- Introduction
This report presents the activities carried out under the Economic Empowerment and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention Workshop organized for women and girls with disabilities by the Community Creative Center for Women and Girls with Disabilities (CCCWGD). Funded By Alliance Française Bamenda.
The workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ economic resilience, enhance entrepreneurial skills, and build awareness on GBV prevention and response strategies.
- Pre-Workshop Activities
Preparatory activities were conducted to ensure the smooth implementation of the workshop:
10th March: Procurement of workshop materials was completed to support both theoretical and practical sessions.
13th March: Media outreach activities were conducted at Radio Abakwa to raise awareness about the workshop. On the same day, preparatory meetings were held with workshop facilitators to finalize session content and coordination.
14th March: Project site preparation was carried out to ensure accessibility and readiness of the training venue.
- Workshop Implementation
The workshop commenced on 17th March at 8:30 a.m. at Alliance Française Bamenda.
Opening Ceremony
The event began with welcome remarks from the Director of Alliance Française Bamenda. In her address, she commended the initiative behind the project and praised the resilience and strength of women with disabilities involved in CCCWGD.
She further expressed the institution’s openness to future collaborations and encouraged the submission of more project proposals.
The CEO of CCCWGD, in response, expressed sincere appreciation to the Director for providing the organization with this opportunity, especially considering that women with disabilities are often marginalized in community development initiatives.
She assured the Director that the partnership would yield meaningful impact.
- Training Sessions and Activities
Day 1
The first presentation was delivered by Gwan Hilda Nabila, focusing on bookkeeping and business management. The session included practical demonstrations using the board to enhance participants’ understanding of financial record-keeping and small business operations.
The second session involved practical demonstrations on food processing and production, including:
Preparation of chin-chin using sweet potato flour
Production of cakes using cocoyam and sweet potato flour
These sessions aimed to equip participants with income-generating skills using locally available resources.
Day 2
The day began with a session on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Awareness and Prevention, including practical response strategies for survivors and community-level interventions. The session was facilitated by Madame Veronica Ngum Ndi
This was followed by additional hands-on practical sessions, including:
Preparation of Egusi pudding
Preparation of Egusi cakes
Baked chicken production
These activities further strengthened participants’ vocational skills for economic empowerment.
Day 3
The first session focused on Trauma Management and Healing, facilitated by Coach Lanjo Neindefoh. The session addressed psychological recovery, emotional resilience, and coping mechanisms for survivors of violence.
This was followed by the closing ceremony, during which participants showcased the skills and knowledge acquired throughout the workshop.
The event was attended by key stakeholders, including:
The Regional Delegation of Women’s Empowerment and the Family
The Divisional Delegate of Social Affairs for Mezam
The Gender Officer of the SEEPD Program
Other leaders of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs)
A total of 57 participants were present at the closing ceremony.
- Conclusion
The workshop successfully achieved its objectives of empowering women and girls with disabilities through practical vocational skills, financial literacy, and increased awareness of gender-based violence prevention and response. Participants demonstrated significant engagement and enthusiasm throughout the sessions, particularly during the hands-on training components.
The integration of economic empowerment with GBV awareness proved to be highly impactful, as it addressed both the financial vulnerability and social challenges faced by women with disabilities. The knowledge and skills acquired are expected to contribute to improved livelihoods, increased self-reliance, and stronger community participation among beneficiaries. - Appreciation and Way Forward
The Community Creative Center for Women and Girls with Disabilities (CCCWGD) expresses its profound gratitude to Alliance Française Bamenda for funding and providing the venue and institutional support that made this workshop a success. Their willingness to open their doors to this initiative reflects a strong commitment to inclusivity and community development.
This partnership has significantly contributed to impacting the lives of women with disabilities, a group that is often underserved and overlooked. CCCWGD respectfully looks forward to continued collaboration with Alliance Française Bamenda and humbly requests further opportunities to expand this initiative to reach a larger number of women and girls with disabilities in the community.
