ grade in the final exams.  He studies well but at the time of exams he gets nervous.  He is studying English and goes to Municipal High School in the town.  This year he will be studying 10^th class.

Hobbies / other activities:                

• He likes reading, drawing and games like cricket, kabadi and coco.
• In the school he won a certificate for essay writing on International Environment Day.
• In the children’s home he likes to do gardening on Sundays.

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Child Name: Prasanthi Lingala

Class studying: Intermediate 1^st year (class XI)

Age: 15 years

 

Family background: Prasanthis’s father is a drinker and never cares for the family.  A few years ago he left the house and came back recently.  Still now he is torturing his wife and children.  Her mother is a daily labourer who works at the local market.  The mother is suffering a lot by physical abuse of the father.  Prasanthi has two younger sisters who are staying with the mother.  Her father never comes to see her at the children’s home.  Her mother visits her whenever she can.

Education progress 2016: Prasanthi passed 10^th class in ‘A’ grade in the final exams.  She is a brilliant student in studies.  She always secures more than 95% marks.  This year she will be studying Intermediate 1^st year and writing public examinations in English.

Hobbies / other activities:                

• She likes reading, drawing, dancing and games like skipping, coco and carom board.
• In the school she won several prizes for essay competitions.  She also won a certificate and prize in the science exhibition.
• In the children’s home she participates in cultural programmes and likes to do gardening on Sundays.

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Child Name: Sujit Talatoti

Class studying: 7th class

Age: 12 years

Family background: Sujit’s mother died from tuberculosis when he was a small boy.  His father then left the house and married someone else.  Sujit has an elder brother who is also staying with him in the children’s home.  For several years his father did not care for the family.  Very recently he has started communicating with the boys.  His grandmother comes to visit Sujit whenever she can.

Education progress 2016: Sujit passed 6^th class in ‘A’ grade in the final exams.  He has much improved in education because of children’s home regular tuitions.  This year he will be studying 7^th class in local Government elementary school.

Hobbies / other activities:                

• He likes drawing; dancing and games like carom board and cricket.
• In the school he won several prizes for sports and cultural programmes.

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Child Name: Sandeep Talatoti

Class studying: 8^th class

Age: 14 years

Family background: Sandeep’s mother died from tuberculosis when he was a small boy.  His father then left the house and married someone else.  Sandeep has a younger brother who is also staying with him in the children’s home. For several years his father did not care for the family.  Very recently he has started communicating with the boys.  His grandmother comes to visit Sandeep whenever she can.

Education progress 2016: Sandeep passed 7^th class in ‘A’ grade in the final exams.  He has much improved in education because of children’s home regular tuitions.  This year he will be studying 8^th class in local Government elementary school.

Hobbies / other activities:                

• He likes drawing; dancing and games like coco, kabadi and cricket.
• In the school he won several prizes for sports and cultural programmes.

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Beneficiaries of the Poverty Alleviation in the Thar Desert project

Typical case histories of three people who benefited from the Poverty Alleviation Project in the Thar Desert, Pakistan managed by the Participatory Village Development Programme:

Radha
My name is Radha. I was selected as one of the beneficiaries of the FIOH PROJECT and I was given project management and handicraft skills trainings by PVDP and 25 fodder trees, 25 bair trees, one water tank, fuel efficient smokeless stove and a loan for handicraft making.  I had never in my dream thought this kind of packaged support for reducing our poverty and vulnerability.  Not only that my one son and one daughter were admitted in PVDP supported primary school but I also got the chance to learn to read, write and count up to 100 in adult literacy centre that was established by PVDP in our village.

I was one of the members of the Village Development Organisation  and took an active part in the meetings and trainings to improve my knowledge and skills which gave me a lot of confidence to make decisions about my life and my children.  I felt that I am terribly saved from falling into the trap of my in-laws who would never have given my children the opportunity to go to school.  Also they would never had allowed me to join the adult literacy centre, attend community meetings and workshops which opened up my eyes and mind and gave me so much confidence to spend my life peacefully as a free human being.
I really feel that I have come to new life.  The loss of my husband has been made good through PVDP support.  Today, I am happy that despite serious droughts over last year, I am looking forward to getting some income from the sale of bair fruits in one or two years from the 50% of the trees which I have saved during the drought.  I also managed to save 50% of the fodder trees on which my livestock will survive in the future years.  I am already getting some income from the sale of embroidery work.  I store my water in the tank which saves my time of fetching water from a distant well.  The time I save is spent in doing embroidery work, attending community meetings and training workshops.  I am also happy with my fuel efficient smokeless stove.  When I used the traditional stove, I often used to have sore eyes due to smoke emission.  With this smokeless stove I feel very comfortable, my eyes are protected, the stove uses less wood and cooks faster due to two burners.  With so much of support from PVDP our family’s life has really changed.
I went to PVDP established vocational center in my village and learned to make purses and sewing clothes on sewing machines provided by PVDP.  After the training I am happy that I can sew cloth and can earn money from this skill.  I can also make purses which PVDP is trying to find market for. I am hopeful that when purses will sell and I can tailor make clothes for other people and earn handsome money which will help to reduce our poverty.  I have become alive again!  Thanks to PVDP and the FIOH Project.

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Indra
I am Indra.  I have entered in the fourth year of this project which is helping to improve my family’s socio economic position.  Now I am the active member of my village organization and active member of PVDP.  I attended all trainings conducted by PVDP and also attended all programmes organized in our village by our Village Development Committee.  Now I have the skills and confidence to give presentation of our community development work to our village people and outside visitors.  I was also made aware of the important role of mother in looking after the children and their schooling.  Now I take good care of all my children.
I also send my children to school and at home I make them study.  I also help them where I can in their studies.  I am supporting my community to becoming literate.  Adult literacy classes are conducted in which I teach women to read, write and acquire numerical skills.  The trainings and seminars I have attended have helped me in becoming aware of community issues which need our action to address them.  I also realized that 8th class is not enough for me so I got admission for further studies.  I now study at home and go to city to appear in exam. I am hoping to complete my matric over the next two years.  I have a government job in which I am working as community health worker.  I am helping women in their pregnancies and safe deliveries.  PVDP health team regularly update my knowledge and skills about health care.  I am very thankful to PVDP and the FIOH Fund that through their support my own and family’s life has changed.

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Welayt
I am Welayt.  I have entered in the fourth year of this project which is helping to improve my family’s socio economic position. Despite my disability I feel more at ease and involved in various opportunities created by this project.  After becoming a member of VDO for four years of this project, I have attended different training programmes and sessions such as handicraft training, livestock management training, and wild food preservation.  I can now take care of my livestock and this year we preserved different vegetables which helped to somewhat secure our foods.
My mother and me make embroidery work which get sold in the local market and we earn some income from this activity.  It is particularly helpful during drought times when most of our resources deplete.  It is my wish that our daughters go to school to get education at least up to primary level to learn some basics of education that could help them in their future life.
We are strictly bound to comply with the set of rules of this culture. The changing of culture is not as easy as changing habits; it needs self persuasion and discipline.  Earlier, women in my village were not allowed to attend meetings and trainings.  My husband, after attending various trainings of PVDP on civil & political rights, project management, and livestock management etc. inspiringly, motivated to his community to provide same opportunity to their females for becoming active member of VDOs.  But no one was agreeing for this change.  PVDP in that situation organized more meetings and trainings to convince our community for female participation.  Then, PVDP selected 16 households as beneficiary of FIOH Fund UK Project.  We were provided with water tanks, bair trees, fodder trees, fuel stoves, and embroidery support loan with informative trainings.  We hope to have more income in future through sale of bair fruits and handicraft work.
I am thankful to PVDP for providing embroidery skills to me and my daughters who cannot be educated due to our rigid culture, but they learned skills to earn at home.  Another good thing happened is that my daughters can write their name and know counting of numbers by attending classes in Adult Literacy Centre of PVDP.

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