MYJOURNEY OF BEING DISABLED

My name is Ashanti 36 years old social worker working with the ministry of women's empowerment and the family Africa in general and Cameroon in particular precisely in the north west region bamenda. I am the fourth child of six siblings with of late. Three girls one boy as of now. I lost my mum at the age of two and all along we have been living with our father and step mum. I come from an average family in terms of riches. My father is a retired tanker driver from pamol company. My family come from the Tikari group meta nyen village but allour life we grew in south west region precisely in Indian division Ekondo titi. It is a friendly and cosmopolitan community mix with different people, cultures and languages. This community lack or has a great neglect of women living with disabilities and HIV/Aids women. It is a community with social amenities like schools, hospitals, hotels, bars etc.

MY STORY AS A DISABLED

I have faced a lot of challenges being a disabled. When I was delivered, I was delivered safely under normal conditions every woman will pass through. I grew up normally until the age of two where my story change. There was one faithful day my mum left me with her best friend to the market on returning back, I was on the floor couldn't walk or to run to her for to greet. She observed me for some days and discovered I have gone to cripple stage. She took me for healing but later died some days after. My step mum came into the page she maltreated me wishing me dead will not buy me shoes nor dresses will put my food on leaves calling me a curse and witch child. Since my father was a driver he hadly see what I was going through money he left with me will be ceased by my step mum.I walk on my buttocks and hands for three years all the time I had bruises. Yet I didn't relent my effort for education my schools mates will insult me stay away from me and even beat me a times for no cause, they will isolate me on my bench but one thing was good I was so intelligent. At the age of 5 my aunt came for me took me away to stay with her and go to school while receiving treatment she too later died and the doctor all these was cause by my mothers friend who was a witch. She was later discovered and imprison she in the prison . despite all this struggles I went to school through primary, secondary and professional until I am who I am a social worker and teacher. And a mother of three.

I was even lucky what about my friend who had same condition was throw in a river with pregnancy thinking she was a witch! She later died and the unborn child.

MY PASSION: is to touch the lives of women living with disabilities and HIV AIDS(stigma group)

My VISION:

Is to educate, empower, and fight for women with living disabilities and HIV/AIDS to live an inclusive life.

-insert and integrate them.

Eventhough with the limited resources at my disposal, I am determine to create an impact my community thereby needing more knowledge.

That's why I will end by saying:

I came here because I am a woman

I came here to expose my abilities

I came here to share my experiences

I came here to be strengthen and also strengthen other women

I came here to make myself visible

Being disables doesn't mean unable let give a chance and oppotunitities with women living with disability and HIV AIDS