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Country:
CAMEROON, Central Africa
Name: Billian
Nyuykighan Njodzeka
Date of birth: 7th July 1972
Home address: Nkwen-Bamenda, NW Province
Office: Strategic Humanitarian Services (SHUMAS),
PO Box 5047, Nkwen-Bamenda, NW Province
EMail: bnyuykighan@yahoo.com
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I
was brought up in the NW Province with 4 sisters and 3 brothers. My
parents were peasant farmers and we depended on farm produce for a living.
They work all year round and have remained poor because yields are always
very low and they lack the agricultural know-how to increase productivity.
The prices they have been able to charge for their produce has always
been very small. A particular problem is that they are unable to afford
proper medical treatment when they are ill.
My father had to sell some of his assetts in order to pay my school
fees. After obtaining high school qualifications I spent one and a half
years working hard for my parents on our farm. During this period our
crop yields were high and my parents were able to send my junior brothers
to school.
I then left for Bamenda, the capital of the NW Province, and stayed
with my sister, Eliniel Verye. I was able to get a job with an insurance
company named La Mediatrice and later obtained temporary employment
with the CCEI Bank as a cashier. In both these jobs my monthly salary
was less than £40 and yet I had to give money to my parents to
support my younger brothers.
My parents had to terminate my studies, partly for financial reasons
but also because they came under pressure from my uncles who said that
it was not good to educate a girl child because she might get pregnant
or marry and the family would then get nothing from her.
My parents now regret that they did not sponsor the "girl child"
who now helps to support them in their old age. My husband and I are
also paying the fees of my younger brother at Dchang University. I hope
to help change the attitude in our society that boys should get preference
over girls when families decide education priorities for their children.
I also wish to build the capacity of women, youths and handicapped people
to use computers as this will help them find employment opportunities.
I hope to share my experiences with other FIOH members.
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I
married Ndzerem Stephen in 1996 and I am
grateful to him for helping me realise many potentials I never new I had;
not withstanding my low level of education. He is still building my capacity
to help disadvantaged people in our society. My present family consists
of my two children, my husband, mother-in-law and father-in-law, my brother
and my cousin helping to take care of my children and myself.
I am presently working for SHUMAS,
a local NGO for which my husband is the General Co-ordinaror and co-founder.
SHUMAS is involved in a wide range of development issues - women and agriculture,
environmental protection and management, primary health care and social
welfare activities. I work with deprived children, marginalised children
physically disabled children through scholarship, sponsorship and resettlement
schemes. I also work as a secretary in the main office and as a field
worker.
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Personal
Data
Husband:
Stephen Ndzerem (General
Co-ordinator of Strategic Humanitarian Services)
Children:
Boy - Njozdeka Hennock Burinyuy; Girl - Njodzeka Jains Leinyuy
Education
Nseh
Presbyterian School - schoolleaving certificate after 7 years education
Christ the King High School in Kumbo - Royal Society of Arts and London
Chamber of Commerce qualifications (LCCI stage III)
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| PERSONAL
TESTIMONIES |
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