Disability is just a perception,it has nothing to do with one's abilities and potentials.

Like any other child,I grew with dreams and fantasies hoping to be fulfilled and to become a better person, until at the age of 7years I acquired my disability. With this new development, everyone was shocked and confused leading to thought like what is happening to this child? What will become of her?, how will the society see her? Will they accept her?, Was among the many imaginary thoughts within the heart of everyone.

I felt frustrated and limited being unable to do all I could do before. My parents did what they could do to see how the situation can be improve, because when I got this disability, I was really bad I basically crawl on my belly for movement from one location to another, so for my situation to be improved, I had to stay in Reheb center.

At the rehab center, I met with other children with disabilities which has come for therapy like myself. Living without the comfort of my parents and siblings made me feel lonely and abandoned sometimes. I had to stay in the rehab center for 2 years before I was able to leave the floor and stood on crutches. I really wish to stayed longer after the two years but unfortunately, my parents could no longer bear the financial responsibility, so I had to go back home.

Back at home, live had to go, because I was up too. I had to go out, make friends interact in the community, Sadly that was not the case, most often what I got was isolation, rejection and stigmatization from places and people I longed for love and comfort. Some children in school and even parents in community thought disability is a disease and could transfer from one person to another, with that thinking, I was isolated even with my seating place in school. Despite all these I drew strength and happiness from my parents and siblings. Not too long, another tragedy strike, after two years from coming back for the rehab center, I lost my parents boths  with months intervals, my father died first, then after some month later my mother died.

I become broken, depressed and wished I was dead too, I imagine what my life will be growing as girl with disability and an orphaned child I felt alone and abandoned even in my thoughts, I concluded that I was worthless, I could not understand why my parents had to die, I even questioned and blame for my existence, I was finally accepted how the society saw me, a useless and good for nothing child. I become an object of pity and confined within my neighborhood, all the remaining siblings could do was to agreed that they had a sister with disability.

As I grew into adulthood, and confined only with my neighborhood, I didn't really  interacted with my community, so I was completely ignorant what was happening in the the lives of others persons with disabilities. The only time I interacted with persons with disabilities was at the rehab. So I didn't understand what was disability, how persons with disabilities were coping and if their lives will ever be better or improved.

One thing I held on to was my education, despite the rejection, isolation and stigmatization, I believe some good could come from education as my father had once told me that education should be husband and strength. So during all the painful and sad situations in my life I kept going to school. One day, when I was in the high school, one of my teachers approach me and comment me on effort I made to come to school and related to me how a felt pity for a certain young girl with disability in his community who was been stigmatized by immediate family and the community. I felt sorry and started doing alot of thinking. Does it mean they are other people with disabilities going through my situations like mine or even worse? What are they doing to strengthen themselves? Do they have rights that needs to be promoted and protected? So I decided to visit the girl my teacher mentioned. And that was my breakthrough, when I heard the girl's story from her I shed tears, I thought I was going through hell but I became a supportive system to another person.

And from that day on, I promise to be a voice for persons with disabilities and those with vulnerabilities, I became determined to go out of my comfort zone for the sake of persons with disabilities and that was how I started my activities as a community servant.

I searched for persons with disabilities in my community, located associations and organizations for people with disabilities where I directed them to go to have a sense of belonging, I did visitations to home of children and persons with disabilities, I started creating awareness about disability and how persons with disabilities should viewed. I went to government agencies, other civil society organization and individuals to add the voices and actions for persons with disabilities. Initially it seems it will be impossible, but the results today are a motivation for me to keep going.  As my love and passion grew to help others in my community, I became a mentor, coach, builder and trainer for persons with disabilities.

My love for community grew more during the ongoing crisis from 2016 till date here in Cameroon, couple with the Covid 19 pandemic, I realized that they were left behind, not capture in data collection and little no humanitarian assistance or response was done for persons with disabilities in my community, I gave an opportunity for advocacy for inclusion which I was able to from the level of governmental authorities, humanitarian actors, philanthropists and individuals within the community. I also organise several educational discuss and little material to support persons with disabilities fight against Covid 19 pandemic.

To support sustainability, I organized several workshops and training sessions to build capacity and encourage learning of skiing or vocational abilities which will help to support the lives of persons with disabilities. When it comes to education I have empowered and supported more than 300 children with disabilities and less privileged school didactics and little financial support to assist them with education with funds donated by people of Goodwill.

I now volunteer with many organizations, focal point for some, I'm a leader, a trainer and activist, infact I'm initiating effort to legalized my organization, MARES Foundation which will stand as an umbrella for disabilities in my community, region, country and even in Africa.

Today when I look back, and see all the challenges I went through, the rejection,pains, isolation, marginalization and stigmatization, but was able to overcome and I see the changes in my community and my little support to the wonderful things great women with disabilities are accomplishing in my community, I'm proud to say" disability is just a person,it has nothing to do with one's abilities and potentials"