Located in Central Africa, Cameroon faces a range of social challenges. Yet women across the country have continued to seek ways to learn about peace and bring its values into their communities.

Cameroon’s journey toward peacebuilding gained momentum in 2023, when local women first connected with the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG). What began as an online exchange eventually led to peace education in the capital, Yaoundé, and participants went on to play a key role in building partnerships with local organizations.

Spring 2023: A First Meeting Beyond the Screen

Cameroonian women first met with IWPG at an Online Welcoming Meeting held on March 28, 2023.

Hosted by IWPG Global Region 4, the meeting brought together women leaders from Cameroon, Timor-Leste, and Thailand. Participants learned about IWPG’s vision and the goals of its Women’s Peace Lecturer Training Education (PLTE) program, while sharing their experiences and ideas on peacebuilding.

At the time, even maintaining online communication was a challenge in Cameroon, where unstable internet connections and frequent disruptions made virtual meetings difficult. Despite these obstacles, one participant was particularly eager to build a connection with IWPG: Atanga Beatrice, head of the local NGO Community Education and Empowerment.

Atanga welcomed the opportunity to connect with IWPG and expressed her determination to attend future in-person events, despite the difficulties. “I am truly glad that there is a platform where we can come together both online and offline,” she said. “Internet connectivity is always a challenge in Cameroon, but if an in-person event is held in the future, I will make sure to attend, no matter what difficulties I may face.”

Despite the limitations of online communication, the meeting marked the beginning of a shared effort by Cameroonian women and IWPG to explore ways to promote peace.

Peace Education Takes Root in Simbok, Yaoundé, Producing Cameroon’s First Graduates

The online exchange soon developed into a local peace education program in Simbok, a neighborhood in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon.

From November 2023 to January 2024, IWPG conducted its Peace Leadership Training & Education (PLTE) program for local women over approximately three months. The sessions were led by Etaka Eyong Elsie, who worked as a monitoring and evaluation officer at the local nonprofit organization Ambassadors of Good Will.

The program produced Cameroon’s first PLTE graduates. Etaka, who served as the instructor, noted that participants came to recognize how they could make a positive difference not only in their own lives but also in their communities.

Adaibum Brither Endah, one of the graduates, highlighted the importance of putting what they had learned into practice. “It was a truly enriching course,” she said. “But without putting what we learn into practice, peace can never be achieved.”

The program went beyond discussing the meaning of peace. It gave participants an opportunity to consider how they could put its principles into practice at home and in their communities. It also laid the groundwork for local women to become more actively involved in peacebuilding.

From Education to Partnership: Joining Hands with Local Women’s Organizations

The connections formed through peace education soon developed into formal partnerships with local women’s organizations.

On January 16, 2024, IWPG Global Region 4 signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Ambassadors of Good Will, a non-political, nonprofit women’s organization in Cameroon.

One of the key figures behind the partnership was Ekembe Epose Mbacham Mirabelle Achebi, co-founder and executive director of Ambassadors of Good Will. Having completed the first PLTE program in Simbok, she became familiar with IWPG’s work through the training and helped bring the two organizations together.

At the signing ceremony, Mirabelle Achebi emphasized that PLTE was essential to building peace. She also said the program had helped her better understand the role and responsibilities of women within their families and society.

“PLTE is an essential form of education for achieving peace in this era,” she said. “IWPG has shown us how important women are and what roles we should play in our families and society. Our organization is committed to bringing Cameroonian women together with one shared purpose: to make peace a reality.”

The partnership marked an important step in Cameroon’s peacebuilding efforts, as a woman who first connected with IWPG through education helped extend that relationship to her local organization.

What began with a single online meeting had grown into cooperation with local communities. In the next installment, we will explore how the women who came together through peace education continued their work on the ground across Cameroon.

Next Story ☞ [Peace Journey – Cameroon ②] Women Hand in Hand: Building a Network of Peace Across Local Communities