The CEO took part in a virtual discussion on the Anglophone Crisis. A journey through the unspeakable horrors and dehumanization, on the 8th of April 2021. It was a call for global action to end the blood bathe, alongside Dr Shelly Tenenbaum.
With support from Cross Road foundation Hong Kong, BIHAPH was able to put smiles on the faces of distressed population by visiting and donating diadatic materials to three schools under Bamenda 11 Council area.
To celebrate the world menstrual hygiene day 2021, BIHAPH organized a campaign titled *One girl, One Pad* during which they were able to reach out to many vulnerable young women to have their periods with dignity.
In June, Madame Mbei Dighambong represented Cameroon at REACT (RAPID EXPERT ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATION TEAM FOR CONFLICT PREVENTION, CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND POST CONFLICT REHABILITATION). It was a five weeks training program on peace processes and conflict prevention, organized by the Helsinki Spain Association and attended by fifteen people from 9 different countries.
As part of her mission to bring hope and relief to the suffering and hopeless populations, BIHAPH paid a visit to the Bamenda Central prison and donated clothing to about 100 Juveniles in partnership with Cross Roads Foundation Hongkong.
In July, BIHAPH also launched a peace project to be carried out in Bamenda I, II and III Councils under the theme "Effective Civic Engagement and Participation as a Major Tool For Conflict Transformation and Peace Building Using a Strategic Community Based Approach”. The six months project ran from July to December.
Still in July, BIHAPH trained stakeholders in Wum Central , Benakuma and Bafmeng on how to fight against GBV and SEA. The training focused on the legal framework on GBV, causes, forms and consequences and prevention, shifting cultural norms to address GBV, psychological effects of GBV in vulnerable communities, the impact of GBV on children, GBV using communication approaches to alleviate the vice and Economic Empowerment as a strategy to fight GBV.
It was also a privilege for BIHAPH's CEO to Facilitate Workshop II at the First ever National Women’s Convention for Peace in Cameroon. Ms Bibiana Dighambong, Consultant in Conflict Prevention and Peace Building, facilitated in the workshop on the topic “The Normative Framework for Women’s Participation in Peace Processes in Cameroon”.
On Recognitions, BIHAPH's CEO was in September recognized by the Confederation of Cameroon Trade Unions CCTU of the North West Region, for the publication of her book titled "Rwanda-Horrors of Genocide: Prevention is Possible in our World Today". The book which according to them is widely read by the population and on the media has greatly transformed the mindset of the North West population.
Still in September, BIHAPH graduated 28 computer experts at their head office in Wum Central, Menchum Division, who had been studying for two months, precisely July and August 2021. It should be noted that the organization has been a backbone behind professional skill acquisition in Wum Central.
Under her peace project, BIHAPH on October 28 organized a workshop at the Bamenda lll Council Hall to train community leaders during which Community Leaders of Bamenda lll Council gained skills and knowledge in an interactive and participatory workshop on peace building mechanisms. November 11 was the turn for Bamenda II Council, meanwhile Bamenda I Council held on November 28. All three seasons were mind blowing as participants appreciated BIHAPH for such an initiative and asked for more. In gratitude, the First Deputy Mayor of Bamenda II Council declared that the same week next year in November, shall be called the "Peace Week".
In October, BIHAPH took upon herself to do more outreaches in Bamenda and so carried out a sensitization campaign at Bamenda Main Market (hair dressing line) on teenage pregnancy, gender based violence (GBV), peace building, and menstrual hygiene amongst other interesting life saving topics.
While launching the 16 days of Activism against Gender-Based violence, BIHAPH called upon the general public to challenge violence against women and girls by joining UNHCR/BIHAPH to drive GBV out of our communities. BIHAPH came out with 16 graphic messages that were used every day from November 25 to December 10.
With the help of team BIHAPH, the men of Bafmeng in Fungom subdivision, Menchum Division in November took a commitment to join the women in the fight against GBV/ SEA. The men took this new commitment during BIHAPH’s launch of the 16days of activism against GBV/SEA under the theme: Join BIHAPH, orange the world and end violence against women now.
BIHAPH in partnership with UNHCR in late November officially installed 60 members of the Local Dialogue Structure (LDS) to Fight Against Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Menchum Division, specifically in Bafmeng, Wum Central and Benakuma, 20 members from each community to continue the fight. They were also trained on the different dynamics of this fight.
As part of her 16 Days of Activism against GBV, BIHAPH donated bags of rice, cartoons of soap and 16Days of activism against GBV t-shirts to an Association of Persons Living With Disabilities, in Wum Central. This was to commemorate world disability day celebrated every 3rd December.
At the closing ceremony of the 16 Days of Activism in Bamenda, BIHAPH used the opportunity to share the success stories of her gender-based violence (GBV) and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) project carried out in Menchum Division, sponsored by UNHCR with other civil society organizations at Pastoral Center Up-station, Bamenda.
The Year ended on a positive note as the CEO, Madam Mih Bibiana Mbei Dighambong was awarded two certificates. She was accorded the 2021 Irwin Cotler Award for Human Rights Defenders in Cameroon by H.E Richard Bale, Canadian High Commissioner to Cameroon on December 10th and the * MOST OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY PEACE CRUSADER* 2016 to 2021 by the Voice Newspaper on December 11.
The last but not the least major activity for 2021, was the closing ceremony of the six Months Peace Project on 15th December at Bamenda I council Hall. During the ceremony, the participants were awarded certificates and six Community Leaders elected to pilot the peace activities in their various communities.
The Board Chair of BIHAPH Professor Mendi Grace in a ceremony to close activities for the year 2021, thanked BIHAPH'S staff for their enormous and relentless efforts to save humanity, noting that “Your activities have not only been limited to Menchum or Bamenda, but have also been recognized beyond.