Second Chance Education and Vocational Learning Project in Cameroon

Minawao Refugee camp, Photo credit UN Women Cameroon

Since 2018, UN Women’s Second Chance Education Project Program has been leveraging partnerships, holistic approaches and innovative technology to break current trends, and provide a comprehensive solution for marginalized young women in conflict affected areas in Cameroon.
In this light, a total number of 1000 women and girls (refugees, IDPs and host population) who are school dropout were identified together with humanitarian organizations, local organizations and community leaders in project sites to benefit from the second phase of SCE’s professional training and distribution of startup kits.

Animal husbandry Ngam Refugee Camp, Photo credit UN Women Cameroon        

The high success achieved from the first phase of training motivated a large number of women and girls to become interested.

Material distributed and training offered focused on CropFarming (improved seed, hoes cutlasses, water pumps, organic fertilizers etc.), animal husbandry, tailoring and petty trade.

One of the beneficiary interviewed in the Minawao refugee camp said: “I am delighted to have been one of the beneficiaries of this project. Due to the Boko Haram attack crisis in Nigeria, I was forced to drop out of school and search for safety in Cameroon. Since then, I barely struggle to feed my children. This opportunity will not only help me but with contribute to the improvement of livelihood of all my family members”.

The donation of startup kits was done in groups, which will in due course be legalized as cooperatives. It is a highly welcomed project especially in conflict-affected areas that the demand surpasses the available means.

Considering that this second phase of distribution and training falls during the period of the COVID-19 crises, COVID prevention materials like water buckets, soap, hydraulic hand sanitizers and masks produced by the first tailoring beneficiaries were given alongside startup kits.

Covid kist in Ngam Bertoua, Mora and Mokolo, Photo credit UN Women Cameroon