Despite the pain, despite the exile, the rebuilding of shattered lives is happening slowly but surely. In Douala, Bafoussam and Yaoundé, shelters/reception centres that house the internally displaced are often supported by human rights associations, NGOs or volunteers.
These centres offer more than shelter – they restore dignity. The women learn to sew, cook, make soap and jewelry thus giving birth to micro-projects. Some become trainers while others go back to school. These initiatives, however modest, enable these women to rebuild their lives on the ruins of their past.
As for the children, they are learning to play, to read and to live again. In these pop-up schools, they are getting back in touch with a gentler reality as volunteer teachers are teaching non-stop.
All things considered, reconstruction is not just about infrastructure. It is human, social and intimate. It involves simple gestures like learning and listening and is driven by these women who refuse to remain stuck in the status of ‘displaced persons’. The affected regions have lost a lot but they have not lost the strength to be reborn.
On this long journey to reconstruction, personal stories are testimonies to the solidarity that is being shown to one another. Mrs Onana Béatrice, founding president of the Hope for Sustainable Development in Africa association, shares:
“Johnson, his wife and their daughter, internally displaced persons fleeing from violence in the South-West Region, took refuge in my home for eight years.”
Today, he is settling into his life:
“Johnson currently commutes between Douala and our village running a small business.”
Support for the younger children is also growing:
“The HOPE association has also organised visits to a school founded by a couple of English-speaking pastors, which mainly takes in internally displaced children.”
And every gesture counts:
“We do our best to support the center through events and donations.”
These efforts, these stretched hands, these small daily victories make up the fragile but precious fabric of resilience because beyond the visible ruins, the greatest reconstruction is that of the soul.