Dear Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH), Supporters, Partners, and Change-Makers,
From the moment Mandrill-Alert was founded, driven by its founder’s own experience of vulnerability as a Hard of Hearing individual in a war zone, he knew that no one should be left behind in times of crisis. What started as a vision to bridge the safety gap for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community has now grown into a movement—one that is creating real change through accessible emergency alerts, inclusive training, and economic empowerment.
As we step into this new quarter, I am excited to share our progress, the lives we’ve touched, and the journey ahead. Your support fuels our mission, and together, we are making the world safer and more inclusive for the DHH community.
Mandrill-Alert is Now Officially Registered!
We are excited to share a significant milestone in our journey—Mandrill-Alert is now legally registered as a Common Initiative Group (CIG) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER)! This marks a crucial step toward strengthening our impact and expanding our programs for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community.
While our initial plan was to register as an association in Mezam, the process has been temporarily halted by the Senior Divisional Officer. However, our registration under MINADER went smoothly, thanks to the incredible support of Madam Quinter, the delegate in charge. Her belief in our mission was so strong that she fostered the registration process and encouraged her son, Elmer, a Computer Science student at the University of Bamenda, to join our volunteer team!
As part of our journey toward legal recognition, we were required to provide several documents to register Mandrill-Alert as a Common Initiative Group (CIG). One key requirement was the formation of a Board of Directors (BOD). This process led us to establish a diverse and youth-led board, reinforcing our commitment to youth empowerment and inclusive leadership.
This achievement is a testament to the growing recognition of our work and the importance of safety, inclusion, and empowerment for the DHH community. We remain committed to pushing forward, exploring new opportunities, and ensuring that no one is left behind in times of crisis.
Following our successful registration, we proceeded to open an official bank account at Afriland First Bank, marking a crucial step in enhancing our financial transparency and sustainability. Our bank account number isCM21 10005 00007 10172891001 19 and the account name is Mandrill-Alert common initiative group. We do appreciate every kind gesture to support our work.
You can support our mission! If you would like to contribute to our work in promoting safety, inclusion, and economic empowerment for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community, you can do so via our official bank account.
Together, we can make a real impact!
Youth Day & A Call for Volunteers
Every February 11th, Cameroon celebrates National Youth Day, a day rooted in history. On this date in 1961, the United Nations offered the English-speaking regions of Cameroon the choice to either remain with Nigeria or gain independence by joining Cameroon. The outcome shaped the nation we know today.
A photo of conscript youths and founder of mandrill-Alert at a peace advocacy session
However, in our war-stricken region, the celebration of such national events is often prohibited by separatist fighters. Despite these challenges, some patriotic youth groups continue to observe the day, using it as a platform for peace building and advocacy.
On February 10th, 2024, as part of the pre-Youth Day activities, young people under the Cameroon Conscript Initiative gathered at the University of Bamenda to develop peace building skills and advocate for the peace we all dream of. Seeing this as a great opportunity to engage with passionate youth, I, Blaise, Founder of Mandrill-Alert, joined this initiative.
As a youth-driven organization, Mandrill-Alert thrives on collaboration, and this event was the perfect setting to encourage young people to join our mission. The response was overwhelming—many showed genuine interest in our work, and several have since signed up as volunteers to support our course.
One notable addition to our team is Urich Gima, a medical student at the University of Bamenda. After discussing Mandrill-Alert’s mission with him at the event, he was eager to contribute and has now joined our volunteer team
This experience reaffirmed the power of youth engagement in driving positive change, even in challenging environments. We remain committed to building a network of young leaders who will champion inclusion and safety for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community.
Want to be part of this movement? Join us as a volunteer and make a difference!
#MandrillAlert #YouthDay #PeaceBuilding #Volunteer #Inclusion #DeafCommunity
Connecting with the Deaf Community: A Journey of Learning and Impact
During my time in India at Kanthari, where I undertook my Visionary Change-Making Course, I realized that to truly create an inclusive emergency response system, I needed to connect with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community in Cameroon. Before then, I had no close contact with Deaf individuals, so I reached out to Mr. Teh Francis, a Kanthari alumnus, for guidance.
He introduced me to Mrs. Ncham Joy, a Deaf woman who became my first point of contact. She patiently answered my questions and later introduced me to Mr. Che, then the head teacher of an inclusive school in Bamenda. These early connections laid the foundation for Mandrill-Alert’s mission.
Upon returning to Cameroon, I knew I had to engage directly with the Deaf community in our war-torn region. Mrs. Ncham Joy connected me to the Deaf Motion Sustain Group, founded by her husband, Mr. Christopher, who is physically impaired and an advocate for Deaf rights. It was here that I met a vibrant community of 21 Deaf individuals, all eager to be part of a safer and more inclusive future.
When I presented Mandrill-Alert’s vision, Mr. Christopher served as my interpreter, as there were only two hearing individuals in the group, with me as the only Hard of Hearing person. Their interest in our mission was profound, especially in our Fashion for Safety training. Since our interventions aligned without conflict, they became official beneficiaries of our programs.
Bridging the Communication Gap
One challenge became clear: Effective collaboration required direct communication. This realization led me to start learning American Sign Language (ASL), the most commonly used sign language in the region. My teacher? Mrs. Ncham Joy!
At first, I doubted whether a Deaf person could teach a hearing person, but I was completely wrong. The learning process has been smooth, engaging, and much faster than expected. Thanks to my interactions with the Deaf Motion Sustain Group, my sign language skills have greatly improved.
Our Pilot Project: Emergency Alert training
Despite communication barriers, our pilot project with the Deaf community has been a major milestone that brings me personal joy. Our first intervention was an Emergency Alert Training, where we started by assessing how Deaf individuals locally handle war emergencies.
Surprisingly, 90% of them admitted that they rely solely on the people around them for safety directives. We dug deeper to understand their challenges in seeking help from hearing individuals and discussed potential solutions.
Now, the Mandrill-Alert team is working on these insights to design a training session for hearing family members and community peers—helping them learn how to effectively alert the Deaf in times of danger.
Meanwhile, we are actively developing the Mandrill-Alert Safety Wristband—a wearable device designed to alert Deaf individuals during emergencies in war zones. This innovation is a step toward a future where no Deaf person is left behind in times of crisis.
This journey has been transformational, not just for the community, but for me as well. It reinforces the truth that “unless two can communicate and agree, they cannot walk together.” Through learning, listening, and collaborating, we are building a safer and more inclusive future for the Deaf in war-affected areas.
Breaking Barriers: Our First Steps in Deaf Fashion design Training
Mandrill-Alert recently took a significant step in bridging the gap in vocational training for the Deaf community by organizing pre-pilot fashion design training. This session, held with two participants and one trainer, aimed to test our ability to effectively train Deaf individuals in fashion design.
While fashion design is a highly visual art, we quickly recognized the importance of clear communication in teaching essential skills. Our founder, Blaise, who has basic sign language knowledge, led the session. Despite initial challenges, the training was a success. We identified key areas that need improvement; ensuring future sessions will be even more effective.
The impact of this session was evident in the words of one of our participants: “I would really love to learn more about fashion design from Mandrill-Alert, especially because it focuses on training me as a Deaf individual.”
This one-day session was just the beginning. With the insights gained, we are refining our approach to ensure that Deaf individuals can fully benefit from vocational training, empowering them with skills for economic independence.
Stay tuned as we continue shaping an inclusive and accessible future!
Funding & Partnerships Update
Over the past months, we have been actively submitting proposals to secure funding for our initiatives. While we haven’t received approvals yet, we remain committed and optimistic. Every challenge is an opportunity to refine our approach, and we continue to seek the right partners who align with our vision of a safer, more inclusive world for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.
If you know of potential funding opportunities or would like to collaborate, we’d love to connect!
Celebrating a Milestone: Kanthari Graduation!
In April 2024, I was honored to receive a scholarship to study at Kanthari, a transformative leadership program for social change-makers. Over the past year, I have undergone intense training, equipping me with the skills and knowledge to effectively run a nonprofit and social enterprise.
This achievement is not just a personal milestone—it’s a major win for Mandrill-Alert! With this formal training, we are now better positioned to drive inclusion, empowerment, and safety for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) community in Cameroon.
We celebrate this step forward, knowing that it brings us closer to realizing our vision of a world where no Deaf person is left behind. Thank you to everyone who has supported this journey!
#MandrillAlert #Kanthari #SocialChange #Inclusion #DeafEmpowerment