Since the participation at the Partnership for Change in October 2021, Belie Health Foundation who was represented by her Executive Director, Pastor Mrs. Abigail Abamukong, has been actively engaging in activities aimed at ending violence against women and girls in Buea, South West Region of Cameroon.
Following the empowering sessions at the event, Belie Health Foundation has organized and hosted two webinars, with over 100 women in attendance. These webinars focused on raising awareness among women about their roles in ending violence against women and girls, as well as promoting financial inclusion as a means to prevent and combat such violence. Remarkably, over 50% of the women who attended these webinars have successfully opened bank accounts of their own.
Additionally, Belie Health Foundation has conducted 4 onsite seminars, reaching out to over 200 women, particularly within religious circles. These seminars provided education on gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health, and strategies for achieving financial independence. The goal is to empower women and girls to recognize and prevent violence.
Belie Health Foundation has also extended its efforts to female inmates, providing them with information on sexual health, guidance on seeking help in cases of violence, and distributing reusable pads to promote menstrual hygiene. About 100 inmates were reached out to!
Furthermore, the foundation has been actively involved in raising awareness about gender-based violence amongst youths. BHF collaborates with 2 secondary schools reaching about 700 adolescents! to deliver comprehensive sexuality education, benefiting both boys and girls and providing both education and mentorship.
Belie Health Foundation recognizes the importance of engaging men in the fight against violence. BHF has initiated a mentoring program for a men-led group within the religious circles, aiming to promote positive masculinity and change the narrative that men are perpetrators of violence. This group has grown from about 5 men to over 20 men who are changing the narratives in their families and communities.
Additionally, Belie Health Foundation collaborates with other community-based organizations to sensitize religious leaders on their roles in ending violence against women and girls, as well as educating youths on sexual education.
Apart from our work on ending violence against women and girls, Belie Health Foundation also runs other programs, including providing support for orphans and those in need to go back to school, and the “Belie Youths Lead” initiative aimed at training youths with leadership skills in order for them to be the change they seek.