Nkumu Fed Fed Community Communicators share their experiences
By Neba Jerome Ambe
For over a year now since Nkumu Fed Fed has been implementing the European Union-sponsored project titled “Stop violence now against women and girls”, one of the major activities has been to train community communicators who will be the voice of the female-led international Non-governmental Organizations in all the communities in Mezam division.
These groups of people comprised traditional rulers, religious authorities, journalists, people living with disabilities, teachers, and social workers just to name but a few. Following their training, these groups of people were dispatched to the field to be disciples of the Nkumu Fed Fed.
In this 6th edition of our quarterly newsletter publication, we focus on the experiences of these community communicators, the challenges they have been facing in the field, and above all, the successes of their activities. It is must read edition and it gives you an inside of who these individuals are and what they have been doing.
NKumu Fed Fed Takes Lead, Brings Onboard Community Communicators
At a time when women and girls continue to wallow in pain as a result of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) perpetrated on them, efforts are being made to remedy the situation. The European Union-sponsored project titled “Stop Violence Now Against Women and Girls” implemented by Nkumu Fed Fed, has trained and equipped 30 community communicators for the second year running recently.
According to the President General of Nkumu Fed Fed who doubles as the Project Manager of the Project, Mrs. Eunice Tita Tata, the stakes are high and much is expected from the participants. "We brought together Community Communicators, leaders, and traditional authorities, Journalists to brainstorm on how to amplify the fact that GBV is a crime so that those venturing into the act should know what awaits them”. She said and further explained, "Now it is even an opportunity because the feedback is also critical that those who are already victims, we would transform them to survivors and supply them with the necessary psychosocial support, training, and others".
The Community Communicators who received training on how to better confront violence against women and girls are already on the field sensitizing denizens on the dangers of GBV. One of those whose impact is already being felt on the ground is Mr. Dohmatob Jacob Samjela who was at the 'Nda Lela' meeting house to educate members on the reason why GBV should not be allowed to prevail. Some especially members of the press who attended the training session are already airing anti-GBV campaign messages on the airwaves of their various media houses.
Nkumu Fed Fed, a leading NGO opposed to violence against women and girls in Cameroon and beyond hopes to see an end to GBV, whose greatest victims are women. The hope is that at the end of the day, the rights and dignity of women and girls should be respected and restored in all its forms.
The female-led Non-profit International institution has existed for 27 years now with headquarters in Bali Nyonga specializing in GBV issues and intervening in deplorable situations. One of its biggest achievements was the repatriation to Cameroon of young girls who were trafficked into slavery in Kuwait. Today, the NGO through the European Union-sponsored projects has transformed lives by empowering women and girls.
I am now a preacher GBV
Dingana Raymond is my name and I am a journalist based in Bamenda, Northwest Region of Cameroon. I was fortunate to be trained by Nkumu Fed Fed as a Community Communicator to fight Gender-Based Violence against women and girls. Before I was selected for this training, I just had little knowledge about GBV. I was trained on the various types of GBV and how to easily identify them, the dangers of GBV, and how to refer survivors to where they can get help, amongst others.
The training fortified me and ignited a certain energy in me that I see myself talking about the dangers of GBV, and where to refer survivors everywhere I go. The training allowed me to create a slot on Abakwa FM Radio in Bamenda focusing on GBV prevention, protection, and response.
At the start of the program, I had some challenges in having guests but Nkumu Fed Fed Communications Officer, Neba Jerome became my resource person as we exchanged ideas on GBV.
The training also allowed me to go to the field where I met a lot of people who have passed through GBV. I met a Mbororo lady who lost her husband and since then she has been going through hell in the hands of the husband's people. To overcome or give assistance to her, I immediately directed her to the Nkumu Fed Fed office because I was certain that she would receive help there because they had proven to be acting not talking.
I want to thank Nkumu Fed Fed for helping me in this aspect of my life and career which is all about defending the defenseless persons, especially women and girls. I wish more resources were channeled towards punishing perpetrators because if we fail in this area, GBV will not be defeated.
Nkumu Fed Fed is the best in GBV issues
I am Emmanuel Tamanje, Chief of Programs Foundation and the promoter of the web page Standard Chronicle, and also a teacher by profession. I was privileged to be a participant in a seminar on Community Communicators on stopping violence against women and girls. The seminar was organized by the non-profit organization Nkumu Fed Fed was indeed a rich and inspiring one. I left the seminar well equipped with the different tools at the disposal of a Community Communicator to better reach out to the masses and inform, sensitize, and educate them on Gender-based violence (GBV).
After the seminar, I reached out to many in the city of Bamenda in a campaign to raise awareness of Gender-based violence against women and girls especially. Given that gender-based violence is a matter for all, women and girls are more exposed.
I reached out to the Christians of The Apostolic Church Cameroon of Ntarinkon Assembly. After sensitizing them, I went further to paste the referrals chart for the Christians to exploit. Away from getting to meet the Christians of Ntarinkon Assembly, I equally used my radio programs at Foundation Radio to reach out to a wide audience of the radio. It was a good one for Nkumu Fed Fed to have organized such a seminar with Community Communicators, especially for someone like me who did not know about GBV prevention and responses.
One of the greatest achievements after the training that I am proud of is that I have received testimonies from survivors that I referred them. Thank you Nkumu Fed Fed and the European Union for giving me such an opportunity for me. You are the best in Gender-Based Violence issues.
Nkumu Fed Fed gave me what I never had
I am Bamenjo Petronilla, a trained Community Communicator by Nkumu Fed Fed Growing up as an adolescent girl and now as a young woman, I observed a lot of Scenarios associated with Gender-Based Violence ranging from Verbal violence to socio-economic violence. I witnessed how our neighbors who were men were physically violating the female folk such as their wives, siblings, and other female neighbors to Gender norms that weren't favorable for women and girls.
In my subconscious, I knew that this was not right, and yet society was making it look normal. somehow within me, I felt that it needed to be addressed yet I did not know how, where, and who could look into such cases.
Years after I started seeking knowledge on Gender-Based Violence and was opportune to be trained as a Community Communicator by Nkumu Fed Fed. Now I have been able to sensitize my listeners over Dream FM Radio on GBV using appropriate information on the different types of GBV, and causes of GBV, and most importantly, I have been able to use the referral pathway that was given to us during our training as Community Communicators, to direct Survivors of GBV, friends and relatives of Survivors to organizations based here in Mezam where they can get the necessary assistance needed.
It has been an interesting ride as I have been asked challenging questions while sensitizing in social gatherings such as "Njangi houses" which led me to research though Information on Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) was not available. I generally feel good knowing that there are severe organizations around that have experts to handle cases associated with GBV and that our society is gradually realizing that Gender norms are made by men and can be altered by men to encourage harmonious living in peace.
I became a trainer of trainees
I am indeed called Emmanuel Ghakaah Fomboh, a teacher by profession. I have worked very closely with Nkumu Fed Fed for the past two years as a Community Communicator trained by Nkumu Fed Fed focused on gender-based violence (GBV).
Before my training, I had no idea about the existence of GBV in the society or could identify it's instances, so after the training my knowledge and awareness of GBV expanded and I got a hold on the existence of GBV in my community. Since then, I have fully engaged as a community communicator to sensitize my audience about GBV as the opportunity arises.
I have during my two years as a Community Communicator extended my outreach to Njimafor, Mbatu, in Schools, Social groups in Mbatemadate Bali Nyonga, and Clubs, just to name a few to actualize and interact with members. Like Andrew whom I came in contact with during one of my campaigns, he became aware of what GBV is all about and was able to identify GBV cases in his vicinity. This training also aided me in knowing more referrals to Associations or groups which I have been able to direct and communicate to my audiences.
I praised Nkumu Fed Fed and thanked them for training me as this has helped me to be self-conscious of GBV cases in the community and the population has felt the multiplier effects of my training and knowledge. Hence, I can only plead and urge Nkumu Fed Fed to multiply its training opportunities for the Community Communicator, with more skills to educate and sensitize the communities about GBV instances.
Today, I am Satisfied with the activities of Nkumu Fed Fed because the community that I have worked with is now very, alert and conscious of GBV, my experience has increased towards the sensitization of the community, and my community now knows other referral associations or groups in existence, Communities can identify various types of GBV instances. My gratitude to Nkumu Fed Fed Courage to its administrators.
Nkumu Fed Fed has given people Living with Disabilities a voice to speak
Sunday Ghali Bekwa is a social worker working with the social center for the Bamenda ll subdivision. He is also the president of one of the Associations of Persons with Disabilities here in Bamenda. For about two years since I was trained as a community communicator by Nkumu Fed Fed, have been sensitizing, and educating, people around my neighborhood, clients at my workplace, and persons with disabilities in particular during our meetings about gender-based violence and its consequences. I have equally been referring clients and GBV survivors where they could get appropriate interventions whenever they are abused.
Before I was trained as a community communicator, I had limited knowledge about GBV and especially where to refer clients or GBV survivors, the after the training, I think I gained much knowledge and this has improved my work too as a social worker and I have equally helped lots of people especially to identify some acts they used to do with opposite gender not knowing that they were aspects of GBV, eg I have a friend who used to touch ladies breasts and slapped their buttocks without their concerns. I told him he was sexually harassing those ladies and could be sanctioned by the law and he had to stop what he had been doing.
I want to appreciate Nkumu Fed Fed for the work they have been doing and would like to say that they should involve more persons with disabilities in their programs/projects. They also design programs to sensitize the general public especially persons with disabilities about Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR). Many people still stigmatize persons with disabilities especially females with disabilities when they see them pregnant. Their attitudes towards pregnant females with disabilities discourage others from making their babies which is a right of every human. The fact that I'm a person with a disability doesn't mean I'm sexually inactive.
I'm satisfied with what Nkumu Fed Fed is doing by giving women and girls their voices and the opportunities to work with their empowerment schemes. They are equally educating the men who are often the perpetrators of GBV. Many people also are aware of where they can go for help when they are abused, thanks to the Nkumu Fed Fed. I appreciate their activities and plead with them to do more and include more persons with disabilities in their programs. Nkumu Fed Fed has given us people living with disabilities a voice to speak.
The time I spent with Nkumu Fed Fed was not in vain
My name is Muma Jude Awa, a journalist with Radio Hot Cocoa Bamenda. I was lucky to have been trained as a Community Communicator on "Stop Violence Now against Women and Girls" in a workshop organized by Nkumu Fed Fed NGO. The privilege gave me another opportunity to see GBV differently. I also noticed that other forms of GBV go unnoticed, especially in workplaces.
At the end of the workshop, we adopted many communication strategies to combat this ill. I have been able to use the useful information to preach Stop GBV to women and girls at my workplace, on my radio programs, and in church groups. These are areas where lots of girls and women are violated.
The time spent in the company of Nkumu Fed Fed in the training has not gone in vain. Through my Pidgin program on the radio nearly every day, I send out messages concerning issues relating to GBV and protection. Together, let's say STOP to Violence Now against women and girls. Thank you Nkumu Fed Fed for the knowledge.