New Humanity arrives in Cameroon! After an initial evaluation mission in October 2023, New Humanity signed an agreement with the Fondation Bethleem de Mouda, which supports hundreds of people annually in various sectors.

But let’s start from the beginning…

How did New Humanity arrive in Cameroon?

The P.I.M.E., our founder, asked New Humanity International to support the Fondation Bethleem de Mouda in fundraising and managing the Betlemme Center.
For this reason, in October 2023, our director, Massimo Cattaneo, and our coordinator, Irene Baldissarri, visited the center, where they had the opportunity to meet all the key players and staff, as well as the hundreds of children and young people who regularly attend the center.

Who is the Fondation Bethleem de Mouda?

The Fondation Bethleem de Mouda is a private entity recognized as having public social utility by the Cameroonian government. It was founded in 1997 by Fr. Danilo Fenaroli and Sr. Rosa Manganiello, and over the years it has been supported by the P.I.M.E. and the Silent Workers of the Cross. In almost 30 years of presence in the Far North of Cameroon, FBM has developed various services across multiple sectors.

In the field of EDUCATION, the Betlemme Center offers a bilingual kindergarten, Arc en Ciel, an inclusive primary school for deaf children, CESDA, and a vocational school for young people, CEFAM.

In the field of DISABILITY, the Betlemme Center offers a residential rehabilitation center, a day rehabilitation center, an audiology lab, and a lab for the construction of orthopedic prostheses.

In the field of HEALTH, the Betlemme Center provides a clinic, included in the list of local health centers, serving the surrounding villages and the center’s residents. Additionally, once a year, orthopedic surgical missions are organized, during which hundreds of people are treated and operated on.

In the field of HOSPITALITY, the Betlemme Center hosts an orphanage for children aged 0 to 3 who have lost their mothers, as well as providing accommodation for all minors and young people attending the schools during the year, and the minors staying in the rehabilitation center.

What have we decided to do?

Following the visit last October, NHI continued to engage with FBM representatives to set up a strategic capacity-building and organizational strengthening plan for the foundation itself. We have also written some project proposals to present together as partners for funding opportunities, with the beneficiaries being the children and young people who benefit from FBM’s services in Cameroon.

How will it end?

We hope this is the beginning of a fruitful collaboration. For now, we are truly impressed by the incredible work FBM has carried out over the years and by the hundreds of stories of hope and new life we encountered during our visits.

We will continue to work hard to support FBM and all its beneficiaries, and in doing so, we will keep you updated and occasionally ask for your support.

Stay tuned for more stories and news, now even from Cameroon!