Promoting self-determined ways out of precarious living situations in Cameroon

Background information

Many children and young people in Cameroon lack care and attention. One reason for this is the violent political conflict in the Anglophone regions, which claims many lives; other reasons are diseases such as HIV. The project offers widows, orphans and children who are unable to live with their families due to a disability protection and prospects for the future. The number of vulnerable people has risen sharply as a result of the Anglophone crisis.

The Protestant sisterhood Emmanuel Sisters had a long-standing connection to Mission 21 through the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC), from which it emerged, and has now been an independent partner organization of Mission 21 in this project since 2019. In the project, people live in centers that offer social and psychological support in addition to training and medical care. The women of AIChrisWoV have been working with Mission 21 since 2006 and are committed to helping people affected by HIV, widows and unaccompanied young people in the Bamenda area. In addition to the regular project participants, they are looking after an increasing number of internally displaced people as a result of the Anglophone crisis. These are integrated into the project activities. Orphans, unaccompanied children and young people are cared for in orphanages and family structures in a project run by the former Stucki Foundation - which was taken over by Mission 21 in 2019. There is also an opportunity for carpentry training.

Around 1.2 million orphans live in Cameroon. The basic idea behind the project work is that no one should be left behind by society. The project activities enable the most vulnerable people to integrate socially and help them to shape their lives. The need for this support remains great due to the current crisis in Cameroon. All three partner organizations are also members of the umbrella organization «The Alliance 23», which works together with Mission 21 in Cameroon.

Project goals

• Vulnerable people are given access to training and income-generating measures and thus achieve financial independence.
• Provide basic services to vulnerable individuals.
• Access to information on rights for vulnerable persons.
• Further training/capacity development for project managers.

Target group

Vulnerable groups of people such as widows and orphans, people with disabilities or with chronic diseases such as HIV.

Activities

• Almost 50 orphans and unsupervised young people live in a family environment in the orphanages of the former Stucki Foundation in Kumba and the surrounding area. There they can complete schooling and vocational training, for example in the project's carpentry workshop.
• The women of AIChrisWoV in Bamenda take care of both medical treatment and the rights of people living with HIV. Widows are supported through income-generating measures such as further training. Over 100 unassisted young people and orphans can receive an education and have access to medical care.
• The Emmanuel Sisters care for 50 people with disabilities, especially epilepsy, in Foumbot (West Region) and in the vicinity of Bamenda, who are as self-sufficient as possible thanks to targeted support measures.

Project progress

In 2025, the Emmanuel Sisters continued to provide reliable and important assistance to particularly vulnerable groups, especially people with disabilities and internally displaced persons without accommodation or alternative support. Specifically, 131 participants received healthcare and 88 participants received educational assistance.

In 2025, AIChrisWoV carried out awareness-raising measures for widows and unaccompanied young people affected by gender-based violence. 65 people were reached, 20 of whom received direct start-up assistance. A further 50 women and vulnerable young people were supported through education and 70 people through medical and food aid. With its holistic support in the conflict-affected region of Bamenda, AIChrisWoV had a positive impact on the lives, dignity and resilience of the participants.

17 vulnerable children from the former Stucki projects continue to be supported and empowered through basic education and care in foster and family households. Ten young men are currently training in the carpentry training program with the aim of becoming self-sufficient.