Bright Light Projects, in partnership with Local Youth Corner Cameroon, has successfully trained young girls and women with skills to promote gender equality and protect their rights. The workshop, held on June 12, 2025, in Fundong, brought together over 30 participants from the community, including both women and men.
The workshop aimed to raise awareness and enhance understanding of the negative impacts of gender inequality in peace processes and community development. Participants were taken through various sessions on peacebuilding, gender equality, and women’s participation in leadership. Shing Praise Wandia, Programme Manager of Bright Light Projects, emphasised the importance of women’s participation in peacebuilding processes and conflict resolution.
Shing Praise emphasised the importance of collaboration in promoting gender equality and empowering women. “We believe that the engagement of women, the sensitisation of women, and the empowerment of women for them to actively partake in their rightful position in society is not something for one organisation to do.”
Participants expressed their appreciation for the workshop, citing the new knowledge and skills acquired. Nkwi Melvin Nain said, “I have learned that gender equality means both men and women having the same rights in society.” Fang Sudrine, on her part, expressed her desire to use the knowledge gained to educate her peers, saying, “I am going to use it to empower other women and girls so that they can know that they have the right and they can speak out.”
The partnership between Bright Light Projects and Local Youth Corner Cameroon was instrumental in the success of the workshop. Shing Praise noted that promoting gender equality and empowering women requires a collaborative effort. Bright Light Projects plans to replicate the project in other communities. Shing noted that the organisation is committed to creating a society where everybody’s voice is heard and where gender inequality is addressed. “We need to take into consideration the gender equality agenda, so everybody needs to be involved – women, men, young and old.”
The project envisions a transformative impact on Fundong, intending to dismantle gender barriers and foster a more equitable and peaceful community. By engaging men as allies in empowering women and girls, Bright Light Projects aims to equip and empower women with peacebuilding skills.
By Andrew Nsoseka
