See the Triumph International Ambassador Report: Mothers of Hope Cameroon

We recently launched our See the Triumph International Ambassadors program, and we received a great report from our Ambassadors in Cameroon, Mothers of Hope Cameroon, about a recent event they held to launch their work there. Here’s what we heard from Adah Mbah, Executive Director of MOHCAM:

“The campaign kicked off with seventeen women leaders from different groups in Bamenda. This trainer-of-trainers workshop was organized on the 12th of February 2016 at the head office of MOHCAM in Savannah Street-Bamenda.

The See the Triumph campaign aims to end the stigma surrounding intimate partner violence and to provide supportive resources for survivors. Share empowering messages that people can overcome their abuse and create positive, nonviolent lives, describing strategies that have worked for other survivors to help them overcome their abuse and the stigma related to it; and to promote a new view of battering survivors that shows them as triumphant, courageous, and resourceful. This will empower the participants to fight against poverty and the marginalization of women and girls in leadership and unemployment. The campaign started at 1:30pm with the reading of the agenda and its adoption. The opening prayer was offered by Ngwenwie Pauline, a counselor and the representative of Bamenda III council. Next was an introductive session of the MOHCAM team by Adah Mbah the Executive Director of MOHCAM, and this was closely followed by the introduction of the participants and their groups.

The Executive Director of MOHCAM welcomed participants and briefly explained the importance of the campaign. The program directors of MOHCAM, Muma Loveline and Butla Joyceline, elaborated on the aims and objectives of MOHCAM and See the Triumph. This was closely followed by launching of the campaign on ending the stigma around intimate partner violence and survivors. Adah Mbah emphasized its importance and why the participants had to educate their members to fight against the stigma surrounding intimate partner violence and survivors in communities.

The co-founders of See the Triumph, Christine Murray and Allison Crowe, in collaboration had sent a letter to the participants welcoming them to the campaign. This letter was printed and distributed to all participants, who promised to share the message with their members. The participants further had the opportunity for an online Skype chat to talk directly to Christine Murray, one of the co-founders of See the Triumph. Ahndinwo Adeline, the leader of Determine Ladies, appreciated See the Triumph for partnering with MOHCAM to help women victims and survivors, participants, and their groups.  She wished that the program will serve as a forum for women to fight against violence.

After the Skype chat, the participants had a working session with the MOHCAM team, where they were asked to write down some of the difficulties they encounter as leaders and the needs of their members in terms of resources to fight against violence, poverty, and unemployment. All their fears and questions were answered, and the participants were asked to choose dates on the calendar when they wanted the MOHCAM team to visit their various groups. This task was done, and the participants were encouraged to share the knowledge with members.”

See below for some great pictures from this event!