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Romaric Tume

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Ketchem Valentine holding his new white-cane

CELEBRATING OUR HUMANITARIAN LEADERS WITH DISABILITIES

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In view of the World Humanitarian Day commemorated under the theme “It Takes a Village” on August 19th, 2022, CUAPWD’s Family celebrates Ketchem Valentine as an OPD Leader and a Humanitarian Volunteer with a difference.Valentine acquired profound Vision Impairment at the very later stage of his life (12 years ago) as a result of a dripping liquid substance from rubber in a rubber plantation in the South West region of Cameroon. He returned to his native Befang Village in Menchum Valley Sub-division of Menchum Division in the North West region of Cameroon, where he currently resides and coordinates the affairs of OPDs as the sub-divisional Chairperson of CUAPWD in the Menchum Valley sub-division.

Even though Ketchem Valentine lost his vision, his income sources, and his wife left him as a result of his ordeal, he did not stop thinking and working for his new family members (Persons with Disabilities) in his community; the reason why in November 2020, he was elected Sub-divisional Chairperson of CUAPWD and Technical Adviser to the Divisional Unit of CUAPWD. He also serves as a Technical Adviser to the Traditional Council of Befang and many more persons come around him for advice. (Old Picture)

In the current socio-political crisis of the Anglophone regions of Cameroon, Ketchem Valentine has received a series of training in Effective Policy work in Humanitarian action. This training had and is aiding him to carry out advocacy with Humanitarian Organizations and Community leaders on the right of persons with disabilities to meaningfully participate in decision-making and emergency response. He coordinated the collection of data for needs assessments of persons with disabilities and the striking part of it is that even with very limited resources and reasonable accommodation, he could still cross through the Menchum River without a bridge, in order to assess the needs of persons with disabilities in the hard to reach areas across the Menchum River. His determination to work encourages other leaders of OPDs and that is why on the 25th of August 2022, the Management of CUAPWD handed over to him a brand new White-cane, to aid his movement. CUAPWD is currently exploring opportunities to support Ketchem Valentine to regain his economic sources and get a good shelter as he is currently living with his 12year old daughter in a dilapidating structure offered to him by a very aging widow.

Innoncent, ICRC taining on DRR

OPD Leaders Trained in Disaster Risk Management

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Following the seventh session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction that took place from 25 to 27 May 2022 in Bali, Indonesia in which CUAPWD was represented by her Boar Chairperson, Nogning Armelle, with over 4000 participants from a total of 185 countries; CUAPWD saw a need for the key aspects of Disaster Risk Management and Reduction to understood and practiced the various communities under our spheres of influence.

It was through this premise that CUAPWD in collaboration with CBCHS – Disability Inclusive Humanitarian Action (DIHA) project, organized a workshop to train and empower Leaders of Organizations of Persons with knowledge Innoncent, ICRC, training participants on Disaster Risk Managementand skills, (through PowerPoint presentation, simulations and handouts), in Inclusive Humanitarian Aid and Disaster preparedness, management and reduction, especially in the crisis context of the region, and to outline their roles as psychosocial workers in the communities. This took place in Bamenda, North West region on the 7th and 9th of June 2022.

 

As per our core value which is Inclusion, Religious Leaders and Community Volunteers of the region also were brought in to be part of the training, whereby, coupled to being trained on Disaster Management and Inclusive Humanitarian Aid, there were provided knowledge on the Rights of persons with disabilities as per the provisions of the UNCRP, (UNCRPD pdf) as well as understanding Disability and Types. This was done to ensure the inclusion and participation of persons in all aspects of community life, given the humanitarian situation in the region.Fru Chick Sama presenting the UNCPD to Participants

At the end of the workshop, Board Chairperson of CUAPWD, Nogning Armelle, called on persons with disabilities to see the need to work hand-in-hand with community leaders. She said “Persons with Disabilities should work with the various community leaders in their community as they are in the best positions to inform the community on their needs and how they as persons with disabilities can be involved in disaster management”

Ndim Clemet Yuh, a person with Visual Impairment, the training has helped him and others, in refreshing their minds on how they can go about their work in the community. He continued to pick a key session that was very laminating “Disaster Risk Management. We in the communities see that it is very important, because we face these realities on the field and it was very good that we were trained on this”

This knowledge and skills gained will by the various participants of this workshop as it will help achieve the participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities in the various community activities especially within the Humanitarian Context which has and is being plagued by disasters.