Giving Hope to People with Special Abilities

The Fourth Batch of trainees from the SHUMAS Vocational Rehabilitation Centre graduated from the Centre on Tuesday the 30^th of June 2015 with flying colors.  The graduation ritual which took place in the presence of the Director of SHUMAS, Ta Nformi Ndzerem Stephen, the Mayor Bamenda III, the Fon of Nkwen and other dignitaries was preside over by the Divisional officer for Bamenda III.

         Welcoming parents of the graduates and well-wishers at the occasion, Ta Nformi Ndzerem congratulated the trainees for their “hard work and endurance for most of them have gone through a lot to be at this level.”  He cautioned them to be aware of the society into which they are going out to offer their services, stating that it might not be tolerant as they have been at the center. He therefore called on them to give the best out of them in order to prove their worth if would be competitive.

        Despite the attainments recorded over the past year by SHUMAS which include free feeding, free lodging and training at the Centre of the blind, the deaf and dumb, the mentally and physically challenged, Ta Nformi said all was not a bed of roses.  Some of the challenges included the fact that SHUMAS operates through volunteers who are mostly students in search of professional experience and the fact that funding which is project oriented makes it difficult to pay enough salaries to the staff and carry the running cost of the organization. To this, while thanking other benefactors and the government of Cameroon for making it possible for them to operate; he said the doors of SHUMAS are wide open for any form of assistance especially in the domain of equipment, material, food and salaries for trainers.

        The Mayor of Bamenda III as well as Fon Azehfor III in their various elocutions rejoiced over the presence of SHUMAS in their territory of command. According to them, the presence of SHUMAS has been a blessing judging from the number of projects carried out by SHUMAS in the Bamenda III municipality. Some of the projects they cited include the building of schools and the supply of potable water to communities in the area. To the graduating trainees, they were called upon to make maximum use of their skills and to prove those who do not yet believe in them wrong. They also pledge their total alliance and to work with SHUMAS at all times need be.

        The DO in his closing remark held the authorities of SHUMAS and the marvelous job they were doing to train this people always often misconstrued by society as outcasts. According to him, the administration would always be by the side of SHUMAS to make sure it attains its objectives.

        The SHUMAS Vocational Rehabilitation Center is part of its welfare program. The Centre trains and support people with special needs. This explains why at the end of training, the trainees are offered start up material to enable them begin work immediately the leave the center and to socially integrate in the society.

        Since creation in 2009, the Centre offers life skill training in 7 workshops, basic management, language and book keeping among others. Over the years, the Centre has graduated 25 trainees and about 19 of them are well settled in their various communities living out of their trades. Some of them have even become the major bread winners for their families.   

Testimony

Innocent Azenwi, Ex Trainee

        I am very delighted to be here today. I wish to thank all of you here present and to thank the director of SHUMAS in a special way. I thank SHUMAS for creating this institution else today I would have been a beggar along the streets. Today I am able to have my daily bread and even help some of my brothers and sisters thanks to the training a got from here. The way people look at me today is different because I can work and do many other things. I am here with my two brothers that I love so much and we are working together.