In 1998, a young man shabbily dressed and looking very dirty approached me (Tinshu Genesis). I almost ran for fear that he was insane and was trying to attack me. Then I noticed that he was showing me a piece of paper signed by a prominent law officer. According to the document, he had been released from prison. He was in need of financial assistance to re-unite with his family in a far distant city. Thank God, I had some money on me that could buy him some food and also pay his way home. I took him to a nearby bus station and saw him off.
Then I began to wonder what would happen to him when he gets home. Would he be accepted? Would he adjust properly to life outside, after 7 years of imprisonment? How long would the little money I gave him last? Would he be able to live a sustainable life? Then I wished I could help him to a halfway home for some counselling and training before letting him go home.
Later that same year, I went back to prison to visit and surprisingly I met this same young man and he was behind bars for a fresh crime. I ignored him when he called out to me the first time but I felt deeply for him and wished I could help him.
Towards the middle of that same year, I came to know two young ladies and both were students. They were being sexually exploited by married men in exchange for their education. Poverty had driven them this far. I felt for them and wished I could immediately help them out. If they could operate a self-reliant business, that will help to sustain them and free them from sexual molestation.
Helps International (HINT) Cameroon was then created to improving on the social and economic well-being and health of the poor and underprivileged in the society through education, skills development and job creation.
If you would like to help you can read more on how you can help, or contact us.