There's someone in need of what you have

Being born in the village and growing up in a village setting as a young girl was very challenging because life was all about farming, hunting and schooling. As a little lone girl growing up with my grand mother, i had to wash,cook, farm and hunt. I learned how to set traps 🪤 from other little village boys each time i follow them to the forest during their hunting adventures, not minding that i was a girl.

We caught squirrels 🐿️ and bush rats and were each time so excited of our cash. My grand mother was so please with me and each time reminded me that i am her mother reincarnated, reason why she named me "Amboh" a name i officially bear till date.

My grand mother, had other grand children but many or almost all the girls were already in secondary school, and there existed no secondary school in my village as of that time. The only person who was an option was me.

My grand mother was my only companion since my mom, had moved to the city of Limbe, in search of a better life, living me behind to stay with my grand mother and help her out with house chores. Being a single mom, she had to go in other to Hussle hard and give me a good life.

Each time i leave for school, i would imagine how lonely she would be at home , waiting anxiously for my return. Every day we talked about the happening and challenges of day, tell stories and program our farm work or task during the weekend.

As time passes by, my grand mother grew older, and i too was quickly growing into a mature young girl.

Seven years later, I finished my primary school and had to go to secondary school. Unfortunately, there wasn't any secondary school near by. So if i must continue school and foster my dreams, Then, I'll have to leave the village.

A this point the greatest challenge arose. I could see and feel the paint and sadness in my grand mother's eyes each time i looked at her face.

Time came for me to go to school and my mom secured an admission for me in Bamenda, and made arrangements for me to leaved with some far relations whom i call uncle and wife..

The D-day came for me to go. My grand mother accompanied me to the bus park and huged me with tears in her eyes and whispered that i should always visit regularly.

I tried visiting often but school took me even further. I later lost my mother and live became even challenging. At this point i soled grandnuts and pearl (avocado) just to raise money for my school fees and survive. I understood that my uncle and wife were doing a lot to feed and accommodate me, coupled with thier own immediate responsibility toward their own children, since they already had 7 children to take care of. I could only but brass up and get a means of self support.

Each time i visited grand ma, tears will run down my eyes because i met the yard bushy, many clothes unwashed and less food available at home. She had some money but was unable to move or walk long distances to the market to buy provisions, since the village had limited vehicle and will take a long time for a car to pass by, so villagers prefer going on foot to the market using bush paths.

So the only people who could help her buy a few things from the market were people of good faith and well-wishers.

I then understand what it means to be lonely

I then understood what it means to help someone

I then understand how much we need each other.

When, i finally finished school, got married and had a job, i then decided to take grand ma to leave with me in Douala, economic capital of Cameroon. Unfortunately she died two years after in the year 2021.

Since then, i have been committed to humanitarian actions, like reaching out to vulnerable women, men and children through donation of foof items, donation of clothes and donation of menstrual pads.

I created an Organisation called HAND IN HAND Cameroon, were my team and i have been able to raise funds to meet the basic needs of over 2000 and more people, both Muslims and Christians. Religion, race, ethnic group is not a barrier to our reach out programs.

This year, on the 19th August 2023, which is the world humanitarian day, i shall be leading my team to reach out to 8 old and vulnerable people. We shall visit them in thier respective homes spend time with them, buy them gifts and wash for them. It's a whole day dedicated for humanity.

We pray we make them smile, we pray we make them feel loved, we pray we make them know that they are not alone. Its our little way of contributing to humanity. Help someone today

ACHIRI CONSTANCE Amboh