Nine persons with disabilities and widows have benefited from a sum of 10,000 frs each as contribution from a fund set up by the Community Resource Centre for the Disabled and Disadvantaged (CRCDD) in an effort to fight poverty amongst this group of persons.
Miss limen Florence, Coordinator of CRCDD said the main reason for creating the scheme is because, “many persons with disabilities lack skills in business management and as such, cannot do effective business, those who are already in business or still to start up business also lack capital to invest in their ventures. Most of these people she continued do not have capital of up to 10,000 frs and because of that, “it is very difficult to progress in business.”
The aim of the revolving fun group she added is to build the capacity of persons with disabilities in business management, provide small capital to those who are already in business but cannot make it due to lack of skills and capital to improve on their business and life.
She noted that, strong mechanism has been put in place to ensure sustainability of the project like the compulsory monthly savings during CRCDD monthly meetings, and the routine monitoring and advice by MUSUB Cameroon, a partner association in the project.
Speaking on behalf of the chief of the Social Welfare Centre Bamenda II, Mr. Sunday Ghali Bekwa thanked CRCDD for its effort and advised those present that by observing some simple guidelines, they can avoid the number of persons with disabilities in the future.
He told parents to prevent their children by attending antenatal and post natal clinics to provide for early detection of defects and possible problems, encouraged prospective couples to carry out premarital test to find out their compatibilities especially against conditions like sickle cells, take their vaccines against preventable diseases and on the social front, maintain clean environment, properly disposed of waste, avoid or caution over speeding bike riders and vehicle drivers, avoid inter-tribal and armed conflicts, domestic violence against children and women amongst many others.
Mr. Dioh Jerry, one of the beneficiary, a disabled person and electronic repairer by profession said though many may think that 10,000 frs is small, it’s a lot for him and he will use it to buy some equipment to better his output.
Asoh Helen, a widow and farmer said she will use the money to buy more farm inputs which will intend help her increase her yield.
According to the scheme, each member of the group will get 10,000 frs each. The first group of nine who have benefitted already will contribute 1,000 frs monthly towards another member and in ten months a total of twenty people will have already benefited and the fund will recycle again.
CRCDD is appealing to people to help assist the fund and increase the amount members who benefit in an effort to build the self-esteem of disabled and disadvantaged persons, as well as improve on their livelihood and reduce their dependence on society and family members.
The present fund is mainly sponsored by Stching MARHE based in the Netherlands through the efforts of Peter Abspoel and Frans Macus.
