Among the victims of the ongoing civil war in Cameroon are the women and girls who are subjected to sexual violence. Teenage girls are raped and even kidnapped by unknown soldiers to serve as “war wives” in bushes and forest regions. In Bonadikombo village in southwestern Cameroon, a survey by new BGR partner Rising Hope Foundation for Change identified hundreds of girls ages 13–16 who became pregnant as a result of rape by militia members or soldiers, including 120 teenage mothers who escaped captivity in the forest. Though these girls now live with “caregivers and host families,” many are engaged in sex work out of desperate need for food and other necessities. This project is an entrepreneurship program for these girls and young women, training them in sewing, designing, and business skills. To that end, the project has funded the purchase of modern sewing equipment for our partner’s empowerment center in Bonadikombo, not only for this particular program but also for the ongoing support and training of vulnerable people. Our partner intends through this project to empower these 120 young mothers with entrepreneurial skills that will transform their ability to succeed in the business world.
Among the victims of the ongoing civil war in Cameroon are the women and girls who are subjected to sexual violence. Teenage girls are raped and even kidnapped by unknown soldiers to serve as “war wives” in bushes and forest regions. In Bonadikombo village in southwestern Cameroon, a survey by new BGR partner Rising Hope Foundation for Change identified hundreds of girls ages 13–16 who became pregnant as a result of rape by militia members or soldiers, including 120 teenage mothers who escaped captivity in the forest. Though these girls now live with “caregivers and host families,” many are engaged in sex work out of desperate need for food and other necessities. This project is an entrepreneurship program for these girls and young women, training them in sewing, designing, and business skills. To that end, the project has funded the purchase of modern sewing equipment for our partner’s empowerment center in Bonadikombo, not only for this particular program but also for the ongoing support and training of vulnerable people. Our partner intends through this project to empower these 120 young mothers with entrepreneurial skills that will transform their ability to succeed in the business world.
