Short Summary
Access to
affordable and relevant comprehensive health education are fundamental human rights but gender-based discrimination,
lack of access to education, poverty, and violence against women and girls can
all prevent these rights from being realized. Single mums and girls face a lot
challenges when it comes to sexual reproductive health rights and basic computer skills.
According to
the Demographic Health Surveys (2011), it has been revealed that, 21 percent of
women and girls have experienced both physical and sexual violence. Though a
lot of sensitization has been done to educate women and girls on their
rights, there continues to be many cases of violence which are not reported,
and therefore, statistics are lower in Cameroonian communities. The Cases of
gender-based violence are rampant in Cameroon but only 30 percent of such cases
are addressed by the courts. This is because about 60 percent of women and
girls are computer literates.
Mother of
Hope Cameroon (MOHCAM) in her fight to educate single mums and girls is
organizing a three days digital empowerment workshop in the summer to
fight against teenage pregnancies and to equip single mums and
adolescences on their sexual reproductive health rights and basic
computer skills. They will be given the chance to learn leadership
skills,
build self-confidence and to better understand new marketable skills
when using
visual training tools. This
campaign is aimed at challenging prevalent gender stereotypes in
communities,
particularly those that reduce the aspirations of girls in rural
communities,
where traditions are firmest and patriarchal systems still remain very
strong. For
single mums and girls to fully participate in their communities and
enjoy their
rights, they need a life free from gender-based discrimination- a life
with the
opportunity to be educated, to work, to be healthy and to participate in
all
aspects of public life. However, millions women and girls are frequently
beaten, raped, mutilated, killed and subjected to gender violence which
limits
their opportunities.
What We Need
Our ongoing
campaign is working to connect women and girls who are victims of
teenage
Pregnancies from the rural and underprivileged communities to Virtual
Learning Tools. Most of them
who are single mums and girls have never had basic skills in
information communication technology due to poverty. If given the
opportunity, this
will opens doors for them to share information and build like-minded
ventures
networks. Most rural single mums and girls who are engaged in farming
and
petite trading will acquire computer skills which will enable them to
market
their products. They will be able meet with other women and mentors who
will
direct them in their activities and businesses.
MOHCAM
needs $1000 to organize a workshop for three days on sexual reproductive
health education and basic computer skills. And $500 to purchase
Internet-capable
phones for 30 industrious single mums and girls in the rural
communities of Ntasen and Mubang.
There are
plenty of steps we can take to strengthen our future, but first we need to take
action. We shall be grateful if you would donate for Internet-capable
phones, computers or electronic gadgets to help single mums and girls to learn and even own computers.
The Impact
When
Cameroon’s women and girls succeed, Cameroon succeeds!
Women and
girls in Cameroon make up more than half of the population. They are the
breadwinners and the backbone of our economy, yet they still face harsh
treatment due to outdated customs and traditions which hold them back. They are
still regarded as their husband’s property, with limited rights in most
communities. This workshop will enable them to become local community reporters
who can share information and advocate for women’s rights and positive change
for everyone.
Equipped
with basic computer skills, like-minded people can come together to improve
their skills and share their experiences. This will increase productivity and
encourage innovation in their businesses and workplace. Togetherness and love
will be fostered in young minds, who will then be positioned for the mentoring
and training which will enable them to create and contribute to a better
economic system in Cameroon.
Most of the girls will become local communicators for victims of
violence who can't speak out for the fear of stigmatization in their
communities.
1) Many sign mum will be encourage to go back to school.
2) The rate of early teenage pregnancies will reduced and more girls moving to leadership positions.
3) Computers
are tools needed by all women and girls for a rapid change! You Can Help!
Risks & Challenges
To enable
these positive improvements in our communities, MOHCAM is faced with the
challenge to empower 30 single mums and girls out of the thousands of
women and girls who are interested in getting the training from Mubang
Ntsen Nkwen village. This
workshop will take place in Foncha-street Nkwen-Bamenda from the
28th–30th of
July 2014 at the Ets.ALMA Cybercafé opposite Providence Clinic due to
the lack of electricity and adequate computers.
We intend to
extend this training to fresh women and girls entering just universities. Due
to the limited Internet access, high school students entering universities in
Cameroon are not familiar with the Internet’s power use for research in their
studies. Those who go on-line simply use it to send or read emails and chat. These
women and girls lack the basic skills to access the vast learning materials
available on-line.
Other Ways You Can Help
•
Donate used Internet-capable
phones, computers or electronic gadgets to help single mums and girls to learn and even own computers.
•
Use the Indiegogo share tools to
promote the project on your web sites and social networks. Invite your family
and friends to support the project.
•
Connect us with any foundation that
gives in-kind support to charities in Cameroon
•
Discuss the project with your friends
and meeting groups
