In Cameroon, the Edimar center takes care of boys and girls living on the streets

In Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, there is a center dedicated to welcoming street children and teenagers, offering them free education and medical care. It is called the "Edimar Center" and was founded under the inspiration of the Italian missionary Maurizio Bezzi. Supported by AVSI, the facility has become a point of reference for many of the young people who have passed through its doors.

In fact, many of the young staff members and educators working at the Edimar Center today once lived on the streets and found refuge within its walls. "I remember them all, one by one. They are people who had an encounter that changed their lives, and now they want to give back to others what they themselves once received as a gift: friendship, human companionship, a place where they could discover that everyone has a purpose in this world. AVSI believed in them and helped them become professional educators, equipped to work in an initiative that continues to grow," said Mireille Yoga, the center’s director, in a recent interview.

Many of the children and teenagers who arrive at the center are in immediate need of medical assistance, as they suffer from lice, tuberculosis, hepatitis, or yellow fever. Before Edimar, many of them slept on the streets, in garbage dumps or sewers, where mosquitoes breed. For this reason, the first service offered by the center is healthcare, ensuring that those who arrive—ranging in age from childhood to 25 years old—can receive treatment and recover both physically and psychologically.

The second key focus of the center is education. Many of the children who come in have never attended school before and do not know how to read or write. Investing in education means investing in the future. For AVSI, education is the most effective tool for giving hope to new generations, offering an alternative to recruitment into armed gangs and criminal activities.

"We started courses to teach them how to read and write, and an incredible beauty emerged - says Mireille -. This year, with AVSI’s help, we have sent 43 children to school. Others have begun vocational training to become carpenters, mechanics, or tailors. We have also created a school for agriculture and livestock farming. In short, initiatives are never lacking. Every Saturday, we go out onto the streets to find these young people—we never stop looking for those in need."

Cameroon is among the countries supported this year by AVSI’s Tents Campaign under the theme Education is Hope. The funds raised from the campaign will support the center’s activities, carrying forward Father Maurizio’s legacy and helping more children and young people in difficulty.