At least 40 women living near agro-industries and major development projects in the Littoral, Centre and South Regions of Cameroon are currently sharpening their skills on ways to defend their rights.
This is the crux of a two-day training campaign which opened in Nkoteng, in the Centre Region, October 25, 2023.
The two-day training program is organised by Green Development Advocate (GDA) in Partnership with Network of Sustainable Development Actors (RADD) with support from WoMin African Alliance (WoMin) and the Global Alliance for Green and Gender Action (GAGGA).
The aim of this project is to train local women living near agro-industries and major development projects in the right to say “No” to injustice, malpractices amongst other vices affecting their livelihoods by some agro-industrial companies and developmental projects.
Organizers shall also educate women and girls living near rubber, oil palm and sugarcane agro-industries, as well as those living near hydroelectric dams, about their rights and how to take action to ensure they are respected.
Speaking at the start of the Nkoteng training campaign, the Executive Secretary of RADD, Marie Crescense Ngobo said the gathering shall equip this vulnerable group with the knowledge and skills on how to fight for their rights.
Ngobo said as women they wield the power to change the situation and oppose such plans. She also expressed optimism that after fortifying these women, they shall be able change the status quo. She also urged participants to be solution oriented and put in practice what they shall gather from the workshop.
Several activities shall be carried out during the training program. Besides training women living in the vicinity of agro-industries and so-called development projects on the concept of the right to say “No”, they shall also develop a joint advocacy strategy and hold field visits.
The training workshop in Nkoteng is taking place about four months after the holding of a training organised by WoMin, GDA and RADD in June this year.