Conduct baseline survey; one to one and group interviews with women
The initiative aims to provide free, equitable quality education for all children by constructing community-run early childhood centers, covering school fees, providing remedial support, running accelerated learning programs, training teachers, establishing girls’ clubs, engaging parents, renovating facilities, and advocating for inclusive policies with the Ministry of Education. Constructing and equipping community-run early childhood centers Covering school fees, supplies, uniforms and transportation costs for disadvantaged learners Complementing academics with sports, arts, music to nurture holistic skills Providing remedial support and life skills training to out-of-school youth Running accelerated learning programs enabling children to transition into formal schools Training teachers in child-centered pedagogies, classroom management and inclusion Establishing girls’ clubs to support continued education and delay early marriage Engaging parents and caretakers in participatory school governance Renovating schools’ water, sanitation and hygiene facilities to meet standards Advocating with the Ministry of Education to adopt inclusive, pro-poor policies “
Capacity building workshop for project staff, lawyers, & volunteers
The Capacity building workshop for project staff, lawyers, & volunteers took place on the 8th of April 2023 at Hill Top Hotel. This capacity-building exercise was aimed at preparing the entire project team for the implementation of the project in the various communities. A consultant was hired to carry out the training, and key points of the workshop included: understanding Sexual and Gender-Based Violence under which there was a presentation on the various forms of SGBV, including domestic violence, sexual assault, and harmful practices along with the root causes, impacts, and consequences of SGBV. Trauma-informed approaches were also highlighted with emphasis on trauma-informed care and support for SGBV survivors, techniques for creating safe and empowering spaces for survivors as well as self-care strategies for staff and volunteers working with survivors. The legal aspects of addressing SGBV, including legislation, court procedures, and legal remedies as well as legal advocacy strategies, including legal aid services, filing cases, and supporting survivors through the legal process with the role of lawyers and legal practitioners in promoting justice for SGBV survivors. Providing effective counseling and psychosocial support to SGBV survivors, Techniques for active listening, empathy, and building trust as well as an overview of referral pathways and available support services for survivors. Strategies for community mobilization and awareness raising on SGBV, conducting workshops, awareness campaigns, and sensitization sessions as well as effective communication techniques and engaging with diverse community members. Case management protocols, including intake processes, risk assessments, and safety planning, as well as documentation best practices, confidentiality, and data protection. Output: A workshop to enhance the knowledge and skills of project staff, lawyers, and volunteers on SGBV awareness, prevention, and response was carried out Outcome: The capacity of project personnel to effectively implement SGBV awareness and advocacy activities is strengthened. Post-workshop evaluations indicate a 25% increase in participants’ general knowledge and confidence in addressing SGBV issues. Improved coordination and collaboration among project staff, lawyers, and volunteers. Increased awareness and understanding of legal frameworks; post-workshop evaluation reveals a 40% increase in understanding of DVA and sexual offenses legislation among participants, enabling them to provide accurate information and guidance to survivors
Stakeholder meeting to launch the project activity
The Stakeholder meeting to launch the project activity took place on the 9th of April at Bamenda 1 council hall. During the launching ceremony, the Programmes Manager re-iterated the background and context of the project, the project’s goals, objectives, and expected outcomes as well as an overview of the project’s target population and geographical focus. She also reiterated the project’s strategies and approaches for addressing SGBV as well as the expected role for each stakeholder. A tradition authority (HRM Forchesiri III, Fon of Bamendankwe) acknowledged the vision and dedication of the project team in bringing this initiative to his community. He commended commitment to addressing the deeply-rooted issue of SGBV and pledged the unwavering support of his community, who will work hand in hand to ensure the success of this project. He concluded by encouraging all stakeholders to put in collective efforts to create a safer and more equitable society where respect, equality, and justice prevail. The leader of a CBO called “Bamenda III Association of Women Living with Disability” stated that her organization was immensely honored to be part of this lunch of a project that holds tremendous promise in the fight against gender-based violence. She added that they have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of SGBV and promised that together, we can create a society where survivors are supported, perpetrators are held accountable, and future generations are nurtured in an environment of respect and equality. Representative of the mayor Bamenda I applauded the initiative and commitment demonstrated by the project team in launching this vital project against gender-based violence. He noted that SGBV represents a severe violation of human rights and a blight on his municipality, and assured the unwavering support of his office in mobilizing resources, coordinating stakeholders, and facilitating the smooth implementation of this project. A legal practitioner stated that they, who are committed to upholding the principles of fairness, equality, and the rule of law, understand the critical role that laws, policies, and the justice system play in combating SGBV. He commended the project team for their emphasis on legal empowerment, capacity building, and collaboration. Noting that together, we can create an environment where survivors receive the justice they deserve, perpetrators are held accountable, and the legal framework supports a violence-free society Output: The project was officially launched, gathering support, and establishing collaborative partnerships. Outcome: Increased commitment and engagement from stakeholders, including government officials, NGOs, and community leaders, which can lead to effective implementation and sustainability of the project. As a result of the meeting, 100% of stakeholders committed to providing support, and partnerships with key organizations were established.
Stakeholder meeting to inform them about the project
The stakeholder meeting is part of the activities carried out by REWAC and Partners. it aims was to provide key stakeholders with comprehensive information about the project, including its goals, activities, and expected outcomes. The meeting also aimed to foster collaboration, gain support, and ensure a shared understanding among stakeholders. It took place on the 7th of April with 50 participants during the session and included officials from relevant ministries and departments, representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working on SGBV issues, community leaders and influential individuals, legal experts and law enforcement representatives, as well as project staff and volunteers. The Programmes Manager gave opening remarks during which she acknowledged the attendees and she went ahead to introduce key project team members. This was followed by the presentation on the background and rationale of the SGBV project, explanation of the project’s objectives, target population, and geographical scope and overview of the project’s timeline, funding sources, and key partners. The project activities and strategies were also presented with a detailed description of each project activity, including awareness campaigns, capacity-building workshops, training sessions, and stakeholder engagement initiatives. Explanation of the strategies employed to address SGBV, including community mobilization, advocacy, and empowerment approaches was not left out as well as discussion on the expected outcomes and impact of the project. Clarification of the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders in supporting the project as well as identification of potential areas for collaboration and partnership were also discussed. In the end the opportunity was given for stakeholders to express their commitment and support for the project which led to the identification of potential actions and collaboration opportunities for stakeholders. Outputs of the activity: the project objectives, activities, and expected outcomes were presented to 55 stakeholders (15 female and 35 male) Outcomes of the activity: Increased awareness and understanding of the project among stakeholders. 90% of stakeholders reported understanding the project goals and their roles in supporting its implementation.
Education
REWAC works to increase access to inclusive quality education for refugees, asylum seekers, internal migrants, and stateless children and youth. Our initiatives include: Operating accredited community learning centers in underserved areas that offer accredited primary, secondary, vocational, and continuing education for learners aged 5 to adult. Centers utilize accelerated curricula, mother tongue instruction, and trauma-informed techniques. Awarding scholarships for high-achieving refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless youth to access specialized training, vocational institutes, national universities, and foreign scholarship schemes. Organizing media campaigns and door-to-door drives to promote school enrollment, birth registration, and vaccine uptake among migrant and refugee children. We provide translation support to address barriers. Designing accelerated non-formal education and preparatory classes to support entry of over-age and out-of-school children into mainstream schools. Offering language classes in French and English alongside literacy, numeracy, and livelihood skills instruction to enhance employment prospects for adolescent and adult learners. Distributing sanitary kits to girls to enhance menstrual hygiene management and combat period poverty as a barrier to school attendance. Advocating for inclusive national education policies on access, equivalency, work permits and recognition of qualifications, training of teachers on trauma-informed instruction and migrant learner needs.
Health and Sanitation (WASH)
REWAC coordinates essential health and sanitation services tailored to refugees, asylum seekers, IDPs and neglected host communities: Establishing migrant-friendly community health posts in underserved areas providing outpatient, maternal-child, immunization and HIV/AIDS services. Posts are equipped with essential diagnostic equipment, medications and supplies. Training and employing community health workers, midwives, nurses and psychosocial counselors selected from within migrant and host communities to conduct health promotion, testing/treatment, and counseling home visits to overcome barriers. Operating shelters medically equipped to support survivors of gender-based violence. This entails medical treatment, forensic documentation of injuries, psychosocial support, safety planning and referral for any needed specialized care. Implementing community-led total sanitation and hygiene promotion interventions including handpump installation for clean water access, latrine construction, handwashing stations, and solid waste disposal systems in migrant sites and surrounding communities. Conducting reproductive health outreach providing antenatal and postnatal monitoring, clean birthing kits, family planning education and methods. We encourage male involvement and dismantle taboos. Undertaking voluntary HIV/AIDS testing and counselling at health posts and through community health workers. Condoms are freely distributed and anti-retroviral therapy facilitated. Responding rapidly to disease outbreaks through case identification, contact tracing, patient isolation and reporting, rat control and sanitation measures. Oral rehydration and antibiotics are distributed. Offering mental health and psychosocial support care through individual and group counselling, support groups, referral systems, and equipping community caseworkers to provide psychosocial first aid.
Food Security
REWAC provides targeted food and nutrition assistance for refugees, asylum seekers, IDPs and vulnerable migrants. Our initiatives include: Distributing monthly household rations of cereals, beans, oil and salt fortified with micronutrients to meet basic food and nutrition needs, prioritizing at-risk groups. Rations are adapted for cultural/health needs. Training displaced and host communities in nutritional food preparation, homestead gardening, small livestock rearing, composting, and climate-smart agriculture practices to support food self-reliance. Constructing community grain warehouses equipped with hermetic storage technology to help smallholder farmers store surplus yields safely for sustained income in the lean season. This reduces post-harvest losses. Facilitating creation of agricultural/producer cooperatives to access inputs, microcredit and markets; supporting small cottage industries for women focused on baking, tailoring etc to diversify incomes. Screening children 6-59 months for malnutrition and referring acutely malnourished cases to outpatient therapeutic feeding programs to regain health. Counseling caregivers is central. In emergencies, partnering to provide cooked meals through community kitchens, distributing hot rations and deploying mobile nutrition teams to reach affected populations.
Protection
REWAC provides comprehensive services to uphold safety, security and dignity for refugees, asylum seekers, IDPs, stateless persons and vulnerable migrants. Our initiatives include: Operating legal clinics in urban centers and remote areas, offering free counsel, assistance acquiring documentation, support with refugee status determination and asylum applications, third country resettlement pursuit, and reintegration needs. Managing a nationwide network of safe shelters and spaces tailored to the needs of at-risk women, girls, LGBTQ+ individuals who have endured sexual violence, trafficking, exploitation, forced/child marriage, FGM and other harms. Shelters provide psychosocial support, skills training, and reintegration prep. Training community paralegals and para-social workers to provide basic legal advice, counseling, mediation and follow-up support around protection issues within their communities. This bridges access gaps. Strengthening identification and referral mechanisms across civil society to promptly link survivors of trafficking and abuse to health, psychosocial, safety and legal services. We track cases to ensure holistic care. Operating 24/7 multilingual emergency hotlines providing information, counseling, and referrals for migrants requiring urgent help with safety, health, food, shelter or documentation challenges. Undertaking family tracing and assessments of suitable care arrangements for unaccompanied migrant children before family reunification. Our standby foster parents provide interim care. Facilitating community dialogues engaging host communities on social integration and support for displaced groups. This counters xenophobia and builds social cohesion.
Advocacy and Policy
REWAC undertakes multifaceted advocacy and policy engagement to promote the rights and social inclusion of refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons (IDPs), stateless populations, and vulnerable migrant communities in Cameroon. We conduct participatory research giving voice to target communities to document issues around xenophobia, discrimination, gender-based violence, barriers to services, and violations of national and international obligations towards displaced and migrant groups. Research provides evidence base for our advocacy. We build strategic networks and platforms bringing together NGOs, community groups, activists, faith leaders, researchers, legal experts, and media to coordinate joint advocacy and awareness campaigns. These alliances leverage collective power to influence agenda setting, expand reach, and drive reform. We engage in direct lobbying of parliamentarians, government officials, ministers, and local authorities to review and enact legislation, policies and programs upholding rights and improving conditions for target populations. We provide legal analysis, budgetary impact assessments, and policy recommendations. We utilize mainstream and social media engagement including blogs, petitions, organizing social media events, placing op-eds to shape public discourse on migrant rights and counter xenophobia. We lift up authentic voices from within target communities. We organize cultural events, art exhibitions, film screenings, sports tournaments and other initiatives celebrating diversity and fostering social cohesion between host and displaced communities. This counters xenophobia and changes hearts and minds. We convene capacity building workshops to strengthen awareness on international conventions, national laws and policies among stakeholders including government actors, community leaders and target populations. This leads to more effective claim making and implementation.
Providing care and case management services to survivors of gender-based violence in humanitarian settings.
Case management was carried out by the project team to identify survivors of SGBV and survivors who could access the services of the project. The support services provided included Psychosocial Support, Psychosocial First Aid, Legal Counselling, Legal Assistance, Food Assistance, NFI Assistance, and Medical Assistance. 142 cases have been received by REWAC’s team this far in their 1 safe space that was created to receive survivors. The 142 cases received the following support from the project: