30 Grassroot Female Leaders Trained as Community Relay Agents


 


Within the context of the Anglophone crisis in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon which has caused suffering, hurt, bleeding due to the loss of lives, property and Mass movement, Common Action for Gender and Development COMAGEND, in Collaboration with the Cameroon Association for Bible Translation and Literacy CABTAL , organized  a four-day training of trainers workshop from 11th to 14th May for grassroots female leaders, to build their capacities as community relay agents on Trauma Healing.

Drawn from six different communities within Mezam, North West region of Cameroon, these 30 women leaders who assembled at  COMAGEND office Hall in Bamenda, were equipped with skills, techniques and processes to engage other community members in the Trauma Healing process. Given the fact that, the session was centered on faith base healing, the Founder of COMAGEND Sally Mboumien elucidates the reason behind her motivation.


“After our careful analysis of the community, we discovered that the church continues to be a cradle and symbol of love and healing for the local population. So we thought it wise to link some faith base healing with members of our communities so that they can intend heal”


With these participants expected to relay knowledge gained back to their various Communities, Madam Sally Mboumien once more explains how the follow-up process will be carried out.

“We expect them to hold healing circles with members of their communities,and it is not a one time activity.That's why we have given them documents and templates on how they can report to the office. We have had a partnership and understanding with the 30 Adolescent Girls and Young Women ”

Founder COMAGEND, Sally Mboumien

The workshop which had presentations on rape, conflicts, communication is a pilot project motivated by COMAGEND'S Priority in harnessing Adolescent Girls and Young women, AGYW and women in general potentials and contributions in resolving the ongoing conflict. With these participants tasked to make a change in their various Communities, some of them were thankful for how impactful the session was on their lives.


Lailam Faith Seraphine a participant and a councillor from Bamenda 111 council says the session has helped her heal from things she thought were all gone.

“This training has been so enriching. It has taught us a lot. First how to begin healing from ourselves, how to forgive ourselves and how to help others who are going through traumatic situations heal"


As to how knowledge gained at the session will be transferred back to their various communities, this Participant and now a certified community relay agent on Trauma Healing Mairumu Sauibu elaborates that, with the help of some people in her community the work will be done to make the community better.

“ The ways in which I plan to reach out to the community; I will talk to parents, talk to other leaders, the exco's I work with so that they can help me pass across the message and see how we can make the community a better one"


Healing Trauma and building Trust and tolerance in communities by community agents will help community members to release their pain, heal, and developed. Consequently, the Representative of CABTAL who also is the Director of Church and Scripture Engagement Department stated that the latter is the reason for CABTAL's partnership with COMAGEND. 

“CABTAL is a National Organizatio.So one of the workshops we offer is what is called Trauma Healing workshops and is meant to help people who are trying to heal and COMAGEND is one of those organizations that is helping people heal.


Equipped with knowledge on trauma, skills through trial sessions and tools made available to facilitate their work, COMAGEND hopes that, these trained Community agents hold healing circles in their various communities to help people heal, forgive, recover,  build a community of Resilience and  commence dialogue at different levels.

COMAGEND is a right based Organization founded in 2016 with the vision of upholding the rights of Adolescent Girls and Young Women by engaging them in policy and political participation within their communities for social inclusion and freedom of expression.

By Pechuqui Laurata





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