WIHD Cameroon partners with the World's Largest Lesson Campaign to implement the Global Goals in Cameroon through the Maize/Live stock farm project which is to run from 2015-2030

One of my greatest role models of all time, Dr. Ann Marie E. McSwain of Lincoln University opined that, Leadership is about Capacity- the capacity to listen and observe, to use your expertise as a starting point to encourage dialogue between all levels of decision making, to establish processes and transparency in decision-making, to articulate your own values and visions clearly but not impose them. It is about setting and not just reacting to agendas, identifying problems, and initiating change that makes for substantial improvement rather than managing change.

In the spirit of raising women leaders in communities around Cameroon, I am happy to announce on behalf of the WIHD Cameroon team our “WIHD MAIZE” project which was launched in December 2014 and became effective in 2015 currently taking place in the Nsimalen village located in the Centre region of Cameroon.

This project is aimed at supporting rural women/Girls through motivating them to cultivate a positive attitude to enable them raise themselves and families out of poverty. It brings together prominent female leaders in the community and young girls both within and out of school to learn about best  practices and get engaged in Maize/Livestock Farming activities which eventually helps them raise funds, share experiences between themselves and facilitators as a motivational asset to break free from poverty and begin a practice and a dream of a possible better future for themselves.It also would engage alot more women in professional workshops in the months and years ahead to equip them with professional  skills both in agriculture and self development which could enable them boost productivity while gaining more income for themselves. 

At the end of the project, we are expecting to have inspired between 3000-5000 young girls who are both in and out of school to take an interest in education and see a reason to aspire for the highest educational qualifications to improve on themselves and Families and also train between 1000-5000 other women/Girls in the best techniques in self development/ keeping intensive livestock farms.Our aim is to optimize food production and the welfare of the women in the communities we would serve within the duration of the project.

N.B This project is meant to implement 9 of the Global Goals (1,2,3,4,5,8, 10,11,13) in Cameroon, beginning with the Centre region and extending to other parts of the Country in the future.The project will run from 2015 through 2030.

Consent in a Women`s Language

The responsibility of obtaining a woman/Girl’s consent prior to engaging in a sexual activity with her is imperative. Unfortunately, it is every now and then misunderstood or neglected. To absolutely make sure that a potential sexual partner/Wife is a willing participant, you could simply ask. Aside from verbal consent, it could be  possible to assess your partner's comfort level by means of her body language. I get really upset by the number of rape cases recorded in our institutions every day either from a sexual partner or wife as a result of mistaken sexual consent. So, I have therefore resolved to a number of factors I believe should be considered when giving and getting consent in any case from a sexual partner.

Compliance and Agreement

Compliance to engage in any sexual activity is the act of agreeing to it. It is not, however, an agreement to participate in all sexual activity. Therefore, if someone agrees to kissing and fondling, it does not indicate she is open to oral or vaginal sex. Compliance is also not a binding agreement. This means that it can be revoked at any time. If someone agrees to sexual activity, she is not obligated to participate for the length of time her partner might demand.

Ability and state of Mind

Not everyone has the ability to give consent. Children, for example, cannot give consent because they lack the maturity and experience to do so. Even those who are old enough to consent may not always be in the right state of mind to do so. For example, a university student who has been drinking alcohol may not be able to consent rightly to sex due to her level of intoxication. We must understand that this affects peoples' abilities to understand and agree to certain behaviors at certain times. Because as alcohol intake increases, the ability to give out conscious consent decreases.

Response and Body Language

A verbal "yes" or "no" is always required to give or obtain consent. Body language is a great guide to judging someone's sexual consent. If a partner is of age, able-minded and actively participating in the act, she may be consenting. However, if she becomes tensed, pulls away or turns her head, for instance, she may be withdrawing or refusing consent. Any pressure to continue sexual activity despite your partner's lack of participation constitutes sexual assault. If you are unsure if a partner is comfortable with certain sexual contact, ask her. If you are still unsure, do not continue.

Bullying to obtain consent

There are multiple myths surrounding consent, sex and gender roles, bullying is most often used as a way to obtain consent. For instance, men may sometimes feel entitled to sex in return for paying for a date, and every now and then females turn to believe their worth is based on their level of sexual engagement. This behavior is manipulative. I consider it bullying. It is not, and can never be a safe or appropriate means of affirming consent.

Also, Previous sexual activity between two people does not imply consent. Saying  « Mouiller ce mouiller qu'il n'y a pas de mouiller sec » So what's the big deal?  We've done it before" can be bullying. "If you loved me, you would" and "I'm leaving for school soon. Let's do it before it's too late" . These are all examples of bullying languages. Please guys lets take note and watch the way we interact with our partners. Together we can put a stop to #Genderbasedvoilence! ! 

#MyBodyMyTerms
 #16days #orangetheworld  #Cameroon

Speak it, seek it, consider it “Internet access for rural Women in Cameroon”.

My dream had always been to contribute to create a just, equitable, and sustainable world in which every woman and girl child would posses the resources, opportunities, the right to be heard, the choices, and every other right to realize her full potential.

Greater than ever, global Internet connectivity has become such a critical tool to achieving this dream of  upholding human rights for every woman particularly in my country Cameroon. Connectivity is the  underpinning that would help make the voices and choices of women’s vision in communities in a country like ours possible. In an internet linked society, women and girls can make more informed decisions about their rights, health, access education opportunities, get new jobs, and learn about basic information and resources around them.


Because it's such a powerful device for the progress of women, the Internet should be accessible for every Cameroonian woman everywhere.

Take for instance, Cameroon has a total population of about 22.25 million with an estimated literacy rate at 71.3% (male) and 64.8 %(female), yet only an estimated 30% of women are online, meaning about 70% have never tweeted or "liked" anything, never emailed a photo or read the news online, never looked up facts or even created a public profile on linked in, or done any of the things others in the developed World do so often and so easily to move forward .

Also, there is a stark economic gap between the people who are connected and the people who are not. About 90% of women living in rural areas in the Country for example have never connected to the Internet, where it can be tough to afford basic devices and services, let alone the cost of accessing an internet network, the language used(where pidgin English is the common language understood by most people in rural communities), the limited or costly power sources and the prices involved in buying a computer or a phone.

This digital divide impacts women the most severely. In most communities around the South West region (where i come from) for example, women are connected at a rate of about 40% lower than men.Improved access could help these woman, but most especially it would help mothers who live in remote villages with no access to the internet or resources. For these mothers, access to the Internet may mean access to critical resources for improving health, safety, and economic opportunities for themselves, their families, and the entire communities. For example, a simple mobile phone would be used to document and report harassment and violence to the right institutions, to access training opportunities and access literacy programs to improve on agriculture, and could connect them to health workers such as midwives in the cities( for expectant women). In periods of poor whether conditions, a simple Internet connection would serve as a pathway for the rural women to start up or create a small businesses profile online and let her products reach new markets.

And that's just the start.Take for example the approach to increasing connectivity taken recently by Internet.org, an effort led by Facebook to provide a platform for people to access a set of free basic Internet services in areas like health, education, employment, news, and messaging, with the long-term goal of sustainable, global access to the Internet. Internet.org also includes services that significantly benefit women, such as maternal health information.

The point is, we have to do something. The challenge of connectivity and the challenge of achieving gender equality and sustainability of the global goals are closely related. Neither will be solved with a single stroke, but it's better to begin than to stand by and do nothing.

The International community, in cooperation with the private sector and the Cameroonian government, could create solutions that would bring as many women as much connectivity as possible.Then efforts like Internet.org can be a part of the solution. They've already given 9 million people in 15 countries access to a bundle of selected Internet services for free.

Now, of course, those 9 million people don't have access to everything on the Internet - and this is the idea that must be the goal of Cameroonians as well - but now they have something that they never had at all before. And I know with my deepest conviction and years of human rights experience, that once you give a woman new rights or new resources, she embraces them, she makes sure that her family benefits and she fights for more.

And if the benefits of internet connectivity are to extend to every Cameroonian Woman, the International community needs to work together with NGOs, the Cameroonian government, and the private sector to find a globally scalable and sustainable way to bring these women online. We need to recognize that none of us can do it alone, and none of us can do it all at once.

The Internet needs to belong to, and be shaped by, everyone, including every women in all the communities, not just those in the cities who can afford it now.

#GlobalGoals #Connectivity #Cameroon

Day of the Girl

Almost two years ago, the UN declared October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child to raise awareness on all issues regarding gender inequality around the world. It was a day set aside for activist groups to come together under the same goal to highlight, discuss, and take action to advance rights and opportunities for girls everywhere. Hence, today is not just a day; it’s a movement. A worldwide revolution that is aimed at making ourselves and girls everywhere to be seen as equals in the eyes of others.







To mark the celebration of the International Day of the Girl Today, we interviewed 4 girls and a boy within the Catholic University Campus at Ekounou- Yaounde, in the hope that they’ll be inspired to follow their dreams when they hear about ours and that of others. "We believe in the power of a dream" they all acknowledged as they gave out personal information about themselves at 15 and who they would want to become in the future.


“My dream at 15, was to become a pilot, to be able to travel around the world. I hope to be able to work in an Air Craft Industry some day, but I feel really bad because of the need of the amount of money involved in pursuing a professional training in the field, plus its mostly done out of Cameroon. I want to be able to proof to the World that what Men can do, strong women can also do and do them even better than the men. I feel like it is really something that connects to my heart. I believe most of all, that I can challenge my family and friends who think Women need most to be under a man than to be independent and strong. They say ill be unmarried and un loyal, that men would run away from me. But I don’t give a hood about what they think, am still exploring my options and working on my plans to achieve this dream, God being my helper.”

Charlotte 25


“My dream at 15 was to become Miss Cameroon , to lead my community and to have the chance to touch the lives of so many people in my Country as possible, through serving them using the platform. Until now, I still want to be Miss Cameroon to show other Girls that you can be beautiful, strong, intelligent, and lead with a good heart all at once. "To become an exemplary leader and make a change to empower other girls lives is my dream”

 Marie-Rose 18


“My dream at 15 has always been to own my own business, an attractive fashion mall where my friends and other people can come in to buy fashionable clothes and shoes, make up themselves and hang out to discuss girls vibe. The first step I have taken is to obtain a University education, then ill get a professional training Certificate and start up my own business afterwards, first with free beauty info tips sessions and then offering affordable days of care and Bonanza activities (almost impossible to come by in the city). Then, I would set up a full and complete business by the time am 25.

Susan 22


“I want to be able to make people happy.To touch the lives of everyone around me with love & happiness. Whether by helping them, laughing, or a simple smile. Everyone has to feel important and worthy in Life. That has been my dream since I was 15”

Remy 27


“I desire to travel abroad immediately after obtaining a Bachelors Degree to work and figure my way through life. This has been my dream since when I was 15yrs old. I was a little boy and I watched how my Uncle traveled out, worked hard and became very successful. I want to be able to be as successful as my Uncle. To help my family and the people around me. That is how I want my future to look like in a few years.

Ludovic 27.


Well, as for me, here is what I had to say about my dreams as a child. At 15, I dreamt of becoming a Doctor(PhD) and teach Feminism to University students Worldwide. I still stand firm in that dream.






"..A dream is like a precious necklace that you never want to loose, and each individual’s dream is perfect and dazzling in its own right. Together they can form a beautiful chain of inspiration and excitement which keeps a person alive and makes their every existence meaningful"
"Together, We want ourselves and girls everywhere, to be seen as equals and with full potential in the eyes of others and in our own eyes".


#‎MyLifeAt15
#EndChildMarraige
#Global Goals in #Cameroon

Light the Way Vigil. We Unite for the love of our motherland

So on September 24, 2015 more that Fifty million People around the World from different Continents and ethnic backgrounds assembled for the #LightTheWay vigil to show their support for the new sustainable development goals. Oh yes! About 300 Cameroonians all over the country’s territory did too. We came out as youths, civil Society Organizations and the millitary to strongly show our support for #lasting Peace ‪#‎Gender equality and # poverty alleviation  in our motherland‎ .

Curious enough, as a part of the celebration, the WIHD team took out time to interview a couple of Cameroonians to find out the impressions  they have regarding the #GlobalGoals during the campaign. Different people had different ideas and a majority didn’t even know what the goals were meant to address. Of  the 30 youths between the ages of 19-35 that were interviewed, 14 of them were unaware of what the sustainable development goals were meant to advance. 18 others had not heard about the new Sustainable development initiative and agenda not even  the upsurge need of the goals and its significance. The rest (3) thought it was some kind of a national security policy. That's the Cameroonian youth for you. A group of interesting, vibrant and semi- ignorant people, who are also very warm and peaceful, incredibly ready to welcome  ideas to push forward the development of their Country.  Although the campaign didn't last as long as we all expected, it was a wonderful display of support to our Country –
We United to Fight inequality and injustice.
We United to end poverty.

We united to fix our climate.

We United to LightTheWay for the new #GlobalGoals in #Cameroon

How Aware are you of the Global Goals?

Are we aware that the New Sustainable Development Goals( Global Goals) will be announced on the day after tomorrow, which is the 25 of September 2015? If not, then this is our opportunity to talk about the goals like something that belongs to us the youths and to do everything possible to inform a lot more people as far as promoting the goals are concerned (particularly of preferred interest to me is goal number 5) within  and around our schools and communities.

                  

As Actress & Plan International "Because I am a Girl" Ambassador, Freida Pinto puts it:

 "If all girls and boys learn about gender equality, we can expect a more gender-sensitized world which will reduce crimes against women and girls and help grow respect for every human alive. And then, we can have that truly prosperous world that we dream of having.”

A brief history about the goals:

On September 25^th 2015, 193 world leaders will commit to the Global Goals for Sustainable Development. 17 goals to achieve 3 extraordinary things in the next 15 years. End extreme poverty, Fight inequality and injustice, Fix climate change.  If every community member teaches a small group of people from their household,  and school teachers around the world teach children about the goals as well, together we can mobilize  to achieve the generation that changed the world.

So, which is why  we must  join the support with the Global Goals Campaign in partnership with UNICEF and a host of children’s heroes such as Serena Williams, Malala Yousafzai, Neymar, Dani Alves, Kolo Touré and Nancy Ajram, under the  World’s Largest Lesson campaign. Schools in over 100 countries are taking part , so why not us Cameroonians?

All you have to do is teach a lesson about the Global Goals in the week of the 27^th September. Spend 30 minutes or an hour introducing students/your community members to this new “to-do” list for people and planet in  an assembly, a class or community gathering. All the resources you need are available in 10 languages at  www.globalgoals.org/worldslargestlesson

The World’s Largest lesson is a film written by Sir Ken Robinson and animated by Oscar winning Aardman Animation that can challenge students and non-students to help fight global inequality, end poverty and protect the planet, using their very own superpowers. It’s introduced by celebrities in different languages to inspire children.

‘Heroes for Change’ is a comic book from leading comic writers and illustrators. It’s beautiful and introduces the goals and sets out the impact they will have as a collective. Use the comic to help inspire children to put on their ‘blue capes’ and work together for change.

The World We Want is a guide to the Global Goals for children and young people that can give you and your students the background information that they need to  start with.

Lesson plans from friends across the world. A group of passionate celebrities and teachers have been gathered to create exciting lessons plans that range from introducing the new Global Goals as a whole, to ones that focus on gender equality, education, violence and many more.

We must all try to run as many lessons as possible within our schools /around our communities during the week of September 27^th. Run a lesson if you can or share this message with someone who might be able to!

Then join in the conversation on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

#GlobalGoals #Cameroon @TheGlobalGoals@TheWorldsLesson@wihd_cameroon

www.globalgoals.org/worldslargestlesson

Feminism On Book Blogs

I know, I have just recently started posting on this blog (which reminds me, I still have to sort through all the unpublished works I had earlier done to share) but I cant help but be thankful that I finally made the decision to do so. Something about blogging makes me a happy feminist. I mean, who doesn’t love a wider audience. The best thing? This place is so magical (and free) that it feels like you are staying in an open community, with the opportunity to connect with an extensive multitude. Now who doesn't love that idea?

Oh and yes, with my new found love for book bloggers, So I’ve started religiously following Feminist book blogs. I didn’t expect this decision to make me this cheerful! I always thought that I knew just what I wanted out of a book on Gender, and where I would be able to find those books. Throughout my life, my practice for finding the books I want to read has really changed and evolved a lot. This past months, I don’t think I’ve done as much reading as I did in the previous months, and I have to admit that it’s been a little hard adapting to post- University school life.

Without school assignments putting books after books in front of me, there’s a bit of a feeling like I’m lost at sea. I’m still reading though, but it’s something that I have to remember to do now, because when in doubt I just wind up with navigating the web or go through a u tube session. I think I might  be posting  later about my favorite book blogs, but right now I’m still getting a feel and a taste of all the ones I’m following, and trying to decide who has the best advice on what to read on Feminism. Yes, I’m so excited!

I never would have realized how many people are out there, just talking about  Feminist ideologies and the books they read on them to trigger action. I try to comment on some of the blogs I read, and let people know I do value the fact that they’re going to such effort to produce content and inform other readers. With the internet and the way that everyone has a platform on it, it can be hard to find what you’re looking for or even know that it is out there. I hope I get to grab a lot on the thousands of blog articles and books published everyday, and I’m realizing that book bloggers provide a vital service in the new landscape of publishing. It is an incredible advantage for me to have these bloggers as a resource and to be able to contribute my thoughts to the World through my own Blog.
#ProudlyFeminist #Cameroon