Empowering an AIDS-Free Generation in Cameroon

So often, participatory processes are seen as a luxury within development projects. Rather than privileging participation as fundamental for ensuring sustainability and a connection with community needs, agencies often ignore such practices in the face of the significant time and resource pressures that so many face.

In this respect, EFA has always been a bit different, as participation has always been central to our work. The very idea of EFA came out of a need identified by a group of young Cameroonians, and our approach continues to place our members at the center of our activities. At EFA, we truly believe that there are no better advocates for youth affected by HIV and/or AIDS than other youth facing the same circumstances. That is why empowerment has always been at the very center of our mission (to promote the successful future of African children, youth and families affected by HIV and AIDS through education, enterprise, and empowerment).

These values have guided our period of organizational transition. Although it may have been quicker to make decisions at the top of the organizational structure, we feel strongly that the future of EFA must be decided by its beneficiaries. Our role in this process is not to guide the future strategy but to enable the local staff and the members of youth associations to make their own decisions about where EFA is going and what EFA should be. This process began in earnest last month when the EFA Cameroun staff started a series of site visits to each of the associations in the Youth Empowerment Network. The objective of the visits is to start a frank and open conversation with all of the association members about the future and vision of EFA Cameroun. The ideas and suggestions generated during the site visits will then be fed back to the Transition Committee, who will support the local staff to develop a detailed strategy based on the association members’ ideas and contributions. This strategy will then be formally adopted by all of the presidents of the associations at a network-wide meeting later this summer.

We are excited to see what the association members suggest – and we are proud to see the EFA Cameroun staff leading the process with such energy, passion and commitment. We look forward to keeping you updated as this important process continues.

Since our last update, things have been progressing quickly in Cameroon!

Over the last few months, Alim – EFA International’s former Regional Coordinator and EFA Cameroun’s new Director – has been working tirelessly to lay the groundwork for the official launch of EFA Cameroun. The early stages of a transition are never particularly glamorous, but they are key aspects of a responsible and sustainable handover. The staff in Cameroon are proving their efficiency and professionalism every day, as they work through a seemingly thankless list of administrative tasks – drafting bylaws, registering with the tax authorities, establishing pay scales, etc. All of these vital first steps have now been accomplished, and we are ready to move into the more strategic phase of the transition over the next few months.

Perhaps most importantly, EFA Cameroun now has an impressive and inspiring new national board! The national board is a diverse group of HIV stakeholders, including Dr. Rebecca Djao, regional delegate for the Department of Public Health in the Far North region of Cameroon, Dr. Sadou Kalandi, coordinator of the HIV Regional Technical Group in the Far North, and Mr. Maurice Kwite, who leads a social marketing agency within the border region with Chad. The new national board also includes civil society representatives from HIV care and support organizations, such as Mme. Rose Didja Bouba (currently with CARE Cameroon) and Mme. Aissa Doumara, who works with a local organization in Maroua that is committed to the fight against gender-based violence. Mr. Pierre Tchana, a local lawyer who represents civil society organizations in the region, Mr. Blaise Djilo, an economist who supports income generation projects throughout Cameroon, and Mr. Bouba Bawa, who works with the High Commission for Refugees, have also joined the Board. All of the new board members have worked with EFA at some phase during its development and are deeply committed to seeing it through this next phase.

Preparations are now underway for EFA Cameroun’s first board meeting in mid-June. At the first meeting, the new Board will undergo targeted training on their roles and responsibilities as Board members and group activities, designed to foster teamwork and a shared sense of commitment and dedication - to EFA as an organization, to the Youth Empowerment Network and to all of EFA's beneficiaries. Everyone is looking forward to coming together to usher in a sustainable and successful future for EFA Cameroun.

We are so very proud to have this formidable group of individuals joining us in the fight against AIDS. Their perspective, influence, and experience will help us to stay true to our mission: to promote the successful future of Cameroonian children, youth, and families affected by HIV and AIDS through education, enterprise, and empowerment.

Thanks to your early support for this transition, we are well on our way to ensuring a sustainable future for EFA Cameroun! We look forward to staying in touch with you as things progress over the next few months.