A continental movement seeking to empower adolescent girls with the knowledge, skills and confidence to take control of their lives has arrived in Cameroon.
The Pan-African Adolescent Girls Movement, powered by the Graça Machel Trust, is being implemented in Cameroon for the first time, by Women for a Change Cameroon.
The initiative seeks to equip girls with the tools to exercise their talents, challenge social, economic and political norms that limit their development, and become confident and positive contributors to their communities and the African continent.
According to Dalrée de Lange, Senior Programme Officer for Adolescent Girls’ Movement at the Graça Machel Trust in South Africa, the initiative is built around the belief that girls themselves should be at the centre of decisions concerning their lives.
“The programme came from the adolescent girls themselves,” she said. “They were the ones who said they wanted something for themselves.”
The girls were involved in shaping the programme, including its design and areas of focus, and are expected to play a leading role in its implementation. The movement targets adolescent girls between the ages of 10 and 19, as well as young women aged between 20 and 26.
For the Graça Machel Trust, investing in adolescent girls is part of a broader strategy to build a pipeline of strong African women capable of influencing change in their communities and beyond.
*Cameroon becomes the 15th country*
The Pan-African Adolescent Girls Movement has established “nests” in 14 African countries, with Cameroon becoming the 15th.
De Lange says Cameroon's inclusion is significant, particularly given the challenges confronting girls in conflict-affected areas. The move also gives the continental initiative a stronger presence in Central Africa. By the end of 2026, the movement expects to be present in 16 African countries.
*Skills for life and leadership*
The programme covers a broad range of issues affecting adolescent girls. These include sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender-based violence, HIV and AIDS, teenage pregnancy, early marriage and menstrual hygiene.
Girls will also be introduced to basic entrepreneurship, leadership, education, climate change, food security, conflict resolution, policy change and advocacy.
The objective is not simply to transfer knowledge, but to build confidence and encourage girls to use what they learn to make informed decisions and address challenges in their own lives and communities.
*1,000 girls targeted in pilot phase*
In Cameroon, the pilot phase is expected to reach more than 1,000 girls by December 2026. Zonziwoh Mbondgulo, CEO of Women for a Change Cameroon, the implementing partner, says the girls will be identified through nominations, recommendations, random selection and strategic targeting of schools and communities.
The programme was launched Friday September 10, 2026 at Greeners Pasture School in Yaoundé, and will later extend to schools and communities in other parts of the country, including Tiko, Buea and Bamenda. The programme's reach will not be limited to girls in school.
According to the CEO of Women for a Change Cameroon, particular attention will be paid to underserved and remote communities where girls may have limited access to information, education and empowerment opportunities.
*Girls training girls*
One of the distinguishing features of the initiative is its adolescent-led approach. Rather than relying solely on adult trainers, the programme is designed to develop girls as facilitators and trainers.
Eleven adolescent girls have already been identified for training. They will subsequently train other facilitators who will deliver the programme in schools and communities.
“It is a programme designed with adolescent girls, for adolescent girls and co-implemented with adolescent girls,” Zonziwoh explained. The approach is intended to make girls active participants and leaders rather than passive beneficiaries.
*Reaching the most vulnerable*
Women for a Change Cameroon says its long-term ambition is to reach one million girls in Cameroon by 2030. To achieve this, the organisation plans to work with community focal persons and partners already established in remote areas.
Communities will be assessed according to a number of criteria, including the presence of adolescent girls, whether in or out of school, the readiness of the community to embrace the initiative and the availability of local partners to support implementation.
The strategy is designed to ensure that girls living in communities with limited electricity, infrastructure and accessibility are not excluded.
*A network of partners and mentors*
Implementation is being supported by mentors from diverse professional backgrounds, including the media, legal, medical and education sectors.
Women for a Change Cameroon is also working with institutional partners, including the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and the Family (MINPROFF) and the Cameroon Human Rights Commission.
The organisers believe this broad partnership will help create the support network needed to sustain the initiative and expand its reach.
*Building agents of change*
For the promoters of the Pan-African Adolescent Girls Movement, the ultimate goal goes beyond providing girls with information. They want to see a transformation in the way girls perceive themselves, make decisions and respond to challenges.
To De Lange, the programme seeks to bring about both behavioural and mindset change, enabling girls to speak up for themselves and use the confidence and tools acquired to transform their communities.
As the Pan-African Adolescent Girls Movement takes root in Cameroon, its promoters are betting on a simple premise: empowering girls today can help build a generation of confident, resilient and influential African women tomorrow.
Article by Scholar Maloke
@Laarry Times
Comments
Post a Comment