By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
The pavement of the Manmade-Lake in the Yaoundé capital city of Cameroon, became a corridor of inclusion Saturday as the Local Employee Association of the U.S. Embassy in Yaounde, known as AMLEA, joined forces with Striking Eagles to raise awareness for autism and special needs.
This mission was at the heart of a 5-kilometer walk and run that took place in Yaoundé on April 25. The event brought together members of the Special Olympics, community, supporters and well-wishers, among others. The gathering took place during World Autism Acceptance Month, a period dedicated to promoting inclusion, neurodiversity and community support.
Kareen Abban, a U.S. diplomat who spearheaded the activities, said the event was designed to spread the word not only about autism but also about children with other special needs. Kareen emphasized that many parents feel embarrassed or isolated when raising a child with developmental differences.
“I’m very aware that here, oftentimes, people will not take their children out of the homes.
Sometimes parents know that something is different about their child, but they don’t know where to go and seek help,” Abban said. “So that’s why we’re here today, to tell people there’s nothing to be ashamed of in having a child with special needs. Bring them out.”
Abban also stressed the importance of early intervention. “The earlier you get the child help and assistance, the more successful that child will be in living a meaningful life,” she said. She noted that the event deliberately partnered with Special Olympics, allowing participants with intellectual disabilities to walk and run alongside able-bodied attendees.
Their involvement, she said, demonstrates that inclusion leads to equal capability. “With the same kind and the right kind of attention, with the right kind of therapy, with the right kind of help and assistance, they can do exactly the same thing that we do and even more because those children are very intelligent. So that’s why this is important to run alongside and walk alongside with them.”
The President of AMLEA, Nainsah Petra Mbuyongha, said it is constitutionally aligned for the association to advocate for health-related programs, particularly those that promote physical fitness and balance among body, mind and soul. Petra noted that because April is dedicated to autism and special needs awareness, supporting the initiative was both relevant and necessary.
“We really wish that parents with children with special needs and with children who are autistic should be bold enough or should not be ashamed to come out and seek for help, because it is not just helping the children, it is also help for the parents to be able to take care of these children.
So it is both ways,” Mbuyongha said. “And we think that from this event and from the partnership which we hope to build with the Ministry of Social Affairs, we are going to really highlight this and to magnify it in subsequent events.”
Mbuyongha acknowledged that this was the first edition of an autism-focused event for the embassy, though AMLEA has previously supported initiatives on blood donation, malaria and World Heart Day. She urged the public not to wait until mental health struggles become severe, but rather to act now by including children with special needs alongside their neurotypical peers.
Vanessa Kengne from Special Olympics, who participated in the walk and run, praised the exercise for reminding everyone that children with special needs have a place and must be included in daily activities.
During the event, prizes and trophies were awarded to standout athletes. Phaneol Shofola won the 5-kilometer running race, while Florence Épée emerged as the winner of the autism walking race.
Abinwie Ignann was crowned the winner of the autism running category. Winners took home trophies and cash prizes ranging from 25,000 to 50,000 CFA francs. A special donation was also made to Special Olympics to support its ongoing activities. The rules of the event and the security of the Autism kids was ensured by the Détachement Commander, Staff Sergeant Pressley Alston.
According to the World Health Organization, globally one in 127 people is diagnosed with autism, a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition affecting social interaction, communication and behavior. The WHO lists autism among the top 10 brain health conditions contributing to health loss worldwide.
