Disability Project

The United Action for Children (UAC) Disability Project was started in 2002. This program aimed to improve the lives of disabled children and youth by offering small -scale financial assistance for surgery and by providing help and advice for the parents. Volunteers and UAC staff are responsible for assessing and selecting potential candidates, developing rehabilitation plans for the participants, and monitoring their progress. Individuals may be selected for the project if their parents do not have the financial means to provide adequate care or if the child has been abandoned. In 2006, four children received medical treatment and their parents were given instructions for preparing a balanced diet. Additionally, the poverty issues in the family were addressed by setting up income-generating activities for their families. At the moment, enthusiastic generating activities for their families. At the moment, enthusiastic volunteers are warmly welcomed to help out in this programme. In May 2007 a new project was launched. The program aims to help young disabled people to generate their own income through basket weaving and other crafts. UAC provided micro-credit in kind in the form of canes and other necessary supplies to a group of disabled people from the surrounding villages of Buea. Once enough baskets, table-mats and other crafts have been produced, the group members will sell their products on the market, thereby generating financial resources for new materials to continue and finance the production by themselves. UAC makes sure that the project gets the starting inputs by providing them the transport to the market and more materials. The expansion of the project and the empowerment of more disabled people around Buea through basket weaving is an important goal for future development of the program. This is to be achieved through the assessment and selection of disabled youth and fundraising for additional financial assistance.