A Story of Transformation: From Uncertainty to Prosperity

At 44 years old, Asongwe Ernest Che from Sandpit-Buea was on the verge of giving up on his motor spare parts business. He lacked direction, hope, and the necessary resources to keep his business afloat. But his encounter with MEPCAM changed everything.

Through MEPCAM’s training, empowerment, and ongoing coaching, in the Hope and Better Life Project, Ernest discovered his true passion for automobiles, which helped him develop a clear strategy to grow his business. More importantly, he realized the value of the resources he already had, which led him to launch a poultry farm at his own residence.

“Before I met MEPCAM, my business had no shelter, and I was struggling with limited capital and knowledge to sustain it. It was collapsing. But through their training, coaching, and access to loans, I have expanded into buying and selling motor spare parts alongside my mechanic work. I have also started a poultry farm, using the proceeds to reinvest in my business and support my family,” Ernest shared.

Today, Ernest is not just a motor mechanic—he is a thriving entrepreneur with multiple streams of income. He now has a bank account, where he saves and reinvests in his businesses, and he continues to generate new, creative ideas to grow further.

With his business stabilized and his family’s needs met, Ernest now has renewed hope for the future, proving that a change in mindset, the right support, and perseverance can turn a struggling business into a thriving enterprise.

The Journey of Madam Simon Judith

Madam Simon Judith a 33 years old

foodstuffs and essentials trader in the Auberge neighborhood of Buea, faced a struggling business with no clear direction. She lacked strategies to attract customers and compete effectively with neighboring vendors.

“My business was almost collapsing when I was introduced to the Hope and Better Life Project by MEPCAM,” she recalls.

Through this initiative, Judith received over three months of intensive training in entrepreneurship and enterprise development. This was followed by two phases of interest-free loans, first FCFA 200,000, then FCFA 400,000, all complemented by continuous hands-on mentorship. The results were remarkable:

• Her business revived and grew rapidly, forcing her to hire a salesperson to meet increasing customer demand.
• She experienced a significant improvement in her standard of living, enabling her to sponsor her children’s education and meet her family’s daily needs.

“The way I think about my business today has completely changed,” she shares. “I now listen to my customers, improve my product quality, and enhance customer service. Despite the challenges posed by the Anglophone crisis, I no longer fear my business failing. In fact, my customers seek me out—even in difficult times.”

With her growing confidence and entrepreneurial mindset, Madam Judith envisions transforming her business into a semi-supermarket within the next five years. Her dream is not just to support her family but also to give back to the needy in her community.

As she looks ahead, she continues to seek more training, mentorship, and support from MEPCAM, ensuring that her journey of growth and impact never stops.

From Struggle to Success: Ajonina Carine’s Inspiring Journey

At 35 years old, Ajonina Carine found herself at a crossroads. Armed with a degree in Zoology and a diploma in Public Health, she spent years unsuccessfully searching for a government job. Frustration and uncertainty loomed over her future—until she encountered MEPCAM.

“After graduating, I was really disappointed because I had nothing to do. But thanks to MEPCAM’s training, financial support, and coaching, I was able to start my honey business with just 20 liters. Today, I supply over 2,000 liters of honey every month to business centers and offices across Cameroon.”

From the Transformed Livelihood Project interest-free loan of over FCFA 400,000, Carine didn’t stop at honey sales—she expanded her business portfolio.

“The support I received from MEPCAM allowed me to venture into network marketing and detergent production. These new businesses now generate at least FCFA 300,000 in monthly profit. With this, I can support my husband and contribute to our household expenses.”

Today, Carine’s business is registered with the Ministry of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and has a website for online marketing, opening doors to greater opportunities and international expansion.

Her vision is bold:
✅ To establish a company that supplies natural medicinal honey and eco-friendly detergents globally.
✅ To create more job opportunities and uplift others.

Carine’s journey is a testament to the power of knowledge, skills, and mentorship. With the right guidance, what once seemed impossible has now become a thriving reality. She is living proof that entrepreneurship can transform lives, families, and communities.

From a Single Kiosk to a Thriving Business: Anthony Uche’s Success Story

Anthony Uche had a vision—to grow his mobile money kiosk into a profitable and sustainable business. However, he lacked the necessary resources to expand. After undergoing entrepreneurship training and empowerment through MEPCAM in the Hope and Better Life Project, Uche realized that business success isn’t just about expansion but also about making products and services more attractive to customers.

Armed with this new mindset and practical skills, he took bold steps. Today, in less than two years, he has:
✅ Expanded from one to six mobile money kiosks
✅ Created employment opportunities for six young people
✅ Diversified into gas retailing, securing additional income to support his family

“The entrepreneurship training and the FCFA 600,000 interest-free loan I received from MEPCAM were game-changers for my business,” Uche attested.

Looking ahead, his ambitions remain high. He plans to:
✔️ Establish 10 more kiosks
✔️ Set up a fully equipped agency where customers can access mobile money services, buy SIM cards, and top up credit conveniently

Anthony Uche’s journey is a powerful example of how training, financial support, and the right business strategy can transform a simple idea into a thriving enterprise that creates jobs and impacts communities.

From Job Loss to Job Creation: Eyong Martin’s Remarkable Transformation

At 49, Eyong Martin, a father of four from Tiko, found himself at a crossroads. Having lost his job at the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) due to the Anglophone crisis, he struggled to find employment. Despite all efforts, his age became a major barrier, leaving him unable to provide for his family.

However, his breakthrough came when he joined MEPCAM’s enterprise training and mentorship program from the Transformed Livelihood Project. Through the training, he was challenged to turn his experience at CDC into an opportunity for self-employment and community impact.

“During the mentorship program, I was inspired to use my skills and experience to create a job for myself and others. After deep reflection, I ventured into cassava cultivation and processing, which has completely transformed my life and that of my family. Every morning, we pray and thank God because our lives will never be the same again,” Eyong Martin shared.

Today, Eyong owns a small factory that processes cassava from his farm into various finished products, including garri, water fufu, and nkum-nkum. His business has:
✅ Employed over 10 workers
✅ Created a sustainable source of income for his family
✅ Brought economic empowerment to his community

Looking ahead, Eyong envisions:
✔️ Expanding his workforce to 30 employees
✔️ Processing cassava into more finished products
✔️ Targeting the international market

His journey is a powerful testimony of how entrepreneurial training, mentorship, and resilience can turn setbacks into opportunities. From job seeker to job creator, Eyong Martin is proof that transformation is possible with the right support and mindset.

From Dependence to Financial Independence: Engang Euphemia’s Inspiring Journey

For years, Engang Euphemia Anja, a 39-year-old resident of Mile 4, Limbe, relied entirely on her husband to meet the family’s needs. With no source of income and no business experience, she felt idle and financially vulnerable.

Her turning point came when she encountered MEPCAM. Through their on-the-job training on poultry farming and mentorship, she was inspired to start a poultry farm—a decision that would change her life forever.

“Within three months, my poultry farm generated a profit of over FCFA 300,000. This success encouraged me to expand my farm to 1,500 birds, with the support of MEPCAM’s coaching and an interest-free loan from the Transformed Livelihood Project. Through this business, I can now comfortably pay my children’s school fees, provide for their medication, food, clothing, and cover other family expenses,” Euphemia testified during a recent onsite visit.

Once dependent, she is now an independent entrepreneur, creating a better future for herself and her family. But her vision doesn’t stop there. She is determined to:
✅ Open a chicken parlour for roasting and delivery
✅ Expand her poultry business
✅ Purchase land for a livestock farm

Euphemia’s story is a powerful testament to how mentorship, training, and financial support can transform lives. From idleness to entrepreneurship, she is proof that with the right guidance, anyone can build a thriving business and secure their family’s future.