Poverty's Secret

I have skipped a few things out by writing this post because I had one of the most eye opening and emotional experiences in my last 4 days in the country.

After spending a week travelling in the South of Cameroon, visiting beaches and the much more developed region of Cameroon with two other volunteers, they left the country leaving me with 4 days in which I had to find something to do. The director of the NGO kindly organised for me to stay with a family in Douala, the economic capital of the country. Fred had met this man a few weeks earlier; he is a physiotherapist who works with handicapped people. Fred thought it would be a good experience for me to work alongside him to see what he does.

He thought right because what I saw and experienced in those 4 days have left me, even now; speechless. I have always been concerned for people in the developing world, appalled by the conditions they live in and the unfairness of their circumstance. However, something I have NEVER thought about is how the situation of people with mental illness and disabilities is a million times worse!!! I don’t know if it’s just me, but this isn’t something I had ever thought about or heard people speak about.

Emmanuel (The physiotherapist) took me to his workshop on the day I arrived. He had invited all his child patients  so he could explain what problems the children had and how he was trying to help them. There were SO many children who were born with severe problems with their legs and arms but because their parents didn’t have enough money they couldn’t afford to have braces fitted. As a results the children are growing up paralysed. Emmanuel is doing an incredibly charitable job. He has so many patients who visit him and cannot afford to pay. He is put in such a horrible position because he knows that these people are suffering and he CAN help them but he too has a family to feed. In terms of giving the patients braces and special shoes, the patients actually need to pay for these things otherwise the materials etc cannot be bought. Emmanuel himself is living in quite a hard situation economically so he cannot afford to buy these things and give them to people for free. But none the less he tries the best he can to support the patients and do exercises to try and loosen the stiff joints. However, unfortunately, in most cases this doesn’t do a great deal.

On this particular day there was one case which really made me realise the hardship of these people. One mother arrived with her son and sat in the waiting room and began crying. Her son is brain head and paralysed from head to toe. Her husband walked out on her when he realised the situation of the boy and she is now unable to work because she has to look after the boy 24 hours a day as he can’t even sit up on his own. It was then that it hit me that these people don’t get ANY support from the government financially OR emotionally these people have never ever been given any advice or support in terms of dealing with a child with a disability. Many people in Cameroon are still very supistisous and believe that a person with mental illness is a victim of witchcraft. I sat there speechless watching this mother cry. In a country where a person who has the ability to work is struggling to survive, people who are in situations like this are living an incredibly difficult and torturous life. To know there is way to help their child live a normal life but because it is too expensive their child will never walk again is absolutely disgusting!!!

Most of Emmanuel patients find it incredibly hard to leave their house so he visits most of them at home. Again, he does this because he is passionate about helping people but this makes his job even more difficult as it means he has to pay for taxis around the city everyday as he doesn’t have a vehicle himself. Meaning he is barley earning anything for the amazing job that he does. On my 3^rd day I went around some of the houses with him. This was an even more emotional experience as I was able to see the conditions some of these people were living in. Again, one case in particular really exposed me to the hidden destitution of the handicapped. I met a 20 year old boy who was paralysed. Emannuel had tried to help the boy but it was too late; his body rejected the treatment. The house he was living in cannot even be called a house because it was worse than a slum. It consisted on some panels of wood and a piece of tin as a roof. I was informed that the roof had only just been fitted, before that they were living in an open space. Considering it is rainy season the place gets flooed on a regular bases whilst being swarmed with flies and mosquitoes. The boy lived there with his mother, who was also paralysed in one leg. She had an accident a few years earlier and her husband fled because he didn’t want to look after them both. In this tiny area with only one bed also lived a bunch of children belonging to the mother’s sister as she didn’t have anywhere for them to  live. I stood in this house looking at this situation and couldn’t stop my eyes filling with tears. I felt so sad and angry that these people were living like this. But most of all I have never felt so powerless in all my life. I said hello, nice to meet you and walked away knowing that at that moment there was nothing I could do. It was horrible.


I spent the rest of the day speechless. One part of me was really upset at what I had seen and actually really effected by it. The other part of me felt glad to have met the incredible person that is Emmanuel because if it wasn't for him these people would have no one. A massive part of me is also so happy that I have discovered these hidden people suffering huge amounts. I really want everyone to be aware of this massive problem that no doubt exists is every developing country.

I now want to spread the word and help Emmanuel continue and improve the fantastic job he is doing!

  

STOP The Stigma

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      So now I have finished teaching IT, which although turned out to be really good, wasn’t my direct area of interest. I have now started an incredible project created by another volunteer Pippa and myself. STOP THE STIGMA is a HIV/AIDS awareness and education programme. There are women groups in most villages around the area that are attached to the NGO. The original idea was a business project to help them generate an income through the sale of palm oil (an essential commodity in Cameroon). This is the initial project we are working on; basically giving them advice on how to manage the project – as this is the main problem with most groups.

    We then recognized that HIV/AIDS education was supposed to be part of the whole idea but with most of the groups nothing happened. Mainly because the women themselves know nothing about HIV/AIDS. 

    So our aim is to educate the women about the virus so that in turn they have the power to educate their friends, families and the rest of their village in their own culturally sensitive way. At first I thought it was a simple idea that would just take a few hours of us giving them a presentation. It turns out some of these women literally know nothing about HIV/AIDS and many people think the virus is a myth!!!

     This, of course is all down to the stigma attached to the virus. People have never been told the truth about the virus (mostly thanks to the corrupt government refusing to accept it as a problem and thus ignoring it and allowing it to become an epidemic) and therefore crude rumors have spread about it; for example you can catch it from touching someone…!? 

    It’s actually very moving… I did research about HIV/AIDS in Cameroon before I came here but I didn’t expect to see the effect of it right here before my eyes. The virus became a serious problem during the 1980s when the country plunged into an economic crisis. As a result the government focused totally on economic development and the social side got ignored. You can really see it here, in the rural areas where the government is investing NOTHING in social OR even economic development. A government official actually said investing in HIV/AIDS would be a great loss to the economy. It is crazy how blind they are to the effect of HIV/AIDS. The amount of AIDS orphans here is unbelievable. Most families have an extra few children because of the loss of their parents. 

   The one good thing is that the country provides is free ARV treatment. However – most people don’t even know it exists!!! Most people don’t even get tested because they have no clue what the virus is. Never mind that you can get treated. Most people think when you get it, it’s the end.

    It has been truly moving to work with these women and to see how informing them of the FACTS about HIV/AIDS is giving them so much hope. To let them know that if you take the treatment you can live a totally normal life. The women sit their clapping to us! As though, now they know, the stigma around it has already been lifted slightly. As they are no longer scared to accept it. 

     There have been some unique cases where I have particularly felt our education has completely changed their ideas about HIV/AIDS. For example, with one women’s group we brought condoms to hand out to demonstrate you should always use protection with sexual partners you’re not familiar with and you can also use them if your husband/wife is infected and have a normal sex life. When we presented them one woman said to us: “But they don’t work. We have known people who used them as contraception and they got pregnant; when the baby was born it had the condom wrapped around its body”. At first I thought, what? Then I realized people have been using condoms thinking you put them up the vagina and some how they disappeared – you don’t remove them. I was absolutely baffled! I guess if no one has explained how to use something, how are you supposed to know? Especially here when the men are in complete control and refuse to use them. The woman probably used it without him knowing. 

     Although I know us visiting them a few times wont change everything instantly, but planting these ideas or facts in there mind will definitely have a positive effect. The whole idea is that they will now hold their own workshops for the rest of the village and spread their knowledge. Also in the form of posters for those who don’t like to be told what to do, but might read a poster when walking around the village.

    There have been some quite emotional encounters. We are working with one women group who are actually all HIV positive. Even discussing the palm oil project with them was moving. The reason their business failed was because when they started making money they didn’t invest any of it back into the business, they put it towards taking care of AIDS orphans. It is a particularly difficult task telling a group of women; you can’t spend the money you make you have to invest it. When these women themselves don’t have enough money to feed themselves to keep them healthy never mind look after the 45 orphans they have from previous members who have died.

    With the other groups we are advising to do extra work to be able to contribute to the project. These women are too sick to do extra hard labor. Yet, they have an amazing spirit and willingness to help each other. They came together so they could support one another and share their experiences with the virus. They are incredible women; they all dedicate their lives to standing in parks and public areas and telling people the truth about HIV/AIDS. They are willing to do what ever it takes to reduce the stigma. It was truly touching meeting such motivated women despite their unfortunate circumstances. 

    There was one woman who really restored my faith in humanity. Her name was Mary Joan and when she first found out she had HIV she thought it was end; she became really ill, skin and bone and her husband left her with 8 children!!! She was on deaths door and then someone took her to the hospital and she found out she could get treatment and things started to look up. A researcher from Japan came to the hospital and met Mary. He was actually there to find a natural herb that treats HIV. He saw that she had had a terrible time with the disease but had pulled her self out of it. She was then inspired to change the lives of people with the virus. He took her with him and together they found ‘Artemisia’ which she now either gives away to people or if people can afford it they buy it. I have never met someone with such energy to help people! She honestly just wants to tell everyone about her experience and tell them IT IS NOT THE END! She said that when she first became HIV positive no one in Kumbo would speak to her or buy from her (she also sells other things, like palm oil and fish) but as she stood in the market and preached to people the truth about HIV, people now treat her as a normal human being.

    Mary has shown that the stigma CAN be removed, people just need the correct information.

    I am thoroughly enjoying this project. It has been incredibly eye opening and has allowed us to meet and experience many different places and people. We have traveled around each village receiving an unbelievable amount of hospitality.  People who have nothing will give you everything. I have spent some of the happiness, most peaceful moments of my life in these villages with these people. What an incredible experience this has been.

      

       

   

   

Miss Hannah

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      I am no longer just ‘Hannah’ my new title is now Miss Hannah. I am no going to lie, I kind of love it!

      When I arrived in Kumbo I was told by the director of the NGO that I was teaching computers. Alarm bells rang in my ears… those who know me KNOW how utterly terrible I am with computers. ‘Computer illerate’ was once used to describe me. But instead of saying ‘no I can’t do this’, I saw it as a challenge and I realised I am here to help them and this is something they need help with. 

      So I began teaching and to be honest it has all worked out quite well as I have learnt so many things about computers myself! I love teaching. I really do. Before my first lesson I was pooing myself. I had no idea how I was going to get up in front of a class and teach them about something I barely new anything about myself.

     To my surprise, it is was actually really fun and so rewarding. Watching all these faces looking at YOU, knowing you are teaching them, giving them knowledge. It is a bloody good feeling.

     All my students are great; I haven’t once had to discipline any of them… apart from a few of the younger ones who have a fascination with Word Art – any task I give them they seem to end up inserting word art. “Mirabel, we are inserting TABLES not Word Art” … followed by giggles from the rest of the class.

     It is such a pleasure to teach them. I never appreciated the importance of computers and the internet until I came here. I always had a negative view of technology in general; it just seemed to be a lot of effort to keep up with. Then I spoke to a Doctor here who said he had great respect that I was teaching I.T as it is extremely important in this day and age “If you are computer illiterate; you are illiterate” is what he said to me. Most good jobs require knowledge in I.T, to communicate you need I.T. It really dawned on me, firstly how lucky I am to have grown up with computers and it being part of my life and secondly how I was giving these students a skill that could take them much further in life. 

      What the NGO aims to do is educate orphans and vulnerable children. With barley any funding they are doing a pretty good job of it. Most of the students in my class are orphans or come from an incredibly poor family. The difference in their attitude is insane. They appreciate me so much, after every class they all say thank you and they work damn hard.

      The director is great at motivating them. He often comes in and gives speeches about how they should be grateful for this opportunity and they should take what they are learning and teach their friends and family. Every morning three different students come in early and clean the computer area. At first I thought it was a bit harsh; but he explained how they want to do it as they wouldn’t have been able to afford to get this education otherwise; this is their way of saying thank you.

      It can often be quite emotional learning about some of their stories. There is a girl in my class who Fred (the director) often gives food or money to as their family don’t have anything to eat. I set the class a typing task once and one girl wrote about her life and how she is an orphan because her dad was shot and her mother committed suicide a few days later. I almost choked when I read it. I felt so powerless; I am just a teacher, what can I do. It is very difficult but I have to remind myself that I am giving these children an education. I am giving them something which will help them in the future and they are SO grateful for that.

      Education is extremely important – one of the biggest things I have learnt here.

      That is just one of the projects I have been working on and is coming to an end in the next few days. They are learning excel next and for their own sake I have passed that onto a new volunteer as the word ‘illiterate’ is actually true for me when it comes to excel! 

      I can safely say my first month in Cameroon has been one of the best in my life. People here want change to happen and they are unbelievably motivated. The NGO is great in the sense you can get on with everything yourself; if you have an idea you can make it happen and they will help you as much as they can. I love it here and am learning more and more everyday.

A lesson learnt...

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       I arrived in Douala airport, (which was the equivalent of a small train station in England) to be greeted by a bundle of joy named Fred, the director of Self Reliance Promoters. He is a truly lovely man with a gigantic heart. The city was crazy, so much hustle and bustle. I would have embraced it much more if I hadn’t been awake for the previous 48hours…I was knackered.

    We made our way back to the village picking up two other volunteers on the way who had also arrived at the same time. With our car running out of fuel and being sat on with 9 people in a car… it wasn’t the smoothest of journeys, but exciting none the less!

     The lesson I learnt, however, was when I arrived in the volunteer house (where I am living for my whole stay) to be met by three other volunteers. I could sense there was something not quite right when Fred dropped us off and the other volunteers were quite unfriendly towards him and simply listed all the problems with the house. It was a very strange atmosphere, but in my exhausted state I flopped in bed for most of the day.

      In the evening however, we were sitting around with the other volunteers and as time passed the evening gradually turned into them telling us how terribly awful this whole place and experience was. From the staff, to the locals, to the house, to the fact

there was no water… they bitched. I have never felt so utterly confused and disappointed. I sat with the new volunteers, none of us really knowing what to say.

     I went to sleep undeniably regretting coming to Cameroon. Why didn’t I choose Tanzania? In my mind, there were two options of this situation: they were right and everything was terrible… or they did not realize they were in AFRICA; things are much slower here, sometimes there isn’t water – I expected that.

     As it turns out – it was the second option. I can safely say I am having the time of my life. The locals have completely welcomed me into their community, the staff are amazing to work with, the volunteers are all great…. There isn’t anything I can really complain about.

      So what I have learnt: ALWAYS make my own mind up about what I think of a situation. Don’t let people influence me before experiencing something myself.  

     I have also learnt how important it is to experience new adventures on my own. I have loved the fact that everything about this experience has been just me, on my own, without any influence from back home. When I am in a situation by myself, no one knows who I am or where I've come from… I am open to everything – uninfluenced.

    Anyway, that is what I learn in my first few days here. So many incredible things have happened since…. Which you will be able to read soon when I get a chance to write more!