LocationsHope on Crutches: Protecting Children Through Awareness in Ngouma
February 18, 2026
In the quiet village of Ngouma, in Cameroon’s Far North region, memories of the 2020 explosion still weigh heavily on the community. That year, a group of children stumbled upon a small metallic object. Believing it was a toy, they played with it innocently, unaware that it was a grenade left behind by armed groups. When it discharged, two boys lost their lives instantly. Several others were severely injured, including 13‑year‑old Ibrahim, who lost his leg.
UNDP CMR Regional Stabilization Facility (RSF) – EEI training campaign- Ngouma village-, Far North region of Cameroon
UNDP CMR Regional Stabilization Facility (RSF) – EEI training campaign- Ibrahima and Community member-, Far North region of Cameroon
Before that tragic day, the children of Ngouma had never been taught what an explosive device looked like. The community lived with danger without knowing it. “I didn’t know what it was,” Ibrahim recalls softly. “If we had known, we would never have touched it. We lost our friends, and I lost my leg.”
In March 2025, a team from UNDP Cameroon Regional Stabilisation Facility arrived in Ngouma and Makary, (Logone & Chari Department), having an urgent mission: to prevent future tragedies by equipping the population with the knowledge to recognise and avoid explosive leftovers of war. Facilitators visited schools, Quranic learning centres, displacement camps, and community spaces. Using illustrated materials and local languages, they showed residents how to identify suspicious objects and the immediate steps to take to alert authorities. For many, it was the first time they discovered that everyday items, such as bottles, cans, jars, or pieces of metal, could be transformed into deadly traps.
UNDP CMR Regional Stabilization Facility (RSF) – EEI training campaign- Ngouma village-, Far North region of Cameroon
UNDP CMR Regional Stabilization Facility (RSF) – EEI training campaign- Ngouma village-, Far North region of Cameroon
In March 2025, a team from UNDP Cameroon Regional Stabilisation Facility arrived in Ngouma and Makary, (Logone & Chari Department), having an urgent mission: to prevent future tragedies by equipping the population with the knowledge to recognise and avoid explosive leftovers of war. Facilitators visited schools, Quranic learning centres, displacement camps, and community spaces. Using illustrated materials and local languages, they showed residents how to identify suspicious objects and the immediate steps to take to alert authorities. For many, it was the first time they discovered that everyday items, such as bottles, cans, jars, or pieces of metal, could be transformed into deadly traps.
Through these visits, a total of 78 IEDs sensitisation campaigns were carried out in the Far North region, reinforcing the culture of safety that communities like Ngouma urgently needed.
According to the official EEI Campaign Report, six JAPs (Fotokol, Hilé Alifa, Makary, Kolofata, Mozogo, Mokolo) benefited from mass sensitisation, covering 14 villages and reaching 3,673 children, 2,782 women, and 2,100 men.
UNDP CMR Regional Stabilization Facility (RSF) – EEI training campaign- Ngouma village-, Far North region of Cameroon
UNDP CMR Regional Stabilization Facility (RSF) – EEI training campaign-Ibrahim & Community member-, Far North region of Cameroon
For Ibrahim, these sessions offered a moment to transform pain into purpose. During one of the sessions, Ibrahim gathered courage and stood before dozens of children to share his story. The children listened in complete silence; his lived experience spoke louder than any lecture. “Now I know how to stay safe,” he told them. “And I want the others to know too.”
UNDP CMR Regional Stabilization Facility (RSF) – EEI training campaign-Ibrahim-, Far North region of Cameroon
From that day on, Ibrahim became an informal safety ambassador in his neighbourhood. Each afternoon, he could be seen speaking to younger children, repeating a life-saving rule: “Look, don’t touch. Alert an adult. Save a life.”
UNDP CMR Regional Stabilization Facility (RSF) – EEI training campaign-, Far North region of Cameroon
The impact of the sensitisation effort spread quickly across Ngouma and Makary. Teachers began integrating awareness of explosive devices into their daily lessons, parents expressed a renewed sense of reassurance, and local authorities praised the initiative as “timely and life‑saving.” The broader stabilization efforts in the region have also been strengthened by the construction or rehabilitation of 73 security and justice infrastructures, which continue to reinforce trust and safety in communities affected by years of instability.
UNDP CMR Regional Stabilization Facility (RSF) – security infrastructure -, Far North region of Cameroon
UNDP CMR Regional Stabilization Facility (RSF) – security infrastructure -, Far North region of Cameroon
UNDP CMR Regional Stabilization Facility (RSF) – security infrastructure -, Far North region of Cameroon
Today, Ibrahim walks with his crutches, moving with a confidence that defines his new path. The loss of his leg remains part of his story, but it is no longer the whole story. “I can’t change what happened,” he says. “But I can help make sure it never happens again.” In Ngouma, safety now begins with awareness, and thanks to UNDP Stabilisation Facility, knowledge has become the community’s strongest shield.
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