Handicrafts and Appropriate Technology

Aman Nkoti Christine, 56, is one of Heifer International Cameroon’s successful community leaders. Christine is the president of Groupe d’Initiative Commune des Producteurs de Concombre et Couscous Manioc of Boyaba I, some 150 km from Yaoundé. This group was formed in 1996 at the peak of the economic crisis by some 32 farm families, to counter the effects. Their objectives to succeed in their ambitions ended up a mere wish due to lack of inspiration. None respected financial promises from external elite rendered the group members incapable. The membership dropped to five. Aman Nkoti Christine was one of the members who stayed on.

Though shy and timid in her everyday life, as president Christine was a force to be reckoned with. She believed that one day things would change for the better. “I stayed with those who persevere and strongly believe that one day the light will shine on us,” she said. Her perseverance raised their membership to 13.

“My wife and friends abandoned me because I was walloping in poverty. I had no place in the community. Simolium damnosium bites locally called “Mutmut” deformed my skin and life for me was senseless,” said Paul Bidyme. But Heifer International Cameroon’s support to him under a cane rat scheme through his Groupe d’initiative Commune de Sante de Batombe converted his sorrows into joy. Paul, 36, lived with his mother Ngomune Christine, a widow and his six year old daughter Ngomme Christine Biyha at Batombe some 5km from Edea, in the littoral region of Cameroon.

His father’s death in 1987 led to the beginning of his frustrations. He dropped out of school. He ventured to automobile mechanic, carpentry and welding. He did not graduate from any. No relative was willing to give him any financial assistance. Paul’s dreams of providing medical aid to his ailing mother failed. In 2002, Paul was earning 4000FCFA (£5.4) a week from doing odd jobs. “That was not enough as we drudged day in-week out for a complete meal.

The group started with the help of some graduates in 1998. It was a self-help initiative but legalized its status in 2002 as a common initiative group. According to one of the pioneers, the group president Adamou Ali, 36, they cultivated sweet potatoes, maize, tomatoes and huckleberry on 1.5 hectares of land. Their farm size increased as the membership of the group increased. Group members worked together on their farms to ease the burden of one another. “For each month, we provided each other with labor worth 7,000 FCFA ($15.6). This was to enhance our food security,” Ali remembered.

Although the group members struggled together, they only just managed to feed their families and to send their children to school. By necessity the group members began providing cheap labor to other community members in search of extra income and resources. According to the group president Ali, the annual income per farm family stood at 15,000 ($71.1) and 40, 000F CFA ($88.9 in those difficult days. “We could barely eat two poor meals a day, we mostly ate without oil,” Ngarigang Irene, mother of six (3 boys, 3girls) recalled. This lack of food translated to many health-related complications. “In 2004, I stayed in hospital for three months and could not pay my bill; it’s a cousin that helped me out,” Ibrahim a group member cried. Wanting to forge a comprehensive plan for themselves, the group members applied for Heifer International Cameroon’s assistance in 2008. Ultimately the 14 farm families were retained for immediate help.

Aaron Kaah

Some 16 employees of a US based organization Elanco, which over the years has supported Heifer international projects around the world have appreciated Heifer International Cameroon assisted farmers for improving their lives and communities in the Bafut, Bamendakwe and Santa villages in the North West Region of Cameroon. The team which was in Cameroon from May 22-31, 011 to learn more about Heifer assisted projects and their impact on the lives of the people and to share their expertise took their study tour trip to the private homes of the assisted farm families and to their common initiative groups.

In the homes of the assisted farm families the team came face to face with the realities of managing, feeding and marketing livestock by these assisted families. The beneficiary farm families used the golden opportunity to show their guests property bought with income from the marketing of animals and surplus food crops. The farm families also indicated and proved how compost from the animals was improving the soil quality of their farm field. In moving testimonies these famers almost brought to tears by joy, related how their love story with Heifer international Cameroon started and how the benefits of their respective projects had helped them to educate their children, renovate their homes, paid for hospital bills and to get new house hold equipment. In the Mbei Santa community a widow named Olivia Befuh a member of the Mbei Struggling Widows Common Initiative group with some 45 members explained in high spirits how most of them did not feel the dead of their husbands as the Heifer international Cameroon donated livestock and trainings gave them the most necessary support to educate and feed their families. At the Bamendakwe, community a farm family overwhelmingly prided in respecting the Heifer international traditional action of honor of Pass on the Gift of new animal off spring to another needy family in the group to help expand the gift of love and care. Most of these farm families also grappled with words with which to thank Heifer international donors in the US.

Working sessions with the common initiative groups provided space for the study tour team to listen to the challenges of the farmers and their plans for the future. While providing solutions to some of the worries poised by the groups, the team was elated with the fulfillment in the groups brought alive by songs and dance and the innovative styles of the leaders to improve on the dynamic management of their groups as well as their responsibilities in other community social groups.

Speaking to the Heifer international Cameroon assisted groups, the leader of the Elanco study tour team Grady Bishop appreciated the farmers and their common initiative groups for using their livestock to meet their needs. “We are separated by distance but the benefits and feeling for animals is the same” Bishop said. The farmers were called upon to stay focused and to continuously give hope to one another. “We have been given a great gift--- that’s what HPI has done in your lives and we will tell your powerful stories back in the US” Bishop concluded. The international study tour team also took time off to visit some touristic sites and to savor the rich North West traditional music.

The excitement in the close knit mountain village of Vekovi was total, as farmer groups, civil and traditional authorities in the sunset of April 12th 2011 overwhelmingly turned out to welcome the US ambassador to Cameroon Robert P Jackson on a visit to Heifer Cameroon sponsored Projects in the area. The US Diplomat who was accompanied by his wife, the political and economic adviser to the US embassy in Cameroon Mikael Cleverley was taking his first trip through Heifer sponsored projects in Cameroon’s North West Region since taking office in October of 2010.

The Diplomat started his day visiting individual farm families and was brought face to face with the new opportunities that Heifer sponsored projects were carving for these families. These farm families in the company of their close relatives and friends authoritatively scooped through their success stories, as they confidently talked about Heifer donated animals, improved nutrition, available income from the marketing of animals and food crops and lost gender stereotypes in their midst and the values of Heifer corner stones. “I have surplus to feed my family to day as a result of the project” Ngong Lazarus told the Diplomat brandishing one of his seedlings who recovered from ill health as a result of improved nutrition like a wining card. Another farmer Sahwai Philip had a phenomenal movie like display with his bull in prove of the endless relationships these families had forged with their animals. The diplomat exalted the farm families for putting their abilities to test and remained them, that by continuously working together they could achieve lasting goals for their families and community.

There was no limit to the open excitement at the village community hall under construction where the Diplomat and his entourage were later received by a cross section of the population. In a welcome address to the diplomat, the three farmer common initiative groups (Dzekwa Multipurpose, Hill to Gardening and Integrated Farming Common Initiative Groups in the area recalled that their friendship with Heifer Cameroon started in 1993 when the Dzekwa multi purpose Initiative group which started with two initial farm families and later metamorphorised to a dairy cooperative over the years was identified for assistance. From the adventure these initial farm families benefited from Heifer Cameroon’s knowledge of animal rearing, and donation. A daring need for change saw these farm families immerging in to dairy farming and food crop production. Their result was not only full bellies and cash for extra spending but the formation of two other common initiative groups over the years. As a fitting tribute to their dedication these two groups have a total membership of twenty five farm families with sixty five animals in their keeping after having sold twenty five animals for extra cash and had since respected the Pass on the Gift commandment with two animals. The speaker talked to the ambassador about their extraordinary achievements like the education of their children, the construction of a community hall, modern houses, environmental protection and self employment for the youths within the community. “These groups were indebted to Dan West, the Heifer Project International Founder” the speaker said, a man immortalized in their hearts like a generous friend with a wonderful spirit for having planted a seed of love to make poverty and misery a dream in the world of theirs.

From the outburst of individual testimonies that followed, almost every farmer had the liberty to send a word of thank you back to Heifer International donors in the United States of America through the Diplomat “We will continue to pray your own families’ good luck and peace”, Ngoran Emmanuel said. The manner in which these men and women who labored on their farm fields, the best they could spoke of Heifer Cameroon’s love story could melt even a stony eerie heart. To most Americans, these people have nothing but their wealth and inner joy is more than any one can ever imagine.

Responding to the plethora of best wishes to the American people, HE Robert Jackson P traced the deep commitment of his family in contributing to the work of Heifer International around the world to many years past. The Ambassador said he was grateful to see “farm families making the best of a great idea”. The Diplomat thanked the people of Vekovi and their leaders for the compelling social networking that brought about a stronger and healthy community. HE Robert Jackson while pledging to make more Americans aware of Heifer Cameroon’s work, called on the farm families to stay undefeated in their quest for a better world. “I pray that the animals will be a blessing to the community not only now but for the great future to come” he concluded.

The Vekovi community is some 85KM from the hustle and bustling of Bamenda, the North West Regional capital in Cameroon. It is in these fertile slopes that some fifteen thousand subsistent farmers made of Mbororo’s, Muslims and indigenous people live and toil side by side. Their continuous hopes for a better world depend on their benefactors, millions of miles across the Atlantic Ocean.

Aaron KAAH

The Santa Mbei community some 30km from Bamenda the capital of the North West Region of Cameroon was the neighbourhood with living proofs and testimonies from pig farmers as a US study tour team made of Elanco employees visited Heifer Cameroon assisted farm families and CIG’s on the 27th of may 2011 during a working tour to this community. The team understood in earnest what the animals had done in the lives of the farm families, their close relatives and friends in these communities, as they moved in to their homes and animal farms to access the impact of the projects. In a show of pride and wealth David Njei a Pig farmer who received Heifer pigs in 2007 talked the team down to his accomplishments and the training Heifer Cameroon had given him and his group members at the preliminary stages of the project. While showing the team his pen, David kept count of how much the animals had supported his family not only with compost for his vegetable garden where he farms carrots, green beans and garbage but income for the education of his children. ……..This looks really good” Lisa a team member said. Impressed on David’s project Marleen New said it was very interesting to know the farmer had invested in dogs like other livestock breeders in the community to protect his pigs from thieves that were once a threat to his project. “I’m also heart warmth because of the education of his children”Marleen concluded. In paying particular attention to the feeding and hygiene of the animals, Dr Gary Sexton sort answers on the fed composition from the couple and charged them to improve and concentrate more on the feeding and care for their animals and to avoid in breeding as a means of minimizing low productivity. “Nutrition is a big part of the project” concluded Kerry Keffaber. David and his wife have eight children and six are in school. He has bought new household equipment and now saves income in a local micro financial scheme for rainy days. David and his wife are members of the Mbei community forest common initiative group.

At the pig farm of Violet Atanga, a widow whose late husband had left with her seven children, two other widows and their children and a few farms to survive on, the team listened to her riveting testimonies of how Heifer Cameroon donated pigs and trainings had brought hope and relief to her household and how the knowledge gained was inspiring them (widows) to work together. “I received my animal (two sows and one boar) on June 30th 2008 and had finished my POG”….violet excited as she showed her farm to the group. Impressed by the housing facilities and the hygienic conditions around Violets animals as well as her POG, Courtney Knupp said the widows were inventive and improvised every thing HPI stands for. “With compost from the project I’ve improved the quality of my farm fields for excellent out put and sold animals for the education of my children and for the payment of health care bills” violet told her guest. Violet answered a few questions on her project, how she was coping with the fluctuating market trends. Grady Bishop praised the widow for her hard work and achievements and remaindered her that learning and sharing was key to success. Violet is a member of the Mbei struggling widow’s common initiative group with 45 members.

At the third stop over of the day Sama Emmaculate member of the Mbei community forest CIG -while leading the team round her pen with 4pigs burst out with testimonies on how the Heifer donated animals and mentorings had transformed her life and that of her sidings, “From the marketing of this swines we afforded other food items form the near by markets” she said. Mike Tockach questioned the hygienic and sanitation conditions of the pig farm and remained Emmaculate of the need to respect the basic feeding and sanitation valves in a bid to sustain her joy and comfort. The team paid particular attention to the feeding composition for her animals and listened to her vivid explanations on the breeding of the pigs. Next, the team was elated in the piggery of Comfort Afanyi member of the Mbei struggling women’s Common initiative group where a visibly healthy boar and two sows depicted good care for the pigs. Dr Fent Joe, Mike Tockach and Lisa took turns asking the farmer of her animal breeding pattern and the gains she had reaped from the project. Comfort referred to the income earned from the project as a “stitched in time that saved nine” she exalted Heifer Cameroon for coming to her aid and that of her group members after the dead of their husbands with animals and kindness. She attributed the education of her children and the affordability of three square meals for her family as fall over’s from the project.

At the village community hall were the team was later received by group members of the Mbei community forest and Mbei struggling women common initiative groups, the pomp and pageantry generated from the songs and dance to welcome the guest was over whelming. In a welcome address to the team by the leader of the two groups, the representative said Heifer Donated animals and trainings were a vital tool for the reawakening of group members as well as their communities. He said the hope harvested from the various projects stimulated good health, quality education buried gender stereotypes, environmental hygiene, love and sharing. The representative thanked the study tour team for coming to share in their experiences and for motivating them for greater achievements. In rapturous testimonies that followed from the group members, the widows said it was easy to forget the dead of their husbands with the birth of the projects in their communities. Some of the speakers told the study tour team that their miraculous recovery brought about constructed news homes for them and their love ones, spare cash and surplus food crops. Almost driven to tears, only melodious songs could translate the feelings of most of these women and men who at their best grappled with words, with which to thank Elanco and Heifer international donors back in the USA.

Responding to the CIG’s, Grady Bishop on behalf of the study tour team said the songs and the smiles in the groups told them how much fulfillment had come their way. “We are\separated by distance but we all have the same passion and benefits in rearing livestock” Grady told the audience. He appreciated the farmers for improving on their livestock, for POG and for the ability to work together. “We have been given a great gift and that’s what HPI has done in your lives and we pledge to tell your story back in our country” he concluded.

Aaron Kaah

Grady Bishop, the Director Sales Marketing, Elanco Animal Health during his Cameroon visit.

Q What was the purpose of your visit?

Grady: To learn more about Heifer Cameroon projects and the impact on the lives of the people. We are also using this opportunity to share our expertise of swine production and to learn from the rich experiences of the Heifer Cameroon assisted farmers.

Q Who are those who make up your team?

Grady: Elanco Animals health employees, Pig veterinarians, Pig nutritionist.

Q You have visited individual farm families, what are your general observations?

Grady: The animals are clean and healthy and the evidence is that the people are happy and removed from poverty and we have seen that the quality of life in the homes of those assisted is much better than before.

Q How do you intend to solve some of the challenges these farmers have presented?

Grady: we will give presentations, do blogging, write articles and give out personal testimonies to our friends and families as well as our colleagues on the best solution to give back to these farmers in Cameroon.

Q What message are you leaving with these groups and farm families?

Grady: They are doing a very good job in taking proper care for their animals and on behalf of the team I exalt the farmers and the groups to continue the good work and our best wishes in the future.

Q What message are you taking along?

Grady: Heifer International is a very good organization for the work they are doing. The farm families and these communities have changed for ever. We have lived first hand experiences the impact of these animals much more than we could imagine. We have appreciated better health, pride, dignity and hope for the future. We are proud of the collaboration. Thank you.

Aaron Kaah

Empowered to live a life of self sufficiency, Awunti Simon, 56, received Heifer International Cameroon gift of goats through his Fouh Mbiih Mixed Farming Group Finge in 2005 at Tubah sub-division, 25km from Bamenda capital of the Northwest Region in Cameroon. Though sighted, since 1997 Simon is an accomplished farmer.

Before getting Heifer International Cameroon donation Awunti Simon wrote the first school leaving certificate examination twice before passing in 1989; the man wanted of a sponsor. He went for “greener pasture” in the littoral region of Cameroon and in 1997, the unfortunate struck him. “I went completely blind” he burst in to tears at the time. With no financial means to sake a medical assistance, he retreated to his village “cap in hand” .The farmer got married twice. Simon’s first wife Agnes Nwain 37 divorced him for obvious reasons, (limited resources and his poor sight) leaving behind three children.

In 2004, the farmer got another wife for himself Emelda Nawanga 28, with whom they have four children. Simon’s poor sight made life for him and his 7 children incredibly hard. The family had a few farms but the stultifying effects of inter- tribal conflict in his area made their ever poor harvest precarious. There was nothing to influence the family’s choice of feeding. Simon and his family were a liability.

In 2004, Simon registered his membership with Fouh Mbiih Mixed Farming Group Finge with 11 members. The group members heard about Heifer International Cameroon from the Ngamte Dairy Produce and Marketing Cooperative Finge which had benefitted a Dairy scheme from the development organization. Motivated, Simon and his group members tabled an application to Heifer International Cameroon.

In 2005 Heifer International Cameroon came with a message of hope for the group members. First the group members were trained on goat barn construction, goat husbandry, how to improve their soil fertility with household residue, group leadership, gender equity and HIV and AIDS sensitization.

On the 5 June 2005 Heifer International Cameroon, aided each farm family with 5goats, farm tools and improved seeds. “Group members thought that because I was blind I was not going to construct a barn for my animal but I was the first to do that” Simon explained. Though Simon and his family had a tougher day in their farm than any group member, they tilled their field with perseverance and persistence “we harvested (Maize from 34 to 136kg, beans from 17 to 68kg, onion from 15g to 45kg, Cabbage from 400 to 800kg” the farmer said. Simon’s annual income jumped from 75,000FCFA ($167) to 245,000FCFA ($544) from the sales of food crops and livestock. With food crops the family feed three square meals and complemented their diets with other varieties bought in the neighboring markets. “Today we eat fish or crayfish on a daily bases. We eat rice regularly unlike before when we used to eat it only on charismas day” Emelda Simon’s wife said. “My health has become more stable due to good feeding and I longer visit the hospital like in the past” Simon rejoiced. “This income also provided my children’s school needs and our domestic needs, I was able to pay the school bills of my nephew Fabris Malayena (20) for the first time at the Cameroon College of Science and Technology (CCAST Bambili” Simon bragged. Simon and the family were also able to hold a memorial service in honor of his late father in-law in 2008. Simon his wife Emelda have extended their sleeping house and have provided it the best facilities they can. “With income, in 2007 I passed on the gift of livestock at 85000FCFA ($188) to another resource limited farm family within my group.” Simon remembered. Sharing, love and care are the watch words of Simon and his family. The farmer has assisted and passed on the gift of knowledge to 14 farmers within his community.

Though, sighted Awunti Simon, his family believed Heifer International Cameroon brought them a sight saving gift to light their path to prosperity. “Today, I have succeeded even without my eyes,” he said with laughter. The Heifer International cornerstones are their source of strength and comfort.

Aaron Kah

Sima Hanna is an appreciated beneficiary of a Heifer International Cameroon gift of sheep in Moutourwa subdivision of Mayo Kani division of the Far North Region of Cameroon. Hanna received her blessing through her GIC Djounoukom Vou of Mordok in 1999. She is mother of five children (3 boys, 3 girls), a girl in secondary school and two boys in primary school. The last two children are not yet of school going age.

Before Hanna braved poverty, she farmed by hand for a living almost like every woman in her community, low harvest and the lack of support from her spouse down played good yields. The woman also kept some small animals from which to source additional income but her little knowledge of proper animal husbandry left her and the animals at the same level.

Heifer International Cameroon responded to the plight of Hanna and her group members when they applied in 2009. A series of capacity building modules on leadership, group dynamic and management, compost making, improved sheep husbandry, gender equity, on HIV & AIDS and Heifer International cornerstones were handed down to the farmers. “In addition, I received a two-wheeled truck, improved seed varieties (cowpea, groundnut and maize) and four sheep (3 female and 1 ram)” Hanna said. The awareness unmasked the talent in Hanna as she intensified her farming activities; from the animals she got manure for her farms. “I harvested 200 kg of maize compared to 100 kg last farming season on the same piece of land” Hanna excited said about her progress. Observing the visible signs of development Hanna’s husband submitted to her plea for support at work. The husband’s untiring support in household chores and farm activities reflected visibly in their output. “I sold 100 kg of maize at 12,000FCFA ($24), spent 6,200FCFA ($12.4) on clothes and the rest on food during end of year festivities” the woman said. The family had plenty to feed on and that made the once impoverished family healthy.

Hanna with her sheep “Before Heifer International Cameroon’s assistance, I used to have on average of 20,000FCFA ($40) from sales of animals”. She said. Hanna earned 75,000 FCFA ($150) from the sale of three sheep at the beginning of the project. This was the base of her spending income. The couple is saving for rainy days. Their children are in school doing fine and their present renewed hope challenges the past “I now feel happy in my village as both men and women respect me for my ownership of animals” Hanna confirmed. The couple has vowed to show appreciation to the donations of Heifer International Cameroon with hard work. Their financial empowerment is also a motivation to share with the impoverished “I want to thank Heifer International Cameroon for what she has done to me and my family I pray God to continue to bless you all,” Hanna wished.