The Companion

According to the Humanitarian Response Plan for Cameroun issued in July 2020 by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), the socio-political crisis in North West and South West regions of Cameroun that started in November 2017 is among the four major humanitarian crises in Cameroun and the COVID-19 pandemic. These crises have, uprooted and internally displaced more than 680,000, and have caused an increase in reports of human rights violations and abuses.

Children have been the most affected as they are deprived of Education due to the violence geared towards school institutions and education stakeholders. Access to education is a basic human right, yet these children are victims of the crisis made to stay home out of their will. Therefore developing alternative education for children these children becomes very necessary for achieving a sustainable world. With this conflict deeply rooted in colonialism and identity crisis, the project takes a holistic approach by imploring Arts and Culture Education.

Arts and Cultural education consist of self-consciousness, capacity for reflection, and creative and innovative ways of learning which enable them to acquire life skills and reach their full potential. The Companion is therefore providing innovative, inclusive and fun ways of learning and sharing among children who have been deprived of education for more than 3 years now in the English-speaking parts of Cameroon.

As children immerse themselves in these artistic activities, they develop competencies such as reading and writing, Nonviolent Communication and Alternative to violence skills. It creates a proper understanding and tolerance towards different cultures. Volunteers involved in this program are acquiring leadership and community service skills while the community benefits from safe spaces for children to commune together.

As schools are gradually resuming, though on and off, SHF has extended this program to kindergarten and primary schools with a reach of over 6000 children in 3 years.

Project updates
The "No School" policy implemented by the militant fighters in Anglophone Cameroon has seen most schools burnt down, children kidnapped and others even killed. SHF has made a priority to provide alternative education for these children who are most vulnerable.
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Sex education is essential to prevent and combat sexual abuse against children, sexual violence and sexual exploitation. In the heat of the armed conflict in anglophone Cameroon, SHF makes a holistic effort to educate the children who happen to be the most vulnerable.
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Under this program, children draw, paint, craft and write about the future they dream of, the world they want, happiness, love and peace among other themes. These activities help in developing social and cognitive skills of these children.
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The Companion is a project of the Sysy House of Fame that seeks to reach to young peoples affected by the ongoing aimed conflict in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon through arts, culture and Digital education.
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“Clap for her,” says my teacher when I answer a question that no one in the class was willing to attempt. This always took me to cloud9 and back. You know how these special pupils in the class were always being admired and treated.
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