When Yvonne arrived at the hospital in labor, she was facing an uncertain future.  

Yvonne lost her husband to the ongoing crisis in the Cameroon’s Northwest and Southwest regions and was forced to flee her home last year. She was pregnant, caring for two children, and had to leave behind the sewing business that once helped support her family. 

Yvonne had not received antenatal care during her pregnancy. When labor began, she arrived at the hospital empty-handed. A Medicines for Humanity-trained midwife helped guide Yvonne through a safe delivery. 

MFH partners covered the essentials first: clothing for the newborn, food for the family. But as our team learned more about Yvonne’s situation, they saw a chance to help in a way that would matter long after the first week.  

Yvonne already knew how to sew but needed to start her business from scratch. Recognizing the challenges she faced as an internally displaced mother and widow, MFH provided intentional funds to help Yvonne restart her sewing business. This support is part of MFH’s broader economic strengthening approach in Cameroon which helps individuals build on their existing skills and create more sustainable livelihoods.  

The investment has paid off. Yvonne was able to purchase a new sewing machine and grow her business. With a more reliable income, she and her three children have moved out of the thatched house they lived in, and she is once again able to provide for her family and build a more secure future.