Bamenda Disarmament Centre: Ex-fighters Acquire Economic Empowerment Skills

E x-fighters of the non-State ar­ med separatist group in the North West Region are being trained to fully get reintegrated into society with diverse livelihood skills that will enable them positively im­ pact their lives and the entire com­ munity. It was in this connection that Non- Governmental Organisation, Xhuma Africa Association within the frame­ work of its project code-named Re­ bridge Bamenda embarked on training the ex-fighters with pertinent civic, economic and agro-livelihood skills. The founder of Xhuma Africa Asso­ ciation, Nduku Louis Tebi explained that the training marked a major step towards youth rehabilitation, sustai­ nable development, peace-building and community resilience in the North West Region. He said the association within the framework of the project is implementing this three-month ini­ tiative to bridge the gap between past conflicts and a prosperous, self- reliant future 50 ex-combatants. The project integrates trauma ma­ nagement, civic education, and prac­ tical economic empowerment. The ex-fighters in the Bamenda DDR Cen­ tre in a hands-on vocational workshop learned how to manufacture hygienic products such as batches of liquid soap, bar soap, and stain removers— alongside skills in printing of t-shirts. The Xhuma Africa Association intends to establish a fruit tree nursery on- site in the DDR Centre. In this light, during the training the ex-fighters started planting trees, learning agro- grafting techniques and daily care routines for fruit-bearing saplings, fostering long-term food security and environmental conservation. In addi­ tion, in order reinforce literacy, and branding, the participants acquired skills in specialized educational and promotional items including custom- printed books, pens, and key hol...