On 4 August 2022, the Association for the Welfare of Albinos (AWA) organised a practical skills training for parents and persons with albinism in the North West Region of Cameroon.
Participants learned to produce five products used every day in homes and sold in local markets:
- Cocoa beverage
- Mentholated ointment
- Vaseline (petroleum jelly)
- Liquid soap
- Bleach
The sessions were hands-on. Participants measured, mixed and packaged each product themselves under the guidance of the trainers, and learned the basics of hygiene, safety and quality control.
Why this training matters
Many persons with albinism are pushed out of jobs by discrimination, low vision or long hours under a dangerous sun. These products can be made indoors, need little start-up money and sell well, making them a safe, practical way for families to earn an income. When parents and persons with albinism earn their own money, they can afford sunscreen, health care and school fees, and their communities see their abilities rather than their condition.
Partnership and support
This training was organised in partnership with the Regional Delegation of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, North West Region. AWA also thanks the Coordinating Unit of Associations of Persons with Disabilities, North West Region, for its support to this activity. Together, they helped make the economic empowerment of persons with albinism and their families a reality.
What’s next
AWA continues to follow up with participants as they produce and sell, and to connect them to markets. To support a trainee with a start-up kit, contact us on +237 674 715 263 or contact@awaforcharity.org, or learn more about our economic empowerment work.
