The Source de Vie (Source of Life) association launched a free meal distribution campaign across several popular markets and neighborhoods in Yaoundé on May 28, 2026.
Dubbed the “Restaurant Social Gratuit” (Free Social Restaurant), this humanitarian initiative aims to support underprivileged individuals by offering them hot meals and a moment of comfort.
The second phase of the campaign took place this Friday, May 29, at the Mfoudi market in Yaounde’s municipality, where a long line of beneficiaries—including street children, youth in precarious situations, and local traders—gathered around a stand set up in the heart of the market to receive more than 300 free meals from enthusiastic volunteers dressed in yellow scrubs.
Beyond addressing immediate hunger, Source de Vie pursues broader social objectives, such as providing healthcare to the sick, offering shelter to the homeless, and training young people to foster their socio-professional integration.
According to CHEZEU Cintia, the association’s Head of Human Resources and Gender and Development volunteer, the outreach also serves to raise public awareness about their work, which is usually conducted directly within their own facilities. She noted that this specific initiative was made possible entirely through internal funds and the support of a few benevolent partners and donors, emphasizing that the organization currently operates without any national or international institutional funding.
Despite over twenty years of dedicated service to vulnerable populations, the association continues to function without official institutional backing. When questioned about steps taken to engage public authorities and international partners, Cintia revealed that discussions are currently underway with Cameroon’s Ministry of Social Affairs – MINAS to establish a formal collaborative agreement.
In the meantime, the initiative has been widely praised by beneficiaries who view it as a lifeline in a tough economic climate, with one street youth, Essai Rodrigue, sharing that the assistance not only feeds many who have nothing but also deters desperate individuals from turning to theft.
The free meal distribution campaign is set to continue this Saturday, May 30, at the Mvog-Ada market in Yaounde five. Through this ongoing social action, Source de Vie is issuing an open appeal to well-wishers, asking for solidarity through donations or membership to help sustain and strengthen their support for those in need.
