Many difficulties plague the existence of a non-profit NGO in a developing country like Cameroon especially since the country is just recovering from an economic recession. CDEO has accomplished much within a very short time.  

CDEO's accomplishments include amongst others the following:

• Assisted in the establishment of a Deaf Sports Association in Yaounde in 1997. It should be mentioned that the Yaounde deaf football teams have registered great successes over football teams of hearing colleges . However, the deaf teams need a sports complex and necessary equipment.

• Organisation of a special programme on World AIDS Day for the deaf in 1998, 1999 and 2000. With the high prevalence of AIDS in Cameroon the CDEO campaign against AIDS has been intensified . A deaf women’s group against AIDS now exists thanks to CDEO.

• Cosponsored a Deaf Art Show with the American school of Yaounde in March 2000. More arts exhibitions by deaf artists were planned for the 2003 year.

• Recruited and trained 15 Cameroon Sign Language Interpreters.

• Worked in collaboration with CANAD (Cameroon National Association of the Deaf ) and the Ministry of Social Affairs (MINAS) to redynamise the activities of CANAD in 1999.

• Assisted in the formation of a Parents of Deaf Children organisation in the North West Province in 1999. More Parents of Deaf Children associations will formed in due course.

• Since 1997, sign language instruction has been provided to over 400 hearing Cameroonians.

• Provided Deaf Adult Literacy to 30 deaf adults since 1997.

• Through the Catholic Deaf Association (U.K), the Liliane Foundation in Holland and Cameroonians in the USA, CDEO raised funds for scholarships for many underprivileged pupils at EID.

• CDEO received a huge donation of school and office equipment, as well as a truck from the U.S Military Humanitarian Assistance Programme.

• CDEO received the “Prix de l’Effort” award from the Ministry of Social Affairs.


• In March 2002, the EID which hitherto was recognised only by the Ministry of Social Affairs was also recognised to operate as a Boarding Nursery, Primary, and Secondary General and Technical School.
  
  
EID Students Marching During Youth Day Celebrations  

• The EID Secondary/Technical School went operational with six students during the 2004/2005 academic year. The students marched majestically to the delight of thousands of spectators during the 2005 Youth Day celebration in Kumba.


• In 2005 CDEO won a grant of 9.3 Million (FCFA) after an international competition hosted by the International Deaf Children's Society, UK for its vocational training programme which is still in progress, with Carpentry, Sewing, Agriculture and Animal Breeding being practiced.


• CDEO networked with International Fellowship Between America and Cameroon (IFBAC), Chicago resulting in the granting of scholarships to EID pupils in 2006 and 2007.


• In July 2005, the Executive President of CDEO attended the International Congress on Deaf Education in Maastricht Holland (ICED) and presented a paper on promoting deaf empowerment in Cameroon.



• In 2006, CDEO in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs and the National Association of Disabled Persons in Cameroon decided on Cameroon adopting a Special Education policy. This is a landmark in deaf empowerment in Cameroon.
  


• In 2007, both the Executive President together and the Programme Co-ordinator of CDEO visited Gallaudet and Ball State Universities in the USA to study their Special Education programmes.
  


• CDEO received a 10 million FCFA grant from Mr. Hans Groenewegen for the building of a dormitory block. A modern dormitory block for 60 pupils and students was realised in 2008. No sooner had this building been built than we were faced with the problem of accommodating the extra 30 children when school enrolment rose to 92. We have embarked on extending the dormitory, but lack funds to continue with the project.
  


• In 2008, CDEO intensified Sign Language development. Thanks to special assistance from Mr. Buchanan of the Rain Forest International School and the participation of Ms Staci Paisley, a Volunteer Professional Sign Language Interpreter from Washington DC, 5 students were prepared to sit the GCE/technical exam.
  


• In 2009, both the Executive President and Programme Coordinator of CDEO attended the International Conference on Special Needs Education for Sustainable Development in Africa. The conference which held at the University of Calabar, Nigeria, from August 4th through August 8th 2009, was organised by the National Centre for Exceptional Education (NCEC). The conference was very enriching and the knowledge acquired during this event is now being shared with other partners in the field.
  


• The Executive President of CDEO in his capacity as the Principal of the EID attended the recent National Workshop for the Evaluation on Disabilities in Cameroon organised by the Ministry of Social Affairs in collaboration with the Cardinal Leger Handicapped Centre, Etug-Ebe.
  


• The efforts of CDEO were recently bolstered by the granting of some invaluable gifts by the Chantal Biya Foundation, thanks to Sr. Therese Njamfa. She is an Advocacy Administrator who has signed a lifelong partnership to work with CDEO for deaf empowerment in Cameroon in general and the EID in particular. She now joins Hon. Benjamin Itoe and Mr.Akwo-fese as Life Members of the CDEO.
  


• In 2009, the Christian Men's Fellow group from the Kumba Presbyterian Church as well as the Bafaw Women's group thanks to Madam Lydia Efimba donated gifts to CDEO.
  


• In July 2010, CDEO celebrated its 15th Anniversary with reaffirmed dedication towards improving the lives of Deaf People in Cameroon.
  


• In 2011, CDEO in collaboration with the Sight Savers, the Cameroon Human Rights Commission and other NGOs mobilized the deaf community to exercise their civil rights during the October Presidential Elections.
  


• In 2012, Te'aira Tucker, a student from Gallaudet University, spent 2 months as an intern at the Ephphatha Institute for the Deaf during which several workshops were organized and successfully implemented to improve their learning of the students.
  


• In 2013, the Ephphatha Institute for the Deaf was made an official examination center for the national General Certificate of Education (GCE)exam in Cameroon.