Healing Through Fashion: Michel’s Collection Showcase Uplifts Displaced Women and Inspires a Community
Yaoundé, November 1, 2024 - The Ubuntu Cultural Center in Yaoundé came alive with creativity, resilience, and transformation as Michel, a former inmate who spent 16 years in prison, showcased his “Healing Through Fashion” collection. The event featured traditional Cameroonian wear and accessories crafted from recycled plastic, produced in collaboration with nine internally displaced women trained by Michel. This unique project highlighted the transformative power of skill-building and recycling in social reintegration and income generation.
The event drew an enthusiastic audience of over 100 guests. Opening the program, Mr. Achaleke Christian Leke, Executive Director of Local Youth Corner Cameroon, shared his journey with Michel, from their first meeting in 2016 to Michel’s profound journey of rehabilitation. Mr. Leke highlighted the support provided by Local Youth Corner Cameroon, underscoring the organization’s commitment to supporting those rebuilding their lives after incarceration.
LOYOC E.D. – Mr. Achaleke Christian Leke delivers the opening remark
Michel then took the stage, recounting his journey from inmate to “prison-preneur,” emphasizing the role of skills acquired in prison in transforming his life. “Skills helped me to transform while in prison,” he shared, “and despite being sentenced to almost a lifetime, those skills contributed to my release after 16 years. Today I am a changemaker.”
Following his remarks, the runway came alive with an impressive collection of clothing and accessories modeled by the very women who created them. This debut collection included clothes, handbags, school bags, laptop cases, caps, purses, sandals, and more, ingeniously crafted from tires, plastic bottles, buckets, and other discarded materials. The women, many with little modeling experience, walked proudly, showcasing their designs and embodying the spirit of resilience and reinvention.
Tajuige Michel shares his story from a prison-preneur to an entrepreneur
Guests were invited to view and purchase the collection, with many expressing admiration for the quality and creativity of the pieces. Testimonials flowed from attendees, reflecting the profound impact of Michel’s work on both the creators and the observers. Miss Ordy Betga, the representative from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cameroon, remarked that Michel is “an inspiration to the nation” and emphasized the importance of amplifying his story.
In a deeply touching moment, Michel’s 23-year-old daughter joined him on stage, speaking openly about the challenges of growing up with a father in prison and her admiration for his journey since his release. She noted that their bond has grown into a beautiful friendship, forged through their shared resilience and his commitment to making a difference.
Tadjuige Mantinkeng Doriane – Michel’s daughter
Michel’s story is one of second chances and transformation. Originally sentenced to 135 years on multiple counts, his release was influenced by his involvement with the Creative Skills for Peace Initiative, spearheaded by Local Youth Corner Cameroon. Since his release in 2019, Michel has channeled his passion into fashion, establishing “Michel’s Design” in Yaoundé and using it as a platform to train vulnerable youth and women sustainably.
Michel’s impact extends beyond fashion. Highlights of his work since his release include:
- Training over 100 vulnerable youth and women in various income-generating skills.
- Training nine internally displaced women to create recycled fashion pieces.
- Contracted by the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in 2022 to produce custom souvenirs.
- Producing over 500 recycled plastic school bags for vulnerable children.
- Providing mask-making training to prison inmates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Conducting outreach sessions in prisons, promoting non-violence and discouraging extremism among young inmates.
Among the notable guests were the Canadian High Commission’s representative to Cameroon, Mr. Richard Le Bar; the Deputy Representative of UNFPA Cameroon – Noemi Delmonte; a representative of the International Federation of the Red Cross in Cameroon and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cameroon. The showcase underscored Michel’s transformation and his dedication to creating alternatives to violence and crime through sustainable entrepreneurship, shining a light on the healing power of skills and second chances.
Michel’s Art Pieces
