Category Archives: Partnerships

Girl Child, He 4 She, Health, Her Voice Club, MenEngage, Partnerships, Women's Rights, Youth in the Picture

Denis Miki Foundation Officially Becomes A Member of the MenEngage Cameroon Chapter

Posted on by denismikifoundation
28
May

Having signed up as a global member of MenEngage in the last few months, it was considered much needed to accept the call to belong to the local chapter of the MenEngage Alliance. Denis Miki Foundation has as 2 representatives for the MenEngage Alliance Cameroon Chapter one member from the Her Voice Club to be represented by Nfomi Laura Berka who will accompany a staff at DMF for meetings.

The aim of the MenEngage Alliance is to raise awareness of the influence men have in ending gender-based violence and speaking out against all kinds of inequality. This meeting was held on the 25th of May 2019 in Buea and was represented by one member of several organization all over Cameroon some of which includes; Big Step Outreach Network, Mother of Hope, Community Center for Intergraded Development, Hope family Life, Vision in Action, Reach Out Cameroon, MINPROFF and others.

The program started at 8:45am with the arrival, registration and introduction of member organizations. Also talks on why engage men in gender equality and several reasons where given like they form an integral part of the society and can also contribute to end violence. The Criteria was shared as to how one could join the movement like signing their memorandum of association by implication accepting their terms and conditions. Some organizations where voted such as:

  1. MenEngage Cameroon Coordinator; Community Center For Intergraded Development
  2. Child Rights Constituency; Hope Family Life
  3. Women’s rights Constituency; Mother of Hope Cameroon
  4. Youth Constituency; Sustainable Women Organization.
  5. Key population Constituency; Vision in Action
  6. HIV/AIDS Constituency; Big-Step Outreach Network.

DMF signed the Memorandum of Understanding and officially became a member of the MenEngage Alliance Cameroon Chapter.

Governance, Internet Rights, Partnerships

Open Internet; A Platform for Development

Posted on by denismikifoundation
09
May

The Internet is a virtual space facilitating inter-connectivity among people and machines across the globe; which makes it an ecosystem of its own and not so different from the physical world. The web was designed to bring people together and make knowledge freely available. Internet access is one of the rights that have become inherent to humans. Everyone has a role to play to ensure the web serves humanity. Governments, companies and citizens around the world can help protect the open web as a public good and a basic right for everyone.

In the past few years a number of countries have begun to promote an internet governance model based on the concept of network sovereignty. Network sovereignty holds that governments should have total control of the internet within their borders. This model differs from the current multistakeholder model of internet governance in which governments, civil society, and the technical community are considered equal partners in ensuring that the internet remains one, interoperable, global network. In practice, network sovereignty affords governments the ability to monitor the flow of information online, control the type of content that is accessible, and access user data stored within their jurisdictions.

Throughout January 2017 to March 2017, the government of Cameroon interrupted and shutdown the internet in the two English-speaking regions (North West and South West). This was executed under the pretext of maintaining public order. According to Internet without Boarders (2017), this has since been the longest internet shutdown in the history of Internet interruption in the world. By Economist analysis the ecumenical implications and losses of the cut is estimated to over 440 million F.CFA (US $ 880,000). The Cameroonian government’s institution of Law No 2010/012 of 21 December relating to Cybersecurity and Cyber-criminality in Cameroon, the Law Against Terrorism and the new Penal Code punishes citizens who publish false information including on social media. This situations are practical examples of the network sovereignty and the power it gives a government and also the challenges it has on an entire nation and the world at large.

Network Sovereignty is a threat to an open internet and democracy since it goes against international laws and declarations like the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms. The 8th Principle of the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms on Privacy says “Everyone has a right to privacy online including the right to control how their personal data is collected, used, disclosed, retained and disposed of. Everyone has the right to communicate anonymously on the Internet and to use appropriate technology to ensure secure, private and anonymous communication”. The concept of network sovereignty goes against the above mentioned principle and Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks”.

A new movement of local, national, regional and international leaders made of Civil Society Actors, Organisations and Individuals are now rising for the fight for the existence of an Open Internet which is free, and accessible to all. There are coalitions like the Digital Rights Coalition, Association for Progressive Communications, the Internet Rights Principles and Coalition Campaign and Open Internet for Democracy. It is imperative for everyone to join the movement to ensure a safe and open internet as we are all beneficiaries of the Internet. Denis Miki Foundation is an active member of several of this coalitions and campaigns and encourages all to join in as an individual and/or organisation.

A new movement of local, national, regional and international leaders made of Civil Society Actors, Organisations and Individuals are now rising for the fight for the existence of an Open Internet which is free, and accessible to all. There are coalitions like the Digital Rights Coalition, Association for Progressive Communications, the Internet Rights Principles and Coalition Campaign and Open Internet for Democracy. It is imperative for everyone to join the movement to ensure a safe and open internet as we are all beneficiaries of the Internet. Denis Miki Foundation is an active member of several of this coalitions and campaigns and encourages all to join in as an individual and/or organisation.

Capacity Building, Children's Rights, Girl Child, He 4 She, Health, Her Voice Club, Leadership, MenEngage, Orphans & Vulnerable Children, Partnerships, Volunteerism, Women's Rights, Youth in the Picture

Her Voice Club Formed Following Focus Group Discussions with Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) on their Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR)

Posted on by denismikifoundation
23
Jan

Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) are faced with challenges particularly while engaging in relevant policy and program design processes that directly affect their lives. An example of this is absence and lack of meaningful engagement of adolescent girls and young women in national AGYW and youth related policy and program processes supported by or linked to the Global Fund. Gender inequalities limit the ability of young women to protect themselves from infection.

In 37 countries only 30% of young women had the knowledge to prevent HIV. Young women with HIV also face stigma and discrimination. To respond adequately to the needs of adolescent girls and young women, their voices and ideas must be heard. They must have the opportunity to shape policies and programs that affect them. This report presented is based on information gathered following consultative sessions through Focus Group Discussions with 48 AGYW in Cameroon to ensure their opinions and voices are captured to shape the decision making, implementation processes in the HIV/AIDS respond plans in Cameroon through the Global Fund.

        This report presents field consultation and analysis from this target group that represents their voices and opinions on a wide range of methods through which services like education can be provided to them. It provides a platform where we can ensure that they are able to seek and claim their rights to sexual health and HIV services. It highlights methods to contribute to the fight to end gender-based violence, a cause and consequence of HIV infections and proposes ways to create safe spaces for young women to become advocates and leaders in the HIV response and change harmful social norms to empower them.

The sessions that began with girls from 13 to 18 saw a lot of them having a lack of knowledge on HIV/AIDS. This was noticed because some of their answers to questions asked were incorrect and they were lacking on important knowledge about HIV/AIDS for example when it was coming to the difference between HIV and AIDS. A lot of them who were shy to speak at the beginning were able to start talking after a few minutes and we could watch their confidence grow and immediately after the session and our departure from the school a lot of them went on the internet to read more about HIV/AIDS and started following us on Facebook. The girls who participated at the Apostolic Comprehensive Secondary School have now began a club called Her Voice Club.

The AGYW who participated in the sessions out of the school campus had their sessions in outdoor environments, a choice made to create a space where they were comfortable and felt safe. The discussions created new friendships, exchange of life experiences and situations, knowledges and methods to engage them fully in the Global Fund processes. To be able to continue building on their capacities for their fully engagement in the Global Fund processes they proposed that a Whatsapp group should be created which was done of them and the Expert Trainers and the project team at DMF. A secret Facebook group was also to be created so that participants without Android Phones could be members. The team at DMF regularly shares workshop and consultative meeting opportunities at both the local, national and international levels, coach them in the application process so they can begin the engagement processes. Some are working closely with the team to build the article for the International Journal of Public Health so that they can be introduced to the processes and their capacities built.

Capacity Building, Girl Child, Governance, He 4 She, Health, Her Voice Club, Human Rights, MenEngage, Partnerships, Women's Rights, Youth in the Picture

Call For Expert Trainers

Posted on by denismikifoundation
27
Dec

PROJECT THEME: “Engaging the Voices, Opinions and Perspectives of AGYW groups in HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment Processes through Focus Group Discussions”

GOAL

The goal of this project is to provide a space for the meaningful consultation of Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in Global Fund Cameroon processes as well as in Divisional, Regional and National processes to reduce new HIV infections among AGYW aged 15-24 to meet Global Fund targets.

OBJECTIVES

  1. To get the voices, perspectives and opinions of AGYW before designing and implementing HIV prevention polices/processes,
  2. To actively engage AGYW in HIV prevention efforts to improve acceptance and sustainable ownership of interventions, increase retention of AGYW in treatment programs and maximize impact
  3. To incorporate solutions proposed by AGYW into HIV prevention/treatment initiatives because AGYW are experts at understanding their own issues and designing solutions.

 

METHODOLOGY

-Together with the team at DMF, Expert Trainers will establish necessary criteria to carry out the study.

-Study procedure, will be explained to each participant by the experts prior to administering consent.

-Together with the team at DMF, the Experts will develop an interview framework that will enable the focus groups to examine risk factors for AGYW as well as strategies proposed by AGYW to address HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.

-The team of experts will determine the language of study, how the study will be conducted and the coding and consolidation system to make the study effective and the results reliable.

There will be 6 focus group discussions, 3 composed of AGYW aged 15-19 and another 3 composed of AGYW aged 20-24. Each group will comprise 8 participants making a total of 48. All sessions will be recorded and shall take place in Limbe between the 3rd to the 13th of January, 2019.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Expert Trainers in the fields of Health, Community Outreach and Service with proven track records on HIV/AIDS related programs most especially with previous and/or ongoing collaboration with Global Fund programs in Cameroon will be given more priority.

To apply send a One Page Abstract on the project theme attaching your most recent Curriculum Vitae (CV) to Denis Miki Foundation at contact@denismikifoundation.cm copying; Miss Emilia Miki emily@denismikifoundation.cm, Mr Emmanuel Vifansi emmanuel@denismikifoundation.cm, Miss Ndolo Ekema ndolo@denismikifoundation.cm and Mr Parviel Chirsir parviel@denismikifoundation.cm

Deadline: The deadline for submission of abstracts and CVs is the 30th of December 2018 at 11.59PM.

ABOUT DENIS MIKI FOUNDATION

Denis Miki Foundation is a development initiative that since December 2013 has worked with rural and urban-poor communities in Cameroon. Our programs at Denis Miki Foundation focus on primary health care, water, hygiene & sanitation targeting primary school children, youth, women and the underprivileged persons, conservation related activities, community development projects, vocational training and promoting sustainable agriculture, arts and talents promotion activities. DMF’s missions are to contribute to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and community development by empowering the people and their communities. We have as objectives to sustainably develop and enhance the capacities of the poor, vulnerable and rural areas of Cameroon.

 

ABOUT HER VOICE FUND

HER Voice is the result of various consultations with women organizations and women’s funds citing challenges faced, particularly by young women, while engaging in relevant policy and program design processes that directly affect their lives.

Through its “Community Rights and Gender Strategic Initiative”, the Global Fund has invested in HER Voice to support the meaningful engagement of adolescent girls and young women in national AGYW and youth related policy and program processes supported by or linked to the Global Fund, for an initial period of 12 months.

HER Voice believes that to respond adequately to the needs of adolescent girls and young women, their voices and ideas must be heard. They must have the opportunity to shape policies and programs that affect them. HER Voice collaborates with and compliment other initiatives geared towards strengthening quality of interventions targeting adolescent girls and young women.

The HER Voice Fund is jointly managed and administered by SHRH Africa Trust (SAT) and Eastern Africa National Networks of AIDS Service Organizations (EANNASO).

Awards, Capacity Building, Charity, Girl Child, Her Voice Club, Leadership, Orphans & Vulnerable Children, Partnerships, Recognitions, Volunteerism, Youth in the Picture

DMF Project Coordinator, Tembeng Eli-Anne becomes a Mentor at My YALI Family Holiday Camp

Posted on by denismikifoundation

DMF Project Coordinator, Eli-Anne participated as a Mentor at the maiden edition of the YALI West Africa Alumni Association Cameroon My YALI Family Camp. The median edition of My YALI alumni holiday Camp held at Nkolbisson, Yaounde. The 5 days camp with theme ‘STRENGTHENING YOUTH RESILIENCE THROUGH POSITIVE MIND DEVELOPMENT AND MENTORSHIP’ was organized by the US embassy Cameroon which saw 50 YALI Alumni’s throughout all the regions of Cameroon ( known as mentors) and 50 orphans taking from 10 orphanages from the 10 regions of Cameroon ( known as mentees ).

During this one week program the mentees and mentors had lessons on civic participation; they were introduced to entrepreneurship and public management. We also had life skills lesson on the production of paper bags which will help combat the use of plastic bags which is currently causing havoc to our environment. Later that day, the mentees were taken on the menstrual cycle lesson which at the end of the BEADING OF A BRACELRT EACH TO RE[PRESENT THEIR VARIOUS MENSTURAL  day which are from 3 to 5 days.

The mentees were later assigned to a mentor each according to their various different regions . The camp was graced with the visit of the USA Ambassador to Cameroon H.E Peter Henry Barlerin where he viewed some artistic works from the mentees and had lunch with the campers. The day ended with handing over of school needs to the kids by the ambassador.

The camp ended with mentees planning sessions with their mentors and ten clean up and an alumni meeting then departure.

Tembeng Eli-Anne

Capacity Building, Children's Rights, Girl Child, Her Voice Club, Human Rights, Leadership, Partnerships, Recognitions, Volunteerism, WASH, Youth in the Picture

YOUNG PEOPLE ARE UNIQUELY SUITED TO SOLVE PROBLEMS THROUGH SERVICE.

Posted on by denismikifoundation
22
Apr


Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) is the largest service event in the world and the only one that celebrates the contributions that children and youth make 365 days of the year. Global Youth Service Day #GYSD was commemorated this day in Cameroon at Bobende Village, Limbe II with a Community Service outreach program consisting of human investment activities by the following partner organisations; Green and Better World, American Corner, SAFE Heaven, Global Youth Service America, Bobende Youths Association, HRH Chief of Bobende, Young African Leaders Initiative, IYEC, CODEC, LUKMEF, Community Radios, TV Stations and Newspapers from April 20-22 2017 in partnership with Youth Service America.

Research shows that the first full series of scans of the developing adolescent brain by the National Institutes of Health showed that our brains undergo a massive reorganization between our 12th and 25th years to make the entire brain much faster and more sophisticated. Between the ages of 12 and 25, people are literally wired for excitement, novelty, risk, and peer authority. While these traits can be negative, they also make young people uniquely suited to solve problems, if given the opportunity.

1. Excitement and novelty leads to learning new things and creating new solutions.
2. Risk leads to trying things adults might not.
3. Peer authority leads to changing behaviors; kids listen to other kids more than adults.

Arts & Crafts, CrArts 4 Keeps, Culture, Democracy, Governance, Her Voice Club, Partnerships, Talent Promotion

DMF At The Limbe Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) 2017

Posted on by denismikifoundation
14
Apr

Denis Miki Foundation exhibited at the Limbe Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) from the 8th of April to April 15th 2017. Under the distinguished patronage of the Minister of Arts and Culture; The Limbe Festival of Arts and Culture showcases the cultural affluence of the creative and talented Cameroonian people in all its facets. The most spectacular aspect of this cultural jamboree is its inclusive nature as it provides room for exhibitions from all parts of our colourful and richly blessed Fatherland. The ambiance of this event is also enhanced by its international dimension as it is graced by participation from other African countries like Nigeria, Togo, Benin and others.
Highlights of the event include the highly acclaimed canoe race, the great marathon, energetic and exciting tradition dances, breathtaking arts and cultural exhibitions, rib-cracking tug of war and the famous traditional wrestling.

As an Art Exhibitor ar FESTAC, it was our first exhibition of our BellePaper products. The BellePaper project by DMF is birthed thanks to our wonderful collaboration with Rural Women Development Center – RuWDEC. Thanks to the Limbe public who welcomed the product with so much enthusiasm and “Waohhhhssss”.

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BellePaper is the transformation of waste paper to beautiful flower jars or paper baskets. Another phase of the project is the skills training to children and interested members of the public on recycling of waste paper from trash to treasurable products.

 

Capacity Building, Girl Child, Health, Her Voice Club, Leadership, Partnerships, Women's Rights, Youth in the Picture

Young Commited Peer Educators Set Out To Fight HIV/AIDS In Communities Around Cameroon

Posted on by denismikifoundation
01
Apr

At the age of 24 I started on a journey to give back to my community through a holistic empowerment program that I named Denis Miki Foundation. It was a self-bound vision but which could not be implemented alone for the impact I had envisioned for the future. To be able to attain my set out goals I needed to get others in the community involved and one of the target groups I needed in my team to work where youth. So as a Social Entrepreneur I set out to recruit young volunteers to join me in my vision for change.

One of the areas I felt needed intervention was the Health Sector but my entry level was more of a preventive and community health approach. So Denis Miki Foundation recruited volunteers who were trained and prepared for service to the community through partnerships with local and international partners. At the beginning of the journey 5 volunteers were recruited but 4 years later we are counting 30 and above committed volunteers who are from the ages of 12 to 35 and who are proposing solutions to challenges in our communities.

In the area of health DMF as a Sub-Contractor for a Global Fund project in partnership with Reach Out Cameroon and IFPP on HIV/AIDS we have 20 young girls aged between 16-35 on the field as HIV/AIDS Peer Educators educating their peers who are school-drop-outs on preventive measures of HIV/AIDS, how to live responsible lives, to go for free HIV/AIDS screening at partner health centers, and mobile HIV/AIDS screening outreach programs at local community markets.

Ijang Valerine an 18 years old is one of the Young Female Peer Educators who has for the last 7 months given back to her community by educating young girls and boys of her age group on the ills of HIV/AIDS and how it affects economic growth and hinders orphaned children growing up after losing a parent to AIDS from growing up in a family with parental care and support. Valerine teaches her peers why it is important to know how to prevent being infected by the virus, screen for HIV/AIDS regularly and how to manage the disease if already infected with the virus and how to prevent Mother-To-Child Transmission. She has been able to also recruit new young girls to join her as volunteer Peer Educators in the fight against HIV/AIDS in our communities.

Like Valerine, the other young girls are finding their purpose as they give back to their communities. It is part of Denis Miki Foundation’s goal to get Youths In The Picture for development through Health, Sports, Arts and Talent for a healthy and economically empowered Cameroon and Africa as a whole. To be able to do this we are open to new partnerships and funding opportunities. And welcome partners from all over as we join hands to create the change we want

Capacity Building, Girl Child, Health, Her Voice Club, Human Rights, Leadership, Partnerships, Volunteerism, Women's Rights, Youth in the Picture

Young Female HIV Peer Educators/Volunteers Trained

Posted on by denismikifoundation
10
Oct


Denis Miki Foundation is aware of her legal and moral obligation to protect the rights of all, the responsibility of individuals to act and the benefits of diversity to society and is conscious that HIV/AIDS is a human rights issue too. With the need to partner for the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goal had Young Female HIV/AIDS Peer Educators be trained in the Peer Educators training by Presse Jeune Developpement and Center for Media and Strategic Communication in partnership with Reach Out Cameroon.

In all our activities health education talks and campaigns are not left out and this is to economically empower the people and communities for healthy lifestyles. It is vital for Denis Miki Foundation to include Health education talks, sensitizations and campaigns in her projects and activities. This is in the areas of HIV/AIDS, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Water and Sanitation. It is one of our goals to implement larger projects on health in the poor rural and urban communities we work with since most of them are faced with health challenges of HIV/AIDS, Malnutrition and many others. The HIV/AIDS trainings are facilitated by the trained Peer Educators who were trained by Presse Jeune Developpement and Center for Media and Strategic Communication in partnership with Reach Out Cameroon.

The Peer Educators will be going into the field to train their peers on HIV/AIDS prevention, how to use the female condom, prevention and available HIV/AIDS management methods.

[TWTR]