Across Cameroon, the number of women, girls, and youths who survive on less than a dollar per day continues to increase in both urban and rural areas. Across the Southwest Region, women who have been the victims of sexual and/or domestic violence report experiencing economic deprivation, stigmatization, and a lack of vocational opportunities. Additionally, humanitarian and health crises have increased the number of unemployed women heads of households; as a consequence, many abandoned single mothers, girls who have dropped out of school, and marginalized poor widows who are unable to feed their children have resorted to illegal sex work in order to survive.

Our partner in this project, the Centre for Community Regeneration and Development (CCREAD-Cameroon), provides vocational education and training to these women and other women and youths in need. CCREAD’s training center, constructed in 2017 with BGR funding, trains at least 300 women and girls each year in tailoring and clothing design; hairdressing and cosmetology; weaving; and agricultural processing. The programs last for six to twelve months; participants and their children also receive free meals at the center during their training. At the completion of their training, graduates receive seed capital and ongoing mentoring as they move forward in their careers. The project is expected to directly benefit 682 people, including more than 500 women and girls.

Across Cameroon, the number of women, girls, and youths who survive on less than a dollar per day continues to increase in both urban and rural areas. Across the Southwest Region, women who have been the victims of sexual and/or domestic violence report experiencing economic deprivation, stigmatization, and a lack of vocational opportunities. Additionally, humanitarian and health crises have increased the number of unemployed women heads of households; as a consequence, many abandoned single mothers, girls who have dropped out of school, and marginalized poor widows who are unable to feed their children have resorted to illegal sex work in order to survive.

Our partner in this project, the Centre for Community Regeneration and Development (CCREAD-Cameroon), provides vocational education and training to these women and other women and youths in need. CCREAD’s training center, constructed in 2017 with BGR funding, trains at least 300 women and girls each year in tailoring and clothing design; hairdressing and cosmetology; weaving; and agricultural processing. The programs last for six to twelve months; participants and their children also receive free meals at the center during their training. At the completion of their training, graduates receive seed capital and ongoing mentoring as they move forward in their careers. The project is expected to directly benefit 682 people, including more than 500 women and girls.