WHAT IS CDEO?

The Cameroon Deaf Empowerment Organisation (CDEO) is a non-profit Non Governmental Organisation created in Yaounde, Cameroon on 21st July 1995, under Reg. No 00221/RDE/JO6/BAPP. It seeks to create links between deaf and hearing people in Cameroon. Cameroon is located in Central Africa and is the home of the Indomitable Lions. Cameroon is also Africa in miniature and the base of CDEO.

WHAT IS DEAF EMPOWERMENT?

Deaf empowerment is the process that enables each deaf person to develop his or her skills and self esteem in order to become self reliant. CDEO seeks to provide the deaf with the necessary life and marketable skills that will enable them to become responsible citizens.

BACKGROUND

It is estimated that Cameroon has a deaf population of over 340,000. Generally, deaf people in Cameroon tend to be isolated within their rural villages or communities. A preliminary study shows that few deaf children have access to formal education and in most cases, this is limited to primary school education. The schools they attend are founded by private individuals, organisations or religious groups. As such, they receive very limited support from the government. CDEO now offers secondary education for deaf children in Cameroon. Due to the previous absence of secondary education for deaf people in Cameroon, some Cameroonians, (Deaf and Hearing ) having seen the opportunities available to deaf children in other countries, decided to create the Cameroon Deaf Empowerment Organisation.

Ogork Ebot Ntui,
Executive President of CDEO