Empowering Market Women in Africa

The Global Citizenship through Business and Education (GCTBE) is a program developed in 2014 with objectives to promote ongoing education and research in Cameroonian youth, Enhancing the understanding of economic development, foster global citizenship through business and education, develop, implement, and monitoring of microfinance schemes that will benefit the underserved; provide economic education to individuals with limited formal education; and other activities deemed mutually beneficial to both parties.

The core value of the project to promote research amongst University Student (BOCODA social enterprise fellows) in the area of livelihood practices and micro enterprise development, On the other hand the project is developed to reach out to the community through a micro credit schemes supported and fully sponsored by BOCODA.

The first phase of this project was launched in 2014 in partnership with the Bamenda University of Science and Technology (BUST).  The collaboration brought in the provision of two selected BOCODA – BUST social enterprise fellows from BUST University and 15 market women as beneficiaries of the micro grant to improve on their businesses.

The women beneficiaries were given grant support after the training and the Team under the supervision of BOCODA and BUST management monitored these women closely and the progress of their Business.

The second phase was lunch in February 2015 characterized with different changes in the projects of 2014. After the evaluation of the 2014 project realization the New Executive Director organized several sensitization meeting with a new orientations and strengthening of the partnership with Bust.

A series of meetings was held with the administration of BUST Universities to strengthen the partnership ties between BOCODA and BUST University. This meetings lead by the Team Leader of BOCODA. A total of 6 professional meetings were held with the Dean of studies and the vice chancellor of the University. The meetings helped to sensitize BUST on the new orientation and strategies to attain the objectives of the program for 2015.

Bust university made a selection of two outstanding students to carry on the responsibility of 2015 program fellow. The two students Fonbah Junior Eric and Suh Nchang Tabitha were selected by name and presented to the administration of BOCODA for briefing which took place at the BOCODA head office Cameroon.  In addition BOCODA was opportune to collaborate with a US Peace corps volunteer NOWELL TERA KATHLEEN who volunteered to join management team and support the realization with her own expertise.

 A project realization team was then set up by the executive director of BOCODA who took two training sessions to educate the entire team on the project and draw a road map on how to realize the program for the year. 

The Project team composed of:

MBUH RENE NSUH - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of BOCODA

AMBE MINETTE - BOCODA OFFICE MANAGER 

HARRIET - BOCODA OFFICE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

NOWELL TERA KATHLEEN - PEACE CORP VOLUNTEER  

FONBAH JUNIOR ERIC - 2015 MALE PROGRAM FELLOWS

SUH NCHANG TABITHA - 2015 FEMALE PROGRAM FELLOWS

IMMANUELA LUM CHE - 2014 FEMALE PROGRAM FELLOWS

GIBRILE - 2014 MALE PROGRAM FELLOWS

Identification and Selection of Women Beneficiaries. A team headed by the office manager went to the field and identified some 23 women beneficiaries that were closely analyzed and the following 10 were further selected to take part in the training:

1.  SUH NGWE
2.    BIH ANISTER CHE
3.  KOBBI PAULINE ANGUM
4.  NKEMASONG ROSE NKAFU
5.  ANITA MAGHA NWANA
6.  NDIFOR FLORENCE ATEH
7. SIRRI MAFOR NDIFOR
8. TANGWAM ANGELINE ANDINE
9. COMFORT NKENCHAP
10.  NGWE GRACE

Training of Beneficiaries. A two weeks training was organized composed of 2 hours a day and two days a week making a total of 8 hours training session on business management and business development. Headed by the Peace Corp Volunteer the ten women all took part in the training with no absents recorded nor late coming recorded. This attitude of the women and their contributions during the training session motivated the team to immediately go in for the selection of another set beneficiaries. To help support our efforts, please make a donation and share with family and friends.

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