From a Destitute to a Humanitarian

*From Destitute to a Humanitarian*

Growing up in a modest family of six in Nkwen, Bamenda, Cameroon, I never imagined the profound challenges that lay ahead. My parents, a hard-working father employed as a night watchman and a resilient mother who tended to our family farm, provided us with the essentials - food, education, and a loving home. 

However, our world was turned upside down when my father entered into a relationship with a second wife, despite the monogamous marriage he had pledged to my mother. The introduction of this new dynamic shattered the peace in our household, as my mother endured relentless beatings, both from my father alone and sometimes accompanied by his new wife.

With my father's attention and resources now divided and under the control of his new wife, our family's financial stability crumbled. Hunger became a constant companion, and the lack of basic necessities like proper clothing and school supplies became a daily struggle. I still vividly recall the shame I felt when, in secondary school, my worn-out shoes finally gave way, forcing me to attend classes barefoot on my first day.

The deprivation I experienced during those formative years had a profound impact on me. I found myself fainting from hunger while in primary school, and the pain of lacking even the most basic needs left an indelible mark. Yet, it was through these trials that I discovered my true calling - to become a humanitarian and help alleviate the suffering of others.

At the tender age of 13, I began my journey of service, using every resource at my disposal, from my meager earnings from music and emceeing to appealing to the generosity of our community, to support the destitute. I learned to work tirelessly, farming, selling our homegrown vegetables and guavas, all while channeling my energy into building an organization, New Breed Africa, dedicated to achieving all round sustainable empowerment of the less fortunate and vulnerable especially among children/ youths/ women/girls, in order to contribute to building sustainable communities, cities, nations and a better world.

Today, my mission remains unwavering. I cannot stand idle and watch others endure the same hardships I faced or face. Through my organization, I identify the destitute, provide them with essential support, and empower them with knowledge and skills, create platforms to promote their creative works, in order to reshape their lives. From sponsoring less privileged women/girls/youths/children's education to ensuring access to food/proper clothing, identifying, contributing to orientate, develop and promote Artistic Talents/Creativity/crafts and other skills etc. My work is a testament of the transformative power of resilience and compassion. A testament to the refining power of life's challenges and to the ability to turn my pain to gain for others in similar conditions I face.

While my childhood was marred by the turmoil of my father's polygamy and I find myself still drowning in it's replica effects in my late 30s, yet I refuse to let those bitter experiences define me. Instead, I have embraced them as the very foundation upon which I have built a life of service and impact to humanity. I believe this experience has formed me into a beautiful treasure, full of lessons to share with the world and an unbending passion towards helping others turn their trials into triumph. My deepest desire is to share the lessons of my life's experiences with the world via every available media, expand the reach of my humanitarian work, forge partnerships and secure resources to enhance my ability to uplift the lives of those in need.

I share my story in the hope of inspiring others, particularly women and girls, to rise above adversity and use their own struggles as a catalyst for positive change. Through my work with New Breed Africa, I strive to be a beacon of hope, a living testament to the power of resilience, and a reminder that even the most destitute can transform their lives and become agents of hope for their communities. https://www.facebook.com/newbreedafricafoundation