Throughout 2019, Wfac organised series of outreaches, capacity development trainings and advocacy meetings with over 200 women and girls across eight communities. A project supported by African Women’s Development Fund USA (AWDF USA), which aimed at mobilising, strengthening capacities, and increasing young women living in rural communities active participation in the electoral process while at the same time, bringing the needs and rights of women and girls to bear in the process.
The 12 month program culminated with a one day Feminist Assembly and town hall meeting with the Honourable #Edna_Mbah, bringing together 33 feminist activists and advocates as well as closed to 50 grassroots women leaders including young women to exchange perspectives and engaged in an interactive and intergenerational dialogue between honourable member of parliament and the people, to freely speak about those issues that directly affects them and hear firsthand from member of parliament how to strategically influence national policy as a grassroots woman.
In addition, the program helped provide an opportunity for the member of Parliament to listen to the needs of the women and girls of the different grassroots communities.
The program in return, equipped the women and young women leaders living in the targeted rural areas with the necessary leadership skills on civic participation, engagement and policy advocacy particularly around advancing women and girls living in rural communities sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Resulting from town hall meeting and feminist assembly, 3 women drew inspiration and decided to submit their candidacies for political offices in the 2020 municipal and parliamentary elections.
According to Lady Emma Lebaga, 2020 parliamentary candidate for Limbe, southwest region said in the post-town hall survey that, after listening to Honourable Edna, shared her personal and political journey and story winning elections in a constituency that have always been headed by men, she became more confident in pursuing her political career. She further notes that she has always been concerned by the limited representation of women including young women in the decision making table, and sensing the difficulties encountered to push forward and solve their plights. Reason, she decided to take a firm step to run for the Legislative Election as a Parliamentary Candidate for Fako East, Limbe…working hard to win the race and wishing many more women could join in the future and hoping the Government sees the need to make the parity 50:50.
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This is excerpt from Women for a Change, Cameroon 2019 Annual Report.
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