About us

Our Story

Children Smile (CHS) came up within the Anglophone crisis that has been plaguing the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon since October 2016. The devastating consequences of the crisis have been alarming, disheartening, dehumanizing, and frustrating as civilians have suffered a lot ranging from the burning of houses, and business places to, the loss of family members and guardians among others. It is worth noting that the crisis started in 2016 when the Teachers and Lawyers of the English speaking regions of Cameroon had a peaceful demonstration requesting for better working conditions like their colleagues of the French speaking regions of Cameroon. In the course of it, a Separatist fraction emerged demanding the complete independence of the 02 English speaking regions of Cameroon from the 08 French speaking regions of the country.

This quickly escalated to an armed-conflict between the separatist militia and the Cameroon State forces within the 02 English speaking regions and the suffering has greatly being felt by the civilians. Many persons, 80 percent of whom are children and youths below 18 years of age have been traumatized and children orphaned in the process with so many school drop-out cases as the separatist fighters restricted schooling though some private and faith base schools are gradually functioning now in the crisis areas.

CHS was established in 2021 to bring hope to children and youths affected by the crisis in one way or the other, by assisting them in education and health care. It was borne from the initiate of some young people who had received the support in education and health care and decided to return the favor under the same person who initially helped them. Their donor, whom they encountered often, decides to keep an anonymous identity as the belief is that the smile of a child is what grants identity. Since 2021, CHS has helped children across the country but mostly in the warring regions of North West and South West of Cameroon. Limited resources kept these young donors from doing more but in the year 2024, they have put together aid and their resources to reach out to 50 more children by December 2024. The war has forced the main office to be relocated to Bafoussam for security and better strategizing.

In 2024 also, CHS started receiving funds from donors outside the nation and this goes to put the smiles on the faces of many more children. This goal shall live forever as long as there are children to put a smile on.

What We Are

Children’s Smile (CHS) is a non-profit organization in Cameroon. The organization is created by a group of young women and men who have all worked with children and are still actively involved in the welfare of children irrespective of their religion and race. The organization is committed to the education and health of children who are in vulnerable situations.

Our vision is to create an enabling community where all vulnerable children and youths live dignified lives towards a beautiful future.

CHS believes a happy child is a great blessing to the family and community same as a mischievous child is a burden and threat to the family and the community at large.

CHS equally believes EDUCATION is one of the surest ways to guarantee the future of the young ones. CHS holds that education is liberation. For this reason, we give in all the necessary attention in the education of vulnerable children from 05 to 17 years of age (Formal education and vocational trainings)

CHS equally believes in HEALTH CARE: a healthy child is a happy child. We support the most vulnerable children in accessing health care services. Our health vision is mainly physical health but also mental health care and rehabilitation.