Empower Women Leaders

Empowering Women

Supporting young African girls to become future leaders.

Menstruation Is Power

The adverse effects of Covid-19 hit the world and Africa greatly, causing loss of lives and shortages in products due to constant lockdowns and in accessibilities, with menstrual hygiene products not being an exemption, leading the increase in prices. Menstrual hygiene products also recorded a significant increase in their prices, posing a challenge for women in rural areas who are in accessibilities low income-earners. These low-income earners in some countries like Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda, turned to trading their bodies in order to afford menstrual Hygiene products, during the lockdown periods of the virus outbreak (Ajetey 2019). According to Konate, disposable pads generate about 200, 000tons of waste each year which is decomposed by burning, throwing into the sea or buried. This has caused the release of toxic gasses into the atmosphere which highly contribute to global warming.

In collaboration with some partners in Haiti, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Zambia, MAW, launched the MENSTRUATION IS POWER PROJECT to educate, empower young girls on proper menstrual hygiene management, body autonomy, and self-care, and promote the use of sustainable menstrual products, and mitigate the adverse impacts of disposable pads to the environment. In short, the overall objective of this project is to promote education, combat climate change, and foster sustainable menstrual practices, ultimately empowering over 500 girls across the five Countries including Cameroon

So far, MAW has organized and carried out 5 empowerment workshops in communities, schools, and churches. Through very interactive workshop sessions, participants got to learn about eco-friendly menstrual products, like the reusable pads and the menstrual cup. This year (2025), MAW extended her reach by collaborating with some grass field organization to reach out to young girls in the crisis-affected regions of Cameroon, educating them on menstrual Health Management, puberty and supporting them with menstrual hygiene kits.

This project so far has reached over 300 young girls, increased awareness and knowledge among young girls, challenged harmful cultural beliefs surrounding menstruation, promoted sustainable menstruation and challenged menstrual stigma, boasting the confidence of menstruating young girls.

Education For All

The Education for All program was first introduced in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), by a Mastercard Foundation Scholar called BATUQUE GRACIA, when she saw the need to enlighten youths on scholarship opportunities enabling especially those from low-income backgrounds pursue higher education. After meeting with Gracia on a networking platform Baobab, MAW’s CEO, BRENDA CHI, and with knowledge of the educational challenges or limitations faced by individual from low income backgrounds and underprivileged communities in Cameroon, decided to join Gracia in designing a program that will run both in DRC and Cameroon, hoping to spread it to other African countries in time to come, with a universal aim to bridge the educational gap between the rich and those form low income backgrounds, enabling them access higher educational opportunities at little or no cost, through enlightening in ; opportunity search, writing appealing essays, information Technology and mentorship.

The first edition of the Education for All program in Cameroon took place in 2020, and the second in 2022, where participants gained valuable insights on how to write appealing essays, search for scholarship opportunities, build professional media profiles, and learned basics in Information Technology.

The valuable knowledge and mentorship from expertise trainers of this program, has paved the way for 5 participants to secure fully funded scholarships and exchange programs to different countries around the world, e.g. Brenda Nyah, currently studying at Ashesi University Ghana, Britney Courage got selected and attended the Tech Girl’s Exchange Program in the United States of America, etc.

Women in Leadership

In Cameroon, women still remain significantly underrepresented in key decision-making tables. As of recent statistics, women hold only about 6% of ministerial and administrative roles in the Country. Cultural, structural and economic barriers continue to hinder women’s full participation in leadership. These barriers which are deeply rooted in many communities, limits women’s access to education, landownership, and capital, which are often the prerequisites for leadership. Since 2016, Cameroon has been struggling with a violent conflict in its two English-speaking Regions (the Anglophone crisis)/ this crisis has displaced over 700,000 people, claimed thousands of lives, and destabilized the social, economic, and political fabric of these regions, significantly limiting women’s ability to access and thrive in leadership. This insecurity in the region has led to the frequent and complete short down of schools, training centers and universities, depriving many young women and girls of education and the skills needed to bring out their full potential. Many have been displaced and now live in host communities or urban centers under precarious conditions, where they face barriers to formal employment, limited access to capital, and increased vulnerability to gender-based violence.

In response to this, MAW introduced the IDP Girl’s Leadership training program in November 2023, aimed at empowering Internally Displaced young girls from the crisis-affected regions, with skills in to enable them thrive and bring out their full potential. With courses like leadership, entrepreneurship, Information Technology and Community engagement thought by her expertise trainers, these young girls have been progressively working towards and achieving their goals. MAW has productively carried out 3 training sessions with the first edition carried out in November 2023.

So far through the IDP Girl’s Leadership training Program,MAW has impacted the lives of over 300 Internally Displaced Young girls in the center region, enabling these young girls start up their own and grow their businesses, secure formal jobs, and back exchange and academic scholarships through the training and mentorship which follows every training session. The success stories from this training session have been tremendous

Women in Agriculture

At MAW, we are committed in promoting the active participation of women in agriculture as a pathway to economic empowerment and food security in Cameroon. We recognize the central role women play in farming yet many still face barriers such as limited access to land, tools training, markets. Our goal is to support women farmers by introducing them to sustainable agricultural practices that can improve productivity and resilience.

Although we have not yet launched activities in this area due to lack of funds, we are actively seeking partnership and support from individuals and organizations to bring this vision to life, so we cam empower women in agriculture to thrive and lead change in communities and Cameroon.

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Promoting Digital Literacy

GBV remains a serious and widespread issue in the world and Cameroon in particular, affecting women and girls across all regions and communities. Rooted in deeply entrenched gender inequalities, GBV takes many forms, ranging from domestic violence and sexual assort to early and forced marriages, psychological abuse, and economic control. Social norms that normalize silence, shame and victim-blaming, combined with limited legal protection and weak enforcement, often prevent survivors from seeking justice or support. Conflict-affected regions such as the North West and South West have seen a rise in GBV cases due to displacement, insecurity, and breakdown of protective systems.

Over the years, MAW has been actively working towards eradicating GBV through education, advocacy, and community engagement. We organize workshops, webinars, participate in peaceful matches, and awareness campaignsto educate communities about GB, challenge harmful gender norms, and promote a culture of respect and accountability……. Through our activities, we aim to support survivors, amplify their voices, and advocate for safe spaces where women and girls can live free from violence and discrimination.

Our work has so far has made meaningful impacts in the communities we serve. Through our workshops and webinars, we have empowered over 500 participants especially young people and women with the knowledge and confidence to speak out against GBV and support those affected. Survivors have shared testimonies of how our safe space and awarenesssessions helped them seek help and begin healing. Our public sensitization and match participation have sparked critical conversations, contributing to a growing shift in attitudes toward GBV.

Eradicating Gender-Based Violence

In Cameroon, many young people especially those in underserved or rural communities still lack basic digital skills and access to technology. This digital gap limits their ability to explore online learning, access job opportunities, or participate meaningfully in the digital economy. Without adequate digital education, countless youths’ risk being left behind in an increasingly connected world.

At MAW, we recognize that digital literacy is a vital tool for empowering young people especially young girls. As part of our commitment to bridge the digital divide, we have been organizing and continue to offer digital literacy classes tailored to meet the needs of Cameroonian youths. Our programs equip participants with practical skills in computer use, internet navigation, online communication, graphic designing, web development and digital safety. By creating inclusive learning environment and hands-on training, we aim to empower youths with the tools they need to thrive in this digital age.

Our digital literacy classes have already begun transforming lives by equipping young people with practical skills they can apply in school, work, and everyday life. Over 100 participants (including those from the leadership program), who had little or no knowledge of computer use can now confidently operate basic software, navigate the internet safely, and use digital tools for communication and productivity. These skills have not only boosted their self-confidence but also opened doors to new opportunities in education, entrepreneurship, and employment.