Stories from Cameroon Children
Raphaël
Raphaël is a joyful 3 months old baby. He is the second of a family of 2. Raphael was born with a malformation on his left leg. He lives with his mother and his older brother. Bissa Foundation is providing for all the cost of his rehabilitation and special care. We were very pleased to learn that his impairment in the left leg was basically corrected thanks to the early medical intervention. It is our hope and our goal to reach children at the earliest stage of their disability by assisting them with medical care for an opportunity for them to flourish in every aspects of life. We are excited to report that during his next medical appointment, Raphaël will be fitted with special shoes! Soon the opportunity to walk normally!
Murielle
Murielle is a funny bright 8 years old. She is the 2nd child of 4 siblings. Her father and mother live in Nko’Etye, a village in the suburbs of Ebolowa, South Cameroon region. Murielle was born in perfect health. When she was about 6 months old, her mother got on a motorcycle. During the trip, a traffic accident occurred, the rear wheel of the motorcycle burned the infant’s foot and required amputation. After the wound healed, her physical growth continued but had to rely on her cane to move around. After our social assessment and in view of the 75% disability, Bissa Foundation considers her eligible for assistance. We have made funds available to cover her school tuition, school supplies, transportation costs, and medical care. Murielle, as a child, was not able to attend regular kinder garden and lower elementary school year because of her disability and her parent’s low income. Because of her age, she was placed immediately in the third grade. This made it more difficult to catch up with the class assignments and exams. It is therefore very important to help these children from birth or when their disability started. The earlier they received help, the better their chances of overcoming their disability and in turn also do better in their education. Murielle benefits from Bissa Foundation promoting meetings and summer camps with other recruited children with reduced mobility. These meetings and camps allow parents to share their experiences, support, and learn from each other. The children discover and become more in tune with the realities of life in the urban areas. They experience living a few days in a community without the negative effect of discrimination and social exclusion. These meetings and camps require the assistance of health professionals to help make good diagnosis for each child. This is one of our major projects to grow with the help of generous donations as we see the positive impact these meetings and camps have on the children helping them grow in society. Murielle and the other children enjoy learning, making friendship and enjoying playing in the merry-go-round and other recreational activities.
Andrea Ladouce
Andréa Ladouce is a happy 8 years old. She is the fifth child of 6. Her father and mother live in Nko’Etye, a village in the suburbs of Ebolowa, South Region Cameroon. When she was born, Ladouce showed no signs of illness, 6 months later, she got illness fontanel and showed signs of having hydrocephalus. Traditional medicine failed to cure her, and on the contrary the child’s head began to swell, as if it were a case of hydrocephaly. The consequences were dramatic because it impaired her ability to stand up. The “Foyer Pere Monti” had to open the doors to her to receive functional rehabilitation. The results had been encouraging as Ladouce is already moving with crutches. In addition, she has been admitted to the first grade. Her motor disability is still a concern, and Bissa Foundation has made her eligible to receive assistance. During 2020, Bissa Foundation paid the full amount of her tuition and boarding school, school supplies, transportation as well as food. Her physiotherapist assures us to do everything to ensure that one day she may be able to walk without crutches. Ladouce is been assisted also with psychological therapy.
Dalila
At 10 years, Alida is hard working and loves music. She is originally from the central region in the Mbam. She is the oldest of two siblings. She lives in Douala Bonamoussadi district, a locality in the coastal region. Alida was born with a severe rash on her back. After surgery, she developed problems with her lower limbs, and some psychological impairment. The Bissa Foundation takes care of the Alida’s tuition, food, and medical follow-ups. Alida is in third grade, she enjoys helping her mother in the kitchen, handling electronic gadgets, and listening to music. She is a committed Christian from the Catholic Church of Cameroon.
Charles
Charles Joël is 10 years old who loves sports. He is from the West Cameroon region, and the fifth child of 6 siblings. He lives in Yaoundé Nkomo district of Oyack with both parents and his brothers. Charles Joël started developing a deformity in his knees which worsened as he grew older. His parents attempted treatment to straighten his legs, the left foot had many medical attempts without success and unfortunately developed a deformity and had to have his left foot amputated. Also, his right foot is currently developing a deformity that prevents a prosthesis from being placed. Joël is in grade 5 class, he is very excited, and he is preparing very well for his 6th grade “CEP” (Certificat d’Etudes Primaires) entrance exam. The Bissa Foundation pays for his tuition, school supplies, medical care, transportation, and food. He enjoys playing center-back football soccer with his wheelchair, video games, and site seeing. He is a committed Christian from the Evangelical Church of Cameroon.
Dève
Dève Ricky at 12 years old marvels at new things he encounters. He is the fifth child of seven siblings. His parents and siblings live in Mebassa, a locality in the Center region of Cameroon. When he was born, Dève Ricky had a malformation in his feet and fingers. His parents subsequently discovered other health problems that seriously affected his eyesight, speech, mobility, and psychological wellbeing. After a thorough assessment, Bissa Foundation deemed him eligible for assistance. Because of his multiple handicaps, he requires special schooling. Bissa Foundation is committed to fund his tuition, food, transportation, and medical needs. At the moment, there is not a special school for him in the surrounding area. Deve attends school where his father teaches. Although these classes are not structured for him, and his progress is slow, he nevertheless benefits from listening to the classes. Deve benefits from Bissa Foundation promoting meetings and summer camps with other recruited children with reduced mobility. These meetings and camps allow parents to share their experiences, support, and learn from each other. The children discover and become more in tune with the realities of life in the urban areas. They experience living a few days in a community without the negative effect of discrimination and social exclusion. These meetings and camps require the assistance of health professionals to help make good diagnosis for each child. This is one of our major projects to grow with the help of generous donations as we see the positive impact these meetings and camps have on the children helping them grow in society. In these camps, the children enjoy interacting with each other, playing, making friends, sharing their experiences and having fun!
Aminatou
Aminatou is a quiet and interesting 12 years old. She is the 9th of 10 siblings. Her parents live in Foumban, in the west of Cameroon. At birth, baby Aminatou had no health problems. Before she was 12 months old, she suffered a psychological trauma with dramatic consequences. Both hands and feet suffered deformity and serious speech problems. It is with the help of the “Foyer Père Monti” in Ebolowa that our Foundation discovered this vulnerable and fragile child. Immediately contact was made with her father, who agreed to have Bissa Foundation sponsors her daughter starting August 2020. During this first year, Aminatou has benefited from our support, from new fitted prosthesis, and the payment of functional rehabilitation therapy cost. At the rehabilitation center, she is welcome and enjoys training in the field of sewing. This training will allow Aminatou to be able to live independently and help support herself and family.
Robert
At 14 years old, Robert is an artist. He requires a wheelchair to move around. He is the oldest of his mother’s three children. He lives in Yaoundé (Cameroon), Nsimeyong district. After a failed operation when he was three months old, he has since suffered from some paralysis of his lower limbs. The Bissa Foundation takes care of Robert’s school tuition, food, medical care, and transportation. Robert enjoys playing wheelchair football soccer, listening to music, site seeing and making arts and crafts.
Arsène
Arsene Cedric is calm and interesting 14 years old. He enjoys drawing and music. He lives with his mother and siblings in Ekounou, Yaoundé, a locality in the Centre region in Cameroon. He has lower limb motor infirmity. Also, he is suffering from psychological impairment which is being assessed by a specialist. Bissa Foundation will support him with his special needs school tuition, wheelchair, primary necessities, and the necessary transportation to attend school. He is looking forward to forming friendship with his classmates at his special needs school.
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