Discovery mission for Les P'tits Cœurs, an association supporting autistic children and their families

From April 25 to 27, 2025, we, Arthur and Christina spent a weekend with Les P'tits Cœurs in Douala. We were invited by Marlyse EMBOUSSI, president of the association and former intern at Petit Dan and Sarah Foundation. She is looking to develop collaborations to improve care for autistic children and support their families. The aim of this visit was to exchange views on the realities of caring for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in Cameroon, and to gain a better understanding of the challenges encountered in the field, as well as the association's successes and difficulties. Over the three days, we visited five families of autistic children, and observed the actions already underway.

Les P'tits Cœurs is a Cameroonian non-profit association serving children with ASD and their families. In Cameroon, people suffering from ASD are highly stigmatized. The disorder is not well known, either by the general public or by education professionals. ASD is often seen as the result of witchcraft. Many families find themselves lost when faced with this disorder: the few specialized structures are expensive and not easily accessible, professionals are rare, diagnoses are not easily accessible, and children are often marginalized or even excluded from school and social life. Moreover, a center dedicated to autistic people contributes significantly to the stigmatization and marginalization of people with ASD. In this context, the needs are immense, and the urgency to act is real. The association's aim is to improve support and care for autistic children and their families, by offering screening, supporting families in accepting, understanding and managing their disability, and raising awareness and promoting the inclusion of children in family, social, educational and professional environments.

It was a very enriching stay. The families we visited were welcoming, and have high expectations of the association. As for the children, they were touching and very happy to see us. We witnessed the importance of Les P'tits Cœurs' actions. The association creates a real bond with the children, making them feel less isolated, understood and supported. The association defends the rights of these children, who are simply different, just as each individual is unique. The association works towards a world where everyone counts (slogan), because inclusion means giving everyone their place.

What they do is important, because autistic children deserve to learn like everyone else, to live, and to be accepted and loved, because as the Petit Dan and Sarah Foundation slogan says : EVERY CHILD IS LOVE. The families are also delighted with the support they receive, and find new hope for their child, which is really important.

We discovered a very young association, still in its early stages. It has a lot of ambition and we think it deserves to be supported. To broaden its impact, the association needs money and visibility. This would cover food, schooling, comprehensive care (speech therapist, psychologist, physiotherapist, psychomotor therapist, specialized educator, etc.), setting up premises for the association (+ furniture) and organizing fun and educational activities.

We would like to thank the team of Les P'tits Cœurs for our stay in Douala, and in particular President Marlyse Emboussi for inviting us and taking care of everything. We witnessed your professionalism and hospitality, which were greatly appreciated.