At ShelterBox we are passionate about leading the way in ethical storytelling. We challenge ourselves to always put people, and the issues they face, at the heart of what we do.
So when the opportunity arose to visit Minawao Refugee Camp, and share our Cameroon appeal back with the women who are featured, we grabbed it with both hands.
Throughout 2022, we took a more long-term approach to our storytelling. Over a 6-month period we regularly visited Kaltoumi W, Kaltoumi B and Dogidem, three women who have all received ShelterBox support in Minawao camp. But we wanted to talk to them about so much more than this. Covering themes such as climate change, livelihoods, agriculture, community, and so much more, we really got to know the group on a much more personal level, allowing us to create impactful, meaningful and engaging content which you can read today in our Cameroon emergency appeal.
So as a matter of first introductions, Kaltoumi B produces a local wine called ‘bilibili,’ which we learnt about the production of, Kaltoumi W owns a piece of land which she cultivates to help feed her family and enjoys relaxing in Minawao’s green and shady spaces and Dogidem owns and runs a small shop in the camp where she enjoys meeting with her customers every market day.
After getting to know Kaltoumi W, Kaltoumi B and Dogidem through several interviews, it was an amazing experience to finally meet face-to-face to share exactly how we had used their stories and to listen to their thoughts and feedback.