PROJECT-SUPPORT CAMEROON

Association anang&ilema, Zurich, Switzerland

Country

Cameroon

Cameroon borders Nigeria, Chad, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea. In the south-west, the country has a coastline on the Atlantic Ocean. The largest cities are the capital Yaoundé and the harbour city of Douala. Yaoundé is located in the south and Cameroon is most densely populated around it. Douala is the largest city and the economic centre of the Central African country.

Cameroon's natural environment can be described as ‘Africa in miniature’, as it is home to all of the continent's main climate zones and vegetation: seacoast at the Bay of Bonny, volcanic mountains, tropical rainforest, savannah, and desert in the north. The 4’095 metre high ‘Cameroon Mountain’ is the highest elevation in West Africa.

General

anang&ilema is a non-profit organisation that aims to provide support where it is most needed, according to those affected. Valentine, Alma and Céline got to know each other through a cultural exchange project. This friendly contact between Switzerland and Cameroon gave rise to the association, which can already look back on five years of successful cooperation and project work.

The Association anang&ilema aims to specifically promote the empowerment of people, with a focus on women in rural Cameroon. For this concept, it is important to formulate the developments of the project in cooperation with local stakeholders. The actual purpose is dedicated to a sustainable improvement in people's living standards. After some time, the projects carried out are intended to continue on their own, without any external influence from the Swiss organisation.  

Beneficiaries

There has been a violent conflict in the north-west of Cameroon for many years. This has caused major financial, socio-political, and health problems. Women in rural regions are particularly affected. The anang&ilema organisation is active in precisely those areas, where no other projects are being carried out. Due to the conflict in this part of the country, many charitable organisations have withdrawn from it.

In anang&ilema projects, women can work in groups to acquire knowledge about sustainable and organic farming, as well as profitable activities through the production of goods. Knowledge is also imparted on various topics requested by the women's groups, such as menstruation, HIV/AIDS, and financial and marketing management. Once the projects have been completed, the organisation leaves, but remains in contact with the groups for questions and supervision.

anang&ilema now also offers a two-year sewing training programme for ten participants.

Project-support

Project: Sewing training programme

The Association wants to further support enthusiastic women from the groups of completed projects and give them the opportunity to enrol in a renowned tailoring workshop. There they will complete a comprehensive training programme (two years) and obtain a certificate.

After successfully completing their first year of training, these women will be equipped with their own sewing machines, an important tool that they can take back to their respective communities. There they will be able to share their newly acquired knowledge and skills with other members of their villages. This will not only promote the women's economic independence, but also empower marginalised groups in their communities.