For Nyima Jadama, a passionate women’s rights advocate based in Germany, her driving factor is the vision of a world where every woman, regardless of her background, is celebrated for her unique contributions and where equal opportunities are a reality.

Advocating for women’s rights has not been without its challenges, though. Nyima acknowledges that overcoming deeply ingrained societal norms and systemic biases requires persistent effort.

And how can we turn the vision of women’s inclusion into reality? In Nyima’s words, “By advocating for policy changes, challenging stereotypes, and amplifying marginalized voices, I contribute to building a society where women of all backgrounds have equal opportunities to thrive.”

My name is Mali Martha Noel based in the North West region of Cameroon. I am a Peace and Conflicts transformation trainer, girls rights advocate and graphic designer. My years of service in the NGO space comes from a place of passion to create change and impact my community. Being a graphic designer was inspired by the  need to make ends meet even though it  is a field that is dominantly considered to be for men

Amidst all of my engagements, I have experienced challenges which I  term discriminatory with regards denial of leadership, participation and equal pay. As a graphic designer I cannot count how many times new clients slide into my inbox and call me “Sir” because of how professional my designs look. Also, some clients refuse to pay me what I am due for my designs  because they think I don’t have as much responsibilities as men and so I ought to do the job at a lower price.

Overcoming challenges of dis-inclusion has been about staying consistent with what I do and making progress that is evident and worth appreciating while educating people about the need to respect and give reverence to women’s art. 

Despite progress in recent years on women’s inclusion, women continue to face significant barriers in many areas, including the workplace, education, politics and much more. This does not only have negative effects on them but also on their families, communities, and society at large. If we must achieve the global goals, everyone should ensure that women’s inclusion is made an undeniable priority.

1. Share a bit about what you do and why you chose that field 

Currently,  I am a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Bamenda and I sometimes train members of organizations and youth bodies on public speaking and effective communication.  My passion for education particularly on gender, language, and communication, motivated me to study the English language. I believe that my background and experience have prepared me well for this role, and I am equally excited to continue learning and growing in this field.When I made up my mind on what to study in university, I knew that I wanted to pursue a field that would allow me to make a meaningful difference in the world. Studies in gender, language and communicative styles seemed like the perfect fit, as it’s a field that can have a profound impact on the lives of individuals and communities. I also knew that I wanted to focus on language and communication, as I have always been fascinated by the way people communicate and connect with each other. I believe that language is a powerful tool that can be used to build understanding and create positive change in the society.

2. ⁠You are a recent PHD holder, what motivated you to do it?

 My motivation to pursue a PhD was driven by several factors. Firstly, I was passionate about my field of study and wanted to deepen my knowledge and understanding. Secondly, I wanted to challenge myself and push the boundaries of my capabilities. Finally, I wanted to make meaningful contributions to the body of knowledge where simple yet complex aspects such as gender in relation to communication are concerned. I equally wanted to help others to learn and grow through my research and most importantly to wipe off the stereotypes that only men can achieve higher in education.

3. Did you experience challenges in terms of inclusion? How did you overcome these challenges?

I experienced several challenges some of which include: As class coordinator throughout my University studies, I will face bullying and belittlement from men and at times from family and friends too. Sometimes, people will say “why are you doing PhD? No man will ever marry you because you are too educated” But I am currently happily married.

Also, financial instability was a bigger problem. I needed to travel out of town to collect data, at times when I get to Yaounde for example, I will not meet my respondents but steadfastness and my passion to make it big in the academic market kept me going. 

I must say that, despite all the challenges I faced, I now see them as opportunities which were geared to prepare me for a better future and I almost everyone is proud of my achievement.

I overcame these challenges through one word “Persistence” I was and will still be persistent till the end not forgetting all the support, love and financial assistant I got from some kind hearted people.

4. What inspires you to advocate for inclusion ?

I have experienced my own share of discrimination, from family, from friends, from co-leaders and workers and I understand what it means for people not to believe in you talkless of even giving you that space. I have lived in a minute cite where majority of its tenants were persons living with disabilities, I saw them suffer, I saw them struggle to get to school, carry water etc, all these motivated me to amplify my voice in the fight for inclusion particularly inclusion of women

As perceptions shift to include more women in social, political, and economic spheres in Ethiopia and the global communities, Ahadu sees this trend growing, impacting society significantly and empowering women to play key roles.

She emphasizes the importance of women being resilient and pursuing their ambitions, stating, “I believe in fighting for the things that I want to achieve or reach for, and that’s how I would overcome any challenges with inclusion in my field.”

#IWD2024 #defyhatenow #women4peace #InspireInclusion

As a woman, one of the challenges I encounter is the  problem of inclusion either because I am a woman or a mother. In order to overcome this challenge I continue to showcase my competence  and equally by sensitization that is ; What a man can do, a woman can do even better.

I have a lot of young girls who couldn’t make it in life because they were not given the opportunity because of their sex or because they were born female.

#IWD2024 #InspireInclusion #women4peace #defyhatenow

This is Ahlam’s response when asked about her passion for promoting women’s inclusion in non-traditional careers in her community. Having encountered societal stereotypes attempting to limit her career options, Ahlam refused to be boxed in by those stereotypes and followed her own path. Today, she serves as a Project Coordinator for a non-governmental organization, managing various developmental projects. Recently, she embarked on a role in Finance Administration for a peace-building project.

Her favorite aspect of the job? “Each day presents new challenges and growth opportunities, and I thrive on using my skills to contribute to meaningful social change!”

#IWD2024 #InspireInclusion #women4peace #defyhatenow

Graphic designing is another form of communication and oftentimes it goes with journalism. I love journalism, it is my passion and will not pass by anything that will help me exercise the profession better. That was my major motivation for venturing into graphic designing. And once I set my mind on achieving something, I don’t look at whether it is reserved for men or for women. I just do it and make sure I do it well.

In Cameroon we can count the number of women who report sports. Talk less of women with disabilities who are into the field of sports Journalism. At the beginning, it was not easy bending into such a male dominated field where at times they belittle you for being “where you are not supposed to be.” But the reason why I chose that has kept me going – making a difference and silencing those who have doubts in women, particularly those with disabilities.

I believe so much in women with disabilities. We have a lot to offer if given the little push we need. I believe we can have a society where opportunities are distributed not because of gender but because of capabilities. Women have those capabilities.

(Hahaha) les difficultés, j’en rencontre tous les jours. J’ai dû faire preuve de beaucoup de patience, d’être téméraire, d’appeler des aînés (conscients) en aide et surtout de continuer à bosser en proposant du contenu de qualité. 

L’ambiance, le reportage, écumer les stades stylos à la main, c’est passionnant pour une femme. Vous savez, « si on en parle sans passion, même en faisant de belles phrases, c’est comme un verre d’eau tiède. Cela laisse à 37º ». et c’est où la mixité devrait prendre tout son sens.

I am Ajumane Francis, a freelance journalist and member of the Cameroon Association of English speaking Journalists, CAMASEJ. I chose to be a journalist because I wanted to be the voice of the society and amplify the voices of persons on the fringes.

2. Have you experienced challenges in terms of including women in this field or giving them opportunities to build themselves better ? How are you overcoming these challenges?

I have worked a lot with young female journalists over the years and the challenge is most often convincing them to overcome their fears and dare on territories which they consider are exclusively for me. However, it is always a matter of time and when these young girls grow into their strides, they gain in experience and start to embrace challenges that come their way.

3. What inspires you to advocate for women’s inclusion in your field ?

When you go to journalism schools, over 70 percent of students enrolled are girls. But the numbers don’t reflect on the field? Why? Why are there fewer women practising compared to the numbers enrolled? This is why we created the Camasej Yaounde Women’s hub to encourage more female journalists to dare and break barriers in their field and serve as an inspiration to the younger generation coming up.

Tell us about yourself and what you do

I’m a lawyer with a focus on internet governance, cybercrime, cybersecurity, and law. Since 2011, I’ve worked with the African internet community, taking part in workgroups and workshops on problems relating to the internet in Africa, capacity building, best practices online, and the rights and protection of people online.

Does your role or job permit you to foster women’s inclusion in peacebuilding processes in the community, at work, or even online ?

I have been able to promote women’s inclusion in peace processes in my community and online thanks to my role model, a member of civil society who has connected me to my work as a lawyer. This is due to the fact that, as attorneys, we occasionally have to settle disputes involving families or communities, such as inheritance disputes, land disputes, divorces, or widows’ troubles. We seek to support women and young girls in understanding and defending their rights and making their voices known in the community through our Lawyers Association.

From your experience what do you think can be done to increase women’s representation in peacebuilding? 

According to my personal experience, various steps must be made to improve women’s engagement in peacebuilding, most notably:

•  Educate women and develop their peacebuilding skills to emphasize the significant role they must play.
• Involve local women’s organizations in the process, appoint additional female ambassadors to promote peacebuilding if they don’t already exist, and assist them in discussing and outlining the challenges they face.

What do you think are the consequences of marginalising or sidelining gender issues in conflict resolution processes? 

This is because women , young girls and children are usually the main victims of conflicts ( some atrocity like rape are not easy to forgive and forget). Women have to participate in the processes to express their opinion and forgive.Women are the foundation of the family and society, and if their voices are not heard, the conflict may continue in a fragile and silent manner.

With the senatorial coming up, what do you think about more women taking up important positions at the Senate this time around?

In light of the upcoming Senate elections, I am in favor of more women holding powerful positions in the senate in order to raise more women’s issues. Why not try to elect a female president?

Have you ever heard of #defyhatenow? If yes, what do you think of their work and what do you think the team can do to make their work known and have more impact in #Cameroon?

Yes, I first learned about #defyhatenow during the conference the European Union organized last year with the topic “Stop Fake News.” I was delighted and honored to speak on a panel at the conference. They are doing a fantastic job, and I am prepared to help whenever they need it. To have more impact in Cameroon they need to increase communication to be well known. I believe it can be beneficial to plan events locally, not just in big towns. Also, it is critical to have volunteers in every area ( if it is not yet done).

Do you have any advice for young girls aspiring to impact their communities?

I would advise young girls to pursue their ambitions. Focus on your projects and don’t let anyone get in the way of it. You shouldn’t rely on marriage to be accepted in society. Work hard because bold women are admired by modern men. As an ICT expert, I advise young girls to take advantage of this chance to learn from and interact with the women they view as role models and who may motivate them to launch their own businesses and succeed as successful entrepreneurs.

Barrister Balbine MANGA

Cameroon