Since 2016, Cameroon has been engulfed in the Anglophone crisis, a civil conflict with devastating consequences, particularly for displaced women. These women endure social marginalization, including limited access to education, early marriages, and incidents of rape, especially in urban areas.
Recognizing the importance of volunteerism in empowering individuals, I, as a program facilitator with the De Wise Foundation, an organization dedicated to uplifting internally displaced persons, spearheaded a two-week initiative from 2 December to 10 December. The project aimed to empower 20 displaced women by providing training in income-generating skills such as bracelet making, makeup application, baking, and entrepreneurship. Through this endeavour, we aimed to equip these women with practical skills to enhance their livelihoods and foster self-sufficiency.
Over four days, a comprehensive training program was conducted for internally displaced persons (IDPs), aimed at empowering them with practical skills and knowledge to improve their livelihoods.
Day 1 focused on bead-making, with a facilitator guiding participants through the process of creating bracelets. By the end of the session, participants had developed their pieces, with many already beginning to generate income from their newfound skills.
Day 2 introduced participants to the art of self and professional makeup application, covering topics such as lipstick, eye makeup, and shadow application.
On Day 3, baking skills were taught, including cake, pancake, and doughnut production. Participants worked in groups to complete tasks assigned to them, showcasing their newly acquired abilities.
Day 4 concluded the program with training in marketing and financial literacy, equipping participants with essential knowledge on starting a business, writing a business plan, and utilizing online marketing strategies. Refreshments were provided as a token of appreciation for their dedication throughout the training.
The participants’ journey to self-reliance and empowerment was a success. I am happy to see that the majority of them are succeeding by using the expertise they learned to generate a source of income. Through the combined efforts of the amazing team, it has been possible to enable these ladies to become financially independent and guarantee a bright future ahead of them.
