Meet Polish and Sonita, 2 young people in Cameroon who turned trauma into strength, thanks to an impactful humanitarian partnership between the European Union and INTERSOS.
Polish, a child’s journey from rejection to recovery
Polish was born into tragedy. The 9-year-old, a child of wartime sexual violence, faced rejection, neglect, and abuse from his earliest days. His mother, struggling with severe mental illness, would often insult him, beat him, and deprive him of food. With no one to care for him, Polish scavenged on the streets, slept in abandoned buildings, and found shelter in nearby farms.
Community members misunderstood his desperation. They saw only a boy accused of theft, not a child trying to survive.
Everything began to change when a community awareness campaign, funded by the European Union and implemented by INTERSOS, helped a local chief recognise the urgency of Polish’s situation. He referred Polish for emergency assistance.
Thanks to the intervention of INTERSOS and several NGOs, Polish received counselling and psychosocial support. He also received essential items like clothing and hygiene products. His mother also began receiving support.
And for the first time, Polish felt seen.
In just his second therapy session, he smiled, a shy, quiet moment that marked the beginning of his emotional healing.
Today, Polish continues to receive support, including from Cameroon’s Ministry of Social Affairs. Efforts are underway to return him to school and help him rebuild a life of dignity and safety.
Sonita: from vulnerability to community leader
At 23, Sonita had always dreamed of finishing her studies. But displacement due to conflict shattered her plans. While trying to survive alone, she entered into a relationship that led to an unplanned pregnancy. Abandoned and forced to drop out of school, she returned to her community ashamed and emotionally broken.
She isolated herself, battling depression and stigma.
A door-to-door awareness campaign brought new hope. Sonita learned about a safe space for women and girls, created with EU humanitarian funding and run by INTERSOS. Though hesitant at first, she eventually entered the centre and everything changed.
There, she met other women who shared her struggles. She received psychosocial support, took part in group therapy sessions, and learned new skills like baking, jewellery-making, and sandal design.
Bit by bit, Sonita regained confidence. Her talents flourished, and so did her voice.
Now, Sonita is no longer just a participant, she’s a facilitator. She leads activities in the same safe space that helped her heal, guiding other women and girls on their own journeys of recovery and growth.
Giving youth a second chance
Polish and Sonita are proof that, with the right support, young people can overcome even the most daunting challenges. Their paths from pain to possibility were made possible through the partnership between the European Union and INTERSOS, working together to protect and empower youth affected by conflict and displacement in Cameroon.
Their stories remind us why humanitarian aid and international solidarity matter. Because behind every child and young adult in crisis is a person who deserves a second chance.
