In a world marked by conflict and division, Omam Esther chose peace not as a concept, but as an act of defiance.
On August 7, her birthday, the Executive Director of Reach Out Cameroon stood before policymakers, diplomats, and civil society leaders at the 2025 Central Africa Think Tank Forum at the Djeuga Palace Hotel in Yaoundé.
Rather than marking her day with celebration, Omam took to the stage to underscore the urgency of peacebuilding in a region burdened by fragility.
“Peace is not theory,” she declared. “It is a desperate, defiant act of survival and hope.”
The forum, a gathering of regional thinkers and global partners, centered on the role of think tanks and civil society in addressing Central Africa’s most persistent challenges: from youth marginalization and poor governance, to shrinking civic space and transnational insecurity.
Voices From the Ground
Representing a rare voice of frontline experience, Omam Esther spotlighted community-driven solutions that Reach Out Cameroon has pioneered many led by women. She described how women-led mediation efforts, anticipatory action frameworks, and local conflict resolution mechanisms are quietly reshaping fragile communities, especially in Cameroon’s crisis-affected Southwest region.
“Solutions don’t come from the top,” Omam noted. “They rise from the communities that live the consequences of every policy failure.”
At the core of Reach Out Cameroon’s approach is economic empowerment. Omam Esther shared the impact of their poverty graduation model and agro-processing initiatives under the "Kites and Others" project. These programs, she said, restore not just livelihoods but dignity, offering communities an alternative to violence.
Resilience in the Face of Repression
But her message wasn’t without critique. Omam Esther spoke candidly about the increasingly hostile environment civil society organizations face. From unjust suspensions to bureaucratic roadblocks, she said the civic space is being deliberately squeezed. Yet, Reach Out Cameroon and others like it persist.
“We remain resilient, grounded, and purpose-driven,” Omam affirmed, drawing nods from fellow panellists and attendees.
A Broad Coalition for Peace
The forum brought together a cross-section of international and local actors, including representatives from the UK and U.S. embassies, the Swiss and Canadian missions, UNDP Africa, GIZ, and advocacy networks like MenEngage Alliance, ICAN, and the Women’s Peace & Humanitarian Fund.
Collectively, they reaffirmed their support for grassroots peacebuilding and civil society’s indispensable role.
The 2025 edition of the forum, organized under the banner of #ThinkTanksForPeace, is part of a broader effort to ensure that expert knowledge, field experience, and political will converge to address Central Africa’s fragile peace architecture.
A Legacy of Action
Njomo Omam Esther, a renowned peace advocate and 2023 finalist for the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity, has long embodied the struggle for justice and dignity in conflict zones. Her decision to dedicate her birthday to peace work speaks volumes about her unwavering commitment.
As she left the stage, one message lingered:
“Civil society is not the enemy. We are the heartbeat of peace.”
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