On July 31, 2024, the Equality Project in partnership with the Integrated Development Foundation (IDF) held a crucial workshop aimed at empowering 10 vulnerable young people aged 15 to 24, living with HIV and disabilities. The workshop, which held at the Nkwen Baptist Center focused on equipping these young individuals with the necessary skills and support to establish sustainable income-generating activities.
The session, guided by Oussematou Damini of IDF, brought together the selected young participants along with their parents and caregivers. The goal was to equip these youths, many of whom lack formal livelihoods, with the knowledge and resources to establish thriving small businesses.
Recognizing the challenges faced by these young people, who often lack economic independence and are susceptible to various forms of violence, the project seeks to provide a pathway to self-sufficiency. By introducing them to a range of potential trades and guiding them in making informed choices, the Equality Project hopes to contribute to reducing unemployment and juvenile delinquency rates in the region.
“It is crucial that these young people, especially the girls who are more vulnerable, have something to rely on,” emphasized Oussematou. “We aim to cultivate their entrepreneurial spirit and help them build thriving businesses,” he remarked.
The activity adopted a family-centered approach, involving parents and caregivers in the process. During the workshop, the participants explored a range of viable Income Generating Activities, IGA, options, including agriculture, livestock rearing, fish farming, handicrafts, agro-processing, beekeeping, tailoring, and fashion design. The project team worked closely with the young people and their caregivers to help them identify the most suitable and profitable opportunities within the local context of Northwest Cameroon. They also emphasized the importance of continuous learning and skill development, stressing that there is no such thing as a menial job.
“We are happy with their choices so far because what they went in for has a market within our context and with expert support from our collaborators, we are very sure that when they go through the training, it will go a long way to make their lives better,” said Ndjodzeven Divine Ngitir, Sexual Reproductive Health Focal Point for the Equality Project.
Over the coming months, the Project will provide comprehensive support, including technical training, financial assistance for training and commencement, coaching, and mentorship to help the young entrepreneurs establish and grow their businesses. The team will also work closely with the beneficiaries’ caregivers to ensure that they can effectively support the young people’s entrepreneurial journeys.
“The approach used is a family approach where we help the young ones not to overspend. If the child fails, their caregivers would be to blame,” Oussematou explained. “We show them that this is not a scam activity but it requires little constant growth, and they are urged to be examples to future beneficiaries.”
The Equality Project is committed to reducing health inequalities among young people in the region. By transitioning the beneficiaries from informal, small-scale activities to formal, profitable enterprises, and investing in their economic empowerment, the Project hopes to empower these vulnerable young people to achieve economic independence. They also wish to create lasting change and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.
