The Cameroon Education For All Network, CEFAN, organized a one-day workshop seminar in Bamenda, capital North West region of Cameroon.
The aim was to establish a forum for a Sensitization on a campaign on the right to education of Internally Displaced Persons and victims of the Anglophone Crises in the North West Region; with slogan: “The Right to the right Education.
The Focus Group Discussion which was coordinated by the Focal point for CEFAN NW, Mr Semma valentine, brought together 14 men and 11 women, drawn from different fields of life, but a bias for the common trade operators and local community opinion leaders.
After the welcome word a paper was presented by the resource person on the topic: Education Challenges for IDPs and victims of the crises in the North West Region: a collective concern and call for action.
Drawing from practical realities observed one ground, the psychological, socio-economic, educational, health and security challenges were x-rayed. At the end of it all, the picture painted was one of diversity in the challenges, calling then for a concerted action to support the most vulnerable.
Participants were constituted into three groups to brainstorm for over an hour. The work was presented in plenary. The reflections were guided as follows. For strategies to raise awareness: use public media space (radio/flyers); use local meetings in quarters; include in local announcements in church; council authorities should make it part of their communication topic; visits to cultural events; peer education/advocacy/empathy.
About strategies to upscale educational opportunities: increase budget for education financing to cover basic needs of the IDPs; ex-students/professionals should identify needs and offer them to the needy through the schools ; creation of foundations to support the educational needs of the victims; avoid political slogans on school related issues ; offering opportunity for talent exhibition for IDPs and victims identified ; and make education completely free!
It was with deep emotions that some participants shared the experiences they had witnessed and stated that the problem was deeper and needed greater attention. The girl child was seen as most vulnerable as she ends up being victim of circumstances, used to satisfy sexual urges, used for rituals to get charms etc.