“The biggest challenge is our lackluster strategy to address humanitarian challenges to the fullest. We can’t make much progress if other people continue to see helping others simply as a charity, but also as a genuine reaction to the real needs of society.
Published
south
By
Doing Life With… is a BellaNaija Features series that showcases how people live, work, travel, care for their families and… everything in between. We are documenting the lives of all people and ensuring everyone is well-represented at BN through storytelling.
Last week we had a meeting with Kunmi Adenipebi. Did you miss it? Read it here.
Today we live with Velveeta Viban, the founder of I’m Human Organization, a women-focused initiative that advocates for inclusive communities for all. As a result of her wonderful efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, Velveeta was identified through the United Nations Youth Envoy Office and was also chosen as one of Leap Africa’s Social Innovators, making her the first non-Nigerian to win the Union’s Outstanding Member Award. Bank of Nigeria. Enjoy!
Hello Velveeta. How do you feel now?
Hello BellaNaija. La political reaction will be: delighted, exalted and blessed. But my inner child says I feel like I just won a chair dancing festival and I’m being rewarded for it.
Haha, I love this for you! Give us an overview of your background
I am a boy in the middle of a girls’ home. My grandmother was a journalist who hosted one of the first national radio systems on women’s issues in the 1980s, called “Calling the Women. “My father was a proud father of a daughter. Although she lost it before the age of 10, my mom vehemently proved that women can do anything they set their minds to, when and if they have the chance. When I was four years old, I don’t forget to hold a sign. that said “Children have rights” and even win a contest to recite Martin Luther King Jr. ‘s outstanding speech. I may have been a stranger at the time, but I think my inner activist and adventure had already begun. It is nothing new that I have become people-oriented and have sought out to contribute to people’s well-being (rights). , so I ended up reading law for my bachelor’s degree and foreign relations for my master’s degree. All of this has shaped my greater sense of gender-focused projects and helping people.
Interesting. Can you share more about the inspiration behind starting “I’m Human Organisation” and your journey as a ‘Serial Volunteer’?
As an English speaking Cameroonian, life is challenging. As a young African woman from the minority region of the country with 20% English speaking, I wonder what is more complicated: being born black and African or being born a woman? It’s a constant battle. I struggled to locate my identity, I lost a father at a young age and was expected to play the role of a male figure in an all-girls household. One day, after going through a difficult time and sitting in my small apartment, I discovered that I wanted to create a movement for people who wanted to be noticed and treated as human beings first and foremost. At the beginning of a personal movement, I used the word “I” to create a personal connection with everyone. Over time, it has grown into an organization made up of other people who are passionate about helping others. My grandmother’s words “When you cross your arm/palm nothing comes out but above all nothing can come in” taught me that donors never fail. I learned that even the little idea I had can make a difference in someone else’s life. The smiles and blessings I gained upon returning were enough to keep me going. And besides, I started volunteering long before I knew what it meant.
It has been identified by the Office of the United Nations Envoy for Youth for the major impact it has had during the pandemic. How has this influenced the visibility and impact of the organization?
This popularity came at a time when we had made the decision to supply about four sets of cellular water to a network that was hosting over a hundred internally displaced families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most young people were not in school and perhaps not even able to afford remote or in-home teachers. We did the most productive thing we could and ended up doing over 12 series and helping 150 youth and orphans with distance learning books. Although we had many setbacks, this popularity simply brought us back. He told me that I could achieve what I set out to do and since then we have started to be recognized for the efforts we have made, which has led to more expansion partnerships. Shortly after, I decided as one of the members of Leap Africa. Social Innovators, which led to me becoming the first non-Nigerian to win the Union Bank Nigeria Outstanding Member Award Scholarship.
What specific success story or impactful moment stands out to you from your work with “I’m Human Organisation”?
In 2020, on the International Day for the Elimination of all Forms of Violence in Conflict, we hosted a program called SHE, Safe Spaces for Healing and Empowerment, where we worked closely with survivors of abuse. One of the ladies who shared a very personal story on sexual abuse and how this affected her life and education was closely followed up by a mentor. Just a few weeks ago, she shared her successful journey with us when she graduated from a nursing institute and how her life would not have taken this bright turn if we hadn’t met her that day in 2020. She and many others who have participated in our business training and benefitted from startup capital grants now have thriving businesses to sustain their economic rehabilitation.
In your opinion, what are the most persistent demanding situations faced by vulnerable teams in Cameroon and Africa? How do you think organizations like yours can cope with such demanding situations?
I would say that the biggest challenge is our poor technique for situations of maximum humanitarian demand. Organizations like ours can only do their best to help solve certain problems, namely those of education, access to economic emancipation and, sometimes, alleviating finishing gaps. poverty. However, we cannot make much progress if other people continue to see helping others as mere charity, but also as an authentic reaction to the genuine desires of society. I think that, like all continents, other people are more involved in fulfilling the wishes of their fellow humans, and because of the other daily demanding situations that the continent faces, it is very difficult to find long-term network solutions. . term. Sometimes other people end up doing fundamental things that don’t propel other vulnerable people to more wonderful places. I think the most productive thing we can do and what I am is that the human organization has tried to channel and redirect help, specifically from local institutions, to offer it in a more sustainable way to other people, even if the budget is limited.
You’re on a lot of projects. How do you balance your time and commitments?What does a typical day in your life look like?
This is the part where I say “Na God o.” A typical day for me is waking up and playing some music to set me in the right mood. I grab my phone to see if I have any new emails or any congratulations but I often get “Thank you we’re sorry.” Depending on the agenda for the day, I head out to either a project venue site or workspace. During the day, I’m most likely laughing at memes and fun skits because hey, the country is already hectic so I need something to keep my positivity up. As for the night, it depends on when my brain allows me to rest.
Being involved in a lot of things can make time an illusion. What’s a pastime skill or hobby you’ve personally picked up that you enjoy?
Writing helps me maximize my time and I also love online comic book comedy. I also enjoy creating designs in Canva or just designing things in general. It’s helping me with my artistic thinking and allowing me to express myself in a very specific way. I wish I could say eat and sleep, but they both have a love-hate relationship with me.
Three fun facts about Cameroon that everyone wants to know?
The country is tough but the people are tougher. We have the best food in the world, argue with your birth certificate, haha. If you are reading this and haven’t visited Cameroon, you have just missed out on your chance to see Africa in Miniature.
If you could go back in time to an ancient event, which one would you decide on and why?
It would be December 22, 2000, the day my father died. I have to tell you.
The top 3 that bring you joy, excite you, and/or make you proud of yourself?
Mobile credit money alert, haha. The sound of that jingle is a dopamine dose. Watching my nieces and nephews gets me super excited especially when I get a video call from them. However, what makes me proud of myself is the fact that I have had many chances to give up but I didn’t give up on myself and today guess what? I’m on BellaNaija. Oh my! I should pat myself on the back.
You should, you should! Thanks for being from Doing Life With, Velveeta
Thank you, BellaNaija, for having me.
_
Many thanks to Velveeta for having this verbal exchange with us and answering our questions so quickly. Do you like this content, do you have any comments for us, would you like to make a contribution to BellaNaija Features, or would you like to be featured on Doing Life With. . . ?We’d like to hear from you. Email us: [email protected]
Join us on Saturday for the episode!
Casta Inegbedion: The Many Ways Technology Improves the Economy and Healthcare
Nana Akua Amofa: 15 Life Lessons Adulting Has Taught Me
Telling stories that matter.
Get an insight into gambling in Nigeria at the “Doing Life With. . . “through Kunmi Adenipebi.
How does Dounard Bondo juggle being a lawyer and journalist in Liberia?Read this edition of “Making Life With. . . ” To go out
Producing Asake’s yoga video, overseeing the AFRIMA Awards, and directing Bridge Africa: Victoria Nkong talks about playing many roles in the current ‘Doing Life With. . . ‘
© 2022 BellaNaija. All rights reserved