Education and Empowerment of women/ girls

The armed conflict/humanitarian crisis in the North West and South Regions of Cameroon has continued to significantly compromise access to basic health care especially sexual reproductive health care among adolescents and young people, including those living with disabilities. In the communities of Bopo Bakundu and Pete Bakundu, in the South West Region of Cameroon, the crisis has caused young women and girls to be victims of unplanned pregnancy due to school drop outs and lack of means of livelihood and with the poor quality health services in these communities, the sexual and reproductive health rights of young people are in danger. In the health centers in these community, there are little or no medical tools in their maternity. The women give birth on grass beds and mats and there are not enough medical tools in these health centers to carry on with the child delivery process. 

Addressing unplanned pregnancy for young women and girls. This initiative intends to remedy the above cited problems through the provision of contraceptives, peer education, a mass media campaign, vocational training and provision of financial incentives. All these will go a long way to empower 500 adolescents with information and services on sexual and reproductive health including family planning so that they can be able to speak out and challenge negative social norms that drive harmful practices, such as gender-based violence, teenage pregnancy and become change-makers, able to live to their fullest potential. This initiative will provide two (2) Safe spaces dedicated to the education of young girls and victims of gender-based violence in Kumba, precisely in Bopo Bakundu and Pete Bakundu on their Sexual and reproductive Health Rights, issues around early marriages, unwanted pregnancies and the empowerment of young girls. This will go a long way to help internally displaced persons and other vulnerable women in the community ensure the dignity and safety of their children.

This solution targets teenage girls and young women between the ages of 15-24  years who because of the crisis have been displaced and with the economic hardship can no longer continue schooling and have sort different means of livelihood like illegitimately cohabiting with a man. These men in return don't take care of them properly because they are aware that these girls have no one to turn to and they are their last resort. So in order to address their need, we will provide them with contraceptives, peer education on health information, carry out mass media campaign, train them on a particular trade and giving them financial incentives so that they can be able to start up a business for themselves that will make them self reliant and not depend on men for survival and also for pregnant girls and young women, we will provide them with some essential mama kits for preparation of the coming of their child and incur a percentage of their prenatal checks.

Survivors’ Network is a female led Anti-Human Trafficking organization, made up of survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence based in Cameroon and has been in existence since 2015. The organization runs a safe space for internally displaced women / girls and also carries out empowerment programs in order to make them financially viable and less vulnerable to abuses. We carry out sensitization and awareness raising campaigns against Gender Based Violence, human trafficking and other forms of abuses. During this sensitization process, we carry out interviews that helps us identify the need assessments of our target communities.

Throughout the running of the project, about 1600 persons (women and girls) have passed through the safe space /vocational training center. During their stay at the safe space, the organization took charge of their feeding and hospital bills and also gave them training on various trades so as to enable them become financially viable when they leave the center.

This solution will not only train these vulnerable women and girls but will empower them by means of peer education on contraceptive methods and contraceptives will be distributed to them. Also they would be trained in a particular trade that will help them gain skills and financial incentives will be given to them to help them start their own businesses so that they become less dependent on men for survival.

The impact goal of this initiative is to Increase youth access to evidence-based and evidence-informed programs to prevent unplanned pregnancy.

Engage them in an income generating activity which will help them gain skills and provide them with seed capitals to help them start small businesses for themselves which will enable them become financially viable and independent.

Our solution is going to have a positive impact on this problem because one of the causes of unplanned pregnancy in young women and girls is poverty and economic hardship. So in empowering these young women and girls in an income generating activity, it will reduce their level of vulnerability and also reduce the rate of unplanned pregnancy.

The organization is made up of 15 employees; 10 full time employees and 5 volunteers

We have been working for a long time in the domain of empowering vulnerable women / girls and this time we are targeting young women and girls between the ages 15-24 years.

Our organization is committed to developing a rich culture, a diverse workplace and a healthy work environment in which every employee is treated fairly, is respected and has the opportunity to contribute to the success of the organization, while having the opportunity to achieve their full potentials as individuals. Also we recognize the fact that the wide range of experiences and perspectives resulting from different diversities in gender, sexual orientation, disability and others, promotes innovations and the success of the organization. we are opposed to all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination. All employees, no matter whether they are part time, full time or temporary, they are treated with respect and fairness.

Our organization carries out awareness raising campaigns on human trafficking, gender based violence and other associated abuses. It also empowers and train vulnerable women and girls in dress making, marking of traditional wears, making of local snacks and providing them with seed capitals in order to enable them become financially independent and less vulnerable to abuses.  

We get money to fund our works through donations, grants and  payment of membership fees by members of the organization.  We also get funds through in-kind supports and shared resources from other organizations.