Education for secure livelihoods in Cameroon

Project Number: 134.1006

The Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC) is involved in social areas neglected by the state, such as education, healthcare and combating youth unemployment. The PCC runs youth centers where young people are supported in their development. Women and men can attend literacy courses or receive help in setting up small businesses to improve their income. Young people and internally displaced persons receive training in PCC enterprises. In the current political conflict situation, education is a key to the further development of society.

Background information

The PCC has around 1.5 million members. It and Alliance 23 provide training for people affected by the political crisis, which is worsening the situation for all sections of society. Over 40 percent of the population is under the age of 15. Schools have been operating unreliably or not at all for around six years. Nevertheless, church training programs can provide young people and refugees with prospects. For example, "PresLivestock" has recently started offering agricultural training, which opens up career opportunities and improves daily living conditions. As women in Cameroon bear the main responsibility for the family and solidarity among women is needed in the current crisis situation, the organization WEELP (Women's Economic Empowerment and Literacy Programme), as part of the Christian Women Fellowship (CWF), aims to improve the position of women in the male-dominated structures in the church and society.

Project goals

Women, young people and men are supported through education and training to bring their knowledge back to the PCC, help those in need and make a positive contribution to society. As part of the 2025-2028 program phase, Mission 21 is specifically promoting agricultural training at PresLivestock to encourage the acquisition of sustainable skills and improve livelihoods.
The WEELP (Women Economic Empowerment and Litaracy Program) project strengthens the self-confidence and social role of women so that they can actively participate in political and social life.

Target group

Members within and outside the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon from all sectors and strata of society, as well as internally displaced persons.

Activities

Young people are supported in their development, enabling them to build an independent life for themselves. This is done with the help of agricultural training at "PresLivestock", which will also sustainably improve the nutritional situation of families. Start-up assistance after completion of the training and ongoing contact with the trainees contribute to sustainability.
In the WEELP project, women learn to network, share their knowledge and work together in cooperatives.
Through literacy courses and other training measures, the course participants learn how to improve their economic situation.
Internally displaced persons are included in the activities and are given the chance to take responsibility for themselves and their families again in the Alliance's own training courses.

Project progress

In 2025, the WEELP project reached and trained 682 women: 221 in the area of functional literacy, 410 in the area of training to generate an income and 51 with further training to develop professional skills. Women in rural areas are supported and economically empowered. All beneficiaries work in agriculture and cultivate organic home gardens for their own use and for sale. Just over half (56 percent) introduced improved cultivation methods and used organic fertilizers. As a result, the women reduced their dependence on chemical fertilizers and improved their food security.

PCC is implementing two education-oriented projects that strengthen livelihoods and skills development. The PresLivestock project focuses on livestock skills to improve household resilience. In 2025, PresLivestock trained 40 participants in improved livestock rearing methods.

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