Provision of dresses and self-care products to kids

Saika Elisabeth Foundation (SELF) provides clothing, self-care education, and sanitary products to 54 vulnerable children and 8 pregnant women forcefully displaced to the Nkolmesseng locality of the city of Yaounde by the ongoing conflicts in Cameroon.

On Wednesday 1st May 2024, the Saika Elisabeth Foundation (SELF) distributed clothes, shoes, toys, and hygiene and self-care products including bathing soaps, toothbrushes, toothpastes, cotton buds, and combs, to carefully selected 54 vulnerable children and 8 pregnant women that have been forcefully displaced to the city of Yaounde by the ongoing armed conflicts in the Northwest, Southwest, and Far North regions

of Cameroon.

This activity that falls under our Shelter and Non-food Items cluster as well as our Child protection cluster was organized to provide clothing, hygiene and self-care assistance to the most vulnerable internally displaced children and families; particularly those families headed by women in the Nkolmeseng, Yaounde.

The donated clothing and hygiene and self-care products were therefore intended to meet their basic physical needs for comfort, safety, and warmth; boost their self-esteem and confidence; influence their mood and behaviour; improve their emotional and mental health; enable them to fit in and have the feeling of belonging among peers; feel valued, and ultimately reach their fullest potential.

Before the distribution of self-care products to beneficiary children and their parents, practical lessons and tips on improving their self- care, basic hygiene and sanitation were presented and demonstrated by Shey Njoaka Cyprian a medical personnel and Board member of SELF. Shey Njoaka Cyprian, in an interactive session with beneficiary children and parents provided theoretical lessons, tips, and practical demonstrations on hand-washing with water and soap, safe water collection and use, correct latrine/toilet use, teeth and mouth care, and keeping the body and dresses clean. During this education exercise, he equally reiterated that in addition to the importance of proper personal hygiene, clothes and shoes do not only give warmth to the children but also ensure their dignity and protection. He went ahead to call on parents to learn and practice family planning in their homes.

On behalf of the entire Saika Elisabeth Foundation team and beneficiary kids and pregnant women; Terence Viban, the CEO and Founder of SELF thanked everyone who had provided financial, material, and moral support to enable the foundation to respond to the basic clothing and sanitation needs of vulnerable internally displaced children and pregnant women in the Nkolmesseng locality. He equally stressed that the Foundation cannot replace the parents; but would rather strive to provide parents with market-led skills and accompany them to establish income generation activities that would enable them to take over their full responsibilities in parenting.

It is our belief at SELF that providing vulnerable internally displaced children with the basic clothing, hygiene, and self-care products they need; would have a life-changing impact on their protection, psychosocial health, and dignity.