Holiday greetings from the Cameroon Humanitarian Relief Initiative (CHRI)!
2024 Fundraiser
On December 7th, CHRI hosted our 3rd annual Zoom fundraiser, a special event that allowed us to connect with our supporters and share the progress we have made over the past year. During the event, we provided valuable insights into the organization’s work, highlighting key initiatives, milestones, and the impact we’ve had on the communities we serve. We also took the opportunity to showcase some of the incredible individuals and teams who have contributed to our success.
We are beyond grateful to all those who attended, participated, and generously donated during the fundraiser. Your support is vital to helping us continue our mission and expand our efforts in the coming year. If you were unable to join us or have not yet had the chance to contribute, we kindly ask you to consider making a donation to CHRI. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a significant difference and helps us further our cause. Thank you again for your ongoing support—together, we can achieve even more in the year ahead!
Upcoming Advocacy Event
We are excited to be partnering once again with the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Institute for Human Rights on an advocacy and education webinar. On February 6, 2025, we will be co-hosting a panel discussion focused on the humanitarian crisis and conflict in Southern Cameroons. More info to come.
Updates on Cameroon
As we enter the 8th year of the humanitarian crisis and armed conflict, the devastation continues to uproot, disrupt, and harm countless lives. Since the crisis began in late 2016, with violence escalating in 2017, the clash between state defense forces and non-state armed groups has wreaked havoc across the Southern Cameroons region. Despite ongoing calls for dialogue and peaceful resolution, the conflict persists. CHRI remains dedicated to delivering humanitarian aid and advocating for a peaceful and sustainable resolution. Our efforts include providing essential food and non-food items, skills training, educational support, and medical care for those affected both in Cameroon and among refugees in Nigeria. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we have successfully raised and distributed over $217,952.00 since 2018.
Overview of CHRI Activities
Since 2018, CHRI has brought humanitarian relief to over 10,000 refugees in Nigeria, internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Cameroon, and political prisoners in Cameroon. A variety of outreaches have occurred that have directly supported thousands of individuals impacted by the conflict in Southern Cameroons. Map key:(blue pin) outreaches in Nigeria; (purple pin) small grants in Cameroon and Nigeria; and (red pin) outreaches in Cameroon.
Small Grant Project
Since the beginning of 2022, CHRI has received over 170 applications for small grants. However, due to financial limitations, 13 applicants have received small grants thus far. Each grant provides up to $1,000.00 to support projects that focus on advocacy for conflict resolution, relief for IDPs, and assistance for refugees. These projects, conducted in collaboration with CHRI, aim to deliver humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable populations in Southern Cameroons and Nigeria affected by the ongoing conflict.
Fall 2024 grant recipient 1: Greater Love Sustainable Initiative (GLOSI)
Project: The Purchase of Essential Library Books to Equip the Adagom 1, Adagom 3, and Okende Refugee Settlement Library to Vulnerable Refugee School Children.
This project aims to improve the reading culture and educational opportunities for Southern Cameroonian refugees in Nigeria, focusing on the provision of textbooks and essential school supplies for vulnerable children. The project will address this gap by distributing relevant textbooks for academic subjects and will also support adult illiteracy programs. A mobile library will also be established to bring books directly to communities, encouraging reading and learning beyond traditional library spaces.
The initiative is designed to foster a sustainable culture of reading and learning, targeting not only children but also adult refugees. Ultimately, this project seeks to strengthen the educational infrastructure within the refugee settlements and contribute to long-term improvements in literacy and academic achievement among the Southern Cameroonian refugee community.
Fall 2024 grant recipient 2: Life Changing Humanitarian Association (LICHA)
Project: Bamenda Internally Displaced Persons Hygiene Products Manufacturing Initiative: Economic Empowerment for Visually Impaired Individuals (BIPMI)
This is an economic empowerment project aimed at improving the livelihoods of visually impaired IDPs in Bamenda, Cameroon. This project seeks to train 10 vulnerable individuals in the production of home care products such as powdered and liquid detergents. The visually impaired IDPs, who are living in dire conditions without a stable income, face the compounded challenges of displacement and disability. The training will provide them with the necessary skills to achieve financial autonomy and improve their living standards.
Summer 2024 grant recipient 1: Hope and Rehabilitation Organization (HaRO) Cameroon.
Project: Women with Purpose
This initiative, held throughout May in Yaoundé, brought together 10 internally displaced single mothers for a comprehensive training program. The training sessions covered a range of topics, including trauma healing, family planning, and practical skills in commercial food production. Additionally, 5 of the participants received startup capital to support their entrepreneurial ventures.
As single mothers, participants face the heavy burden of loss and trauma, worsened by the ongoing conflict in Southern Cameroons. A trauma healing session provided tools for recovery, emphasizing community and faith-based support. The family planning training provided essential tools for informed reproductive health decisions, particularly for displaced women in vulnerable situations. Practical food production training enabled participants to start their own businesses, fostering self-reliance and confidence. Post-training follow-up showed significant progress, with many successfully running pastry businesses, expanding their offerings, and increasing their customer base. Participants expressed gratitude for the training, noting improved confidence and financial independence.
Despite ongoing calls for dialogue and peaceful resolution, the conflict persists. CHRI remains dedicated to delivering humanitarian aid and advocating for a peaceful, sustainable resolution. Our efforts include providing essential food and non-food items, skills training, educational support, and medical care for those affected both in Cameroon and among refugees in Nigeria. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we have successfully raised and distributed over $202,700 since 2018.
Small Grant Project
Since the beginning of 2022, CHRI has awarded 10 small grants to partner organizations in Cameroon. Each grant provides up to $1,000 to support projects that focus on advocacy for conflict resolution, relief for internally displaced persons, and assistance for refugees. These projects, conducted in collaboration with CHRI, aim to deliver humanitarian aid to the most vulnerable populations in Southern Cameroons and Nigeria affected by the ongoing conflict.
We are now inviting grant applications, with a submission deadline of September 20th. For more details, please click here or contact us via email.
Our first of two recent grant recipients is Hope and Rehabilitation Organization (HaRO) Cameroon.