Esther ’s Journey: From babysitter to aspiring entrepreneur
Meet Esther, an internally displaced person (IDP) from Oku. Due to the ongoing crisis, she left her hometown and moved in with a relative in the city. Initially, Esther worked as a babysitter for the children in the household.
During a needs assessment in her area conducted by Caritas as part of a project Emergency response for children in the areas most affected by conflict and crisis in the Southwest and Northwest regions of Cameroon, supported by UNICEF, with funding from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) Esther expressed a strong desire to acquire a skill. Recognizing her determination, Caritas sponsored her tailoring training. After a year of dedicated learning, Esther completed her training and received a start-up kit to open her own tailoring workshop. Despite her progress, she continues to live with her relative.
Esther dreams of returning to school, but her current living situation makes this challenging. For now, she focuses on her tailoring business, hoping to expand it to generate more income. Her ultimate goal is to become independent, support herself, and help her family back in the village.
“I want to go back to school, but for now, I am happy to have my tailoring workshop,” says Esther. “I hope to expand my business so I can take care of myself and my family.”
Esther’s story is one of empowerment and resilience. From having no skills, she has transformed into a skilled tailor, earning enough to meet her basic needs. Her journey reflects the broader dream for many girls in similar situations to become independent and positively impact the lives of others facing similar challenges.
“Every day, we identify and assist numerous cases, working tirelessly to change their stories. Our commitment is to make a meaningful impact, helping children, especially adolescent girls, move from one level of stability to the next, no matter how small, and help them to move from one level of stability to the next,” says Odette, the Public Relations Officer for Caritas Bamenda.
Caritas Bamenda, in partnership with UNICEF, implements projects in protection. They focus on assisting unaccompanied and separated children through case management, family tracing, reunification, education, health, shelter, non-food items, psychosocial support, and monitoring grave violations. Caritas Bamenda has successfully met targets, aiding around 400 children in two quarters, and operates actively in five divisions.
Odette expresses gratitude to UNICEF and ECHO for their support and partnership in helping vulnerable children. “Thank you, UNICEF, for your unwavering support and partnership in making these dreams a reality. Many girls like Esther have faced maltreatment, exploitation, and abuse. We strive for a future where crises end, reducing the number of displaced and vulnerable children. Our dream is to see children, especially girls, free, with access to education, and able to pursue their dreams. Together, we are building a better future for vulnerable children like Esther”.
The ongoing crisis in the Northwest region of Cameroon has severely impacted adolescent girls, leading to increased displacement and vulnerability to violence, disruption of education with around 80% of schools non-functional, higher rates of unintended pregnancies due to limited access to sexual and reproductive health services, and significant psychosocial distress. With the support of UNICEF efforts to support these girls include promoting community learning centers and vocational training programs to help them continue their education and gain skills for economic independence.
— — — By Salomon Marie Joseph Beguel, Communication Officer-UNICEF
