The foundation stone of this center was laid on April 3, 2024, in the Yaounde 7 subdivision by Women’s Empowerment and the family Minister.
Minkoameyos, one of the neighbours of the Yaounde VII subdivision of the Mfoundi division, is the area chosen to host this leisure home for autistic children.
The foundation stone was officially laid on April 3, 2024, by Women’s Empowerment and the Family Minister, Pr. Marie-Therese Abena Ondoa, personal representative of the First Lady, Mrs. Chantal Biya.
The ceremony was attended by several government officials as Social Affairs Minister, Pauline Irene Nguene, the Mayor of the Yaounde VII council, Augustin Tamba, and other administrative staff of both the ministries of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, and Social Affairs.
The modern leisure center that is under construction in Minkoameyos is a R+3 storey building that will equipped with necessary didatic materials.
In her address, Flore Tchana, promoter and president of the association “Handicap Sans Visage” currently piloting this project in Cameroon expressed her motivation.
As a mother of a child suffering from autism, she knows the realities, the costly treatment and care.
She said the project set in motion is to encourage parents and guardians of children suffering from autism to have hope and to believe in their potential.
Madame Tchana Flore seized the occasion to praise the Head of State, President of the Republic, Paul Biya, and wife, Chantal who accepted to patronize this humanitarian project and facilitated to a greater extent several activities undertaken by the association “Handicap Sans Visage”.
According to Flore Tchana, the project which was a dream come true started four years ago, and thanks to fundraising actions, the land on which the leisure home will be built was purchased with these funds.
Social Affairs Minister, Madame Pauline Irène Nguene said the project is highly welcomed as several parents leave their children at home because they are ashamed of their conditions. The initiative comes at a time when we need such infrastructures.
“I think such a center for leisure will make these children feel better, they will learn new things and be properly followed. Thanks to this center, we will be able to identify how many children suffer from this illness because they are mostly hidden in houses, and through this initiative, many parents will have the courage to come out with their kids so that they can interact with other ones…”
Another fundraising gala night that took place on April 5, 2024, has permitted to collect money that will help launch the first phase of construction works.
Elise Kenimbeni
