Strides made by Welisane Foundation in addressing issues that block the girl child and women from advancing in the society to reach their utmost through education, socio-economic empowerment, advocacy in sexual and reproductive health rights and mentoring have been recognized by Cameroon’s lone English-language daily newspaper, The Guardian Post.
Mokwe Welisane Nkeng, Founder/coordinator of Welisane Foundation poses with award conferred on the foundation
The foundation was crowned as winner of the 2020 Gender Empowerment Award. This was during The Guardian Post Annual Achievement Awards ceremony which held in Yaoundé Friday 9 April 2021. Ngah Christian Mbipgo, CEO of the media group who also doubles as Publisher/Editor told attendees that the foundation was awarded for distinguishing itself among many others in championing the crusade against issues that affect and hinder the advancement of the girl child and women in Cameroon.
Welisane Foundation bags home prestigious 2020 Gender Empowerment Award
Ngah disclosed that the award was conferred on the foundation following thousands of votes cast by readers, subscribers, advertisers and partners of the lone English-language daily newspaper and counted by a jury made up of renowned jurists of international repute and ace journalists.
Speaking after the receiving the prestigious award, the founder/coordinator of the foundation, Mokwe Welisane Nkeng, expressed gratitude to the media group and its readers for spotlighting the works of the foundation.
Welisane poses in group picture with other laureates in different categories
“Sincerely, I am very surprised to say the least. I am humbled and honoured to have received this award. I did not expect that at this very young and budding stage of this foundation we are going to be recognized,” Welisane said, noting, that the award attest to the fact that hard work and passion brings recognitions normally and naturally. Welisane said the award would not make them lay on their laurels but push them to work harder.
“…we will continue making impact in the society not because we want to be recognized but because it is the right thing for us to do,” she stated, adding, that empowering the girl child and women as the foundation does is a way of empowering the society in general.
“…there is more to life than just living lavishly. It is time for us to deep our hands in our pockets and give back. Life is all about looking around and really impacting the society,” Welisane said.
The diplomat cum journalist thanked the entire team in foundation for their efforts, sacrifices, and inputs which she said contributed enormously to winning the award. She urged the team not to relent but keep working hard in impacting the society.
The gender advocate who also doubles as pioneer United Nations Global Sustainability Leader and a Malaria Ambassador challenged girls and women to believe in their dreams and fight to become what they wish.
“Go out there, strive, be phenomenal, and be unapologetic. You can chase your dreams and succeed if you put your heart into it. Do not pay attention to what people say especially in fields considered to be male-dominated. You need to put an effort. If you have a dream you need to go after it. Find your passion, find your niche and chase it passionately and you will succeed and make great strides,” she advised.
Successful Accomplishment of 2020 Roadmap
Despite the challenges brought about in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation did its best to realize its roadmap in strict respect of government prescribed barrier measures. “2020 was very impactful for us. It was a year that we really did so many great things and we doubled if not tripled our efforts,” she said.
Cross-section of the Welisane Foundation team was all joy winning the prestigious award
Top among the foundation’s successful activities realized was the “one girl one dream campaign” that got supports from many more people, reach out to many internally displaced persons (IDPs) and underprivileged girls, getting more partners and successful organisations of its sexual reproductive health and rights programme notably its “breast cancer awareness walk” and “Pink October walk” as well as donated sanitary kits to underprivileged girls and women as part its menstrual hygiene project.
Ambitious 2021 Roadmap Envisaged
Quizzed on what the foundation has in stock for girls and women in 2021, the Global Goodwill Ambassador (GGA) and World Pulse Ambassador stated their wish is to make more efforts and create more impacts in the weeks ahead with the launch of the menstrual hygiene project campaign ahead of May 28 considered as world menstrual hygiene day.
“This year we want to support Cameroonian girls living as refugees in Nigeria as a result of the armed conflict in the North West and South West regions. We want to donate pads to 2000-5000 girls,” she disclosed.
Welisane called on all stakeholders working on menstrual hygiene, and all those who sympathize with the project to rally behind the foundation so that as a coalition, they can federate forces to assist the suffering girls and women in Nigeria.
Welisane's beautiful kids join in celebrating the achievement of their mother and her foundation
Welisane Foundation also looks forward to launching its holiday activities dubbed “holidays without pregnancy” aimed at reducing teenage pregnancy, give more push and media visibility and in-person sensitization to the “one girl one dream project” as well as amplify the back-to-school project which will bring many more people on board to raise funds to get didactic materials and distribute to underprivileged kids.
She further revealed that the foundation looks forward to making this year’s “Pink October” event bigger by bringing on board financial institutions, multinationals corporations, associations and organisations as partners. The foundation plans to end the year with a visit and donation of gifts to many more orphanages as part of its end-of-year charity project.
By Doh Bertrand Nua
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