Conflict-Affected Young Women in the Northwest Region of Cameroon Take the Lead in Peacebuilding as Bright Light Projects Launches Recovery Network in Bamenda
More than 50 conflict-affected young women, community leaders, local authorities, youth representatives, and peacebuilding practitioners gathered in Bamenda, Northwest Cameroon on July 30, 2026 for a landmark capacity-building workshop aimed at strengthening women’s leadership in peacebuilding and post-conflict recovery.
The one-day workshop, titled “From Survivors to Peacebuilders: Amplifying the Voices of Conflict-Affected Young Women in Cameroon,” was organized by Bright Light Projects Cameroon (BLPC) in partnership with the Women’s Empowerment and Family Centre (WEFC) in Bamenda and with support from TAMA Veterinary Hospital. The event created a platform for dialogue, leadership development, healing, and collective action, reaffirming the critical role young women play in building sustainable peace in Cameroon.
The ongoing socio-political crisis in Cameroon’s North West and South West Regions has disproportionately affected women and girls. Many have experienced displacement, interrupted education, economic hardship, trauma, and social exclusion. Despite these challenges, young women continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience by supporting their families, leading community initiatives, and contributing to peacebuilding efforts. However, their voices often remain underrepresented in decision-making spaces.
The workshop sought to change that narrative by equipping participants with practical leadership skills, advocacy strategies, and opportunities to engage directly with key stakeholders committed to advancing peace and recovery.
Throughout the workshop, participants took part in interactive presentations, group discussions, storytelling sessions, and stakeholder dialogues designed to strengthen their leadership capacities. Facilitated by Chi Margaret, the opening session explored the causes and consequences of conflict while emphasizing that young women are not merely victims of violence but active agents of recovery and social transformation.
Participants reflected on the devastating social, psychological, and economic impacts of conflict before collectively committing themselves to becoming peace ambassadors within their communities.
Key discussions highlighted that:
- Women and girls experience unique vulnerabilities during conflict.
- Sustainable recovery requires inclusive community participation.
- Young women possess valuable leadership potential that can transform conflict-affected communities.
The second session, facilitated by Dr. Lawong Kendra, focused on women’s leadership, advocacy, and participation in governance and peace processes. Participants were encouraged to challenge social stereotypes that limit women’s participation in leadership while recognizing their own capacity to influence positive change.
The session emphasized that effective leadership begins with confidence, vision, and a willingness to advocate for justice, equality, and inclusive governance. Young women were encouraged to actively pursue leadership positions within their communities and institutions while using advocacy as a tool to influence policy and promote social change.
One of the workshop’s most impactful sessions focused on storytelling and emotional healing. Participants shared personal experiences of living through conflict, reflecting on how storytelling can foster healing, strengthen resilience, and promote reconciliation.
Dr. Lawong Kendra explained that personal stories have the power to break stereotypes, inspire collective action, and create empathy among divided communities. Many participants described the session as both therapeutic and empowering, recognizing that their lived experiences could become powerful instruments for advocacy and peacebuilding.
The workshop concluded with a stakeholder dialogue moderated by Ngala Clarica Museng, bringing together participants and stakeholders to discuss practical strategies for strengthening women’s participation in peacebuilding. Discussions focused on:
- Increasing women’s participation in peace negotiations.
- Expanding leadership opportunities for young women.
- Supporting women-led community recovery initiatives.
- Strengthening partnerships among civil society, government institutions, and local communities.
- Investing in mentorship and leadership development.
Participants unanimously called for greater institutional support to ensure young women are meaningfully included in decision-making processes affecting peace and recovery.
Bamenda Declaration Adopted
One of the workshop’s most significant achievements was the adoption of the Bamenda Declaration on Young Women’s Participation in Peace and Recovery. The declaration reflects the collective aspirations and commitments of participants to promote:
- Inclusive peacebuilding.
- Women’s leadership.
- Community resilience.
- Social cohesion.
- Greater representation of young women in governance and recovery initiatives.
The declaration also serves as a call to government institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, and community leaders to increase investment in women-led peace initiatives across Cameroon.
Launch of the BLP Young Women Peace and Recovery Network
Another major milestone was the official launch of the BLP Young Women Peace and Recovery Network.
The newly established network aims to:
- Connect conflict-affected young women across communities.
- Promote mentorship and leadership development.
- Support advocacy and peacebuilding initiatives.
- Encourage collaboration and information sharing.
- Sustain engagement beyond the workshop.
The initiative represents a significant step toward building a long-term movement of young women committed to advancing peace, justice, and recovery throughout Cameroon.
Key Outcomes
The workshop produced several important outcomes, including:
- Improved understanding of conflict recovery and peacebuilding.
- Strengthened leadership and advocacy skills among conflict-affected young women.
- Enhanced collaboration between women leaders, youth representatives, and stakeholders.
- Increased awareness of the importance of women’s participation in peace processes.
- Adoption of the Bamenda Declaration on Young Women’s Participation in Peace and Recovery.
- Official launch of the BLP Young Women Peace and Recovery Network.
- Development of practical recommendations for future peacebuilding initiatives.
Recommendations for Sustainable Peace
Participants recommended expanding leadership and peacebuilding training opportunities for young women across Cameroon. They also called on public institutions, development partners, and civil society organizations to strengthen mentorship programmes, increase women’s participation in governance, support community-led peace initiatives, promote peace education, and establish sustainable platforms for continued dialogue and collaboration.
Conclusion
The Bamenda workshop demonstrated that conflict-affected young women are not merely survivors of violence, they are indispensable architects of peace, reconciliation, and community recovery. By investing in their leadership, amplifying their voices, and creating
Berinyuy Cajetan is the founder and publisher of Human Rights and Legal Research Centre (HRLRC) since 2017. He has intensive experience in strategic communications for Civil Society Organizations, campaign and advocacy, and social issues. He has an intensive experiencing in human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
