W.I.N Cameroon

We chose ‘Realizing Visions’ as the theme of the W.I.N. global conference this year, as it is obvious as we listen, that women all over the world have needs and dreams that can be grabbed and translated into projects. The Ladies Circle in Cameroon is a living example of this theme and is an outstanding example of how this scholarship programme can have a sustainable impact. In November 2010, Anne Pelagie Yotchou T. from Cameroon, who received a scholarship to attend W.I.N. in 2008, organised a W.I.N. Cameroon event for the second year running with over 200 women. The W.I.N. Development Fund supported the running costs of the conference. Below is an edited version of Pelagie's own account of the event and her dreams for the future.

WIN and Ladies Circle united to put leadership in Action: How young women can realise visions in their communities, with clarity, wisdom, care and enthusiasm

The two days of work was very rewarding. Participants were pleased to be part of it. The speakers were also great; their presentations met participant’s expectations who returned to their respective cities very full with an expression of thanks to LADIES CIRCLE and WIN for this initiative.

The opening ceremony was attended by the media, many authorities of Cameroon, the Ministry of Women empowerment, and the remarkable presence of some representatives of the diplomatic corps and especially the very active participation of the Ambassador of Switzerland in Cameroon. The opening ceremony was simply a success. 

During the two days of work, participants have been inspired on authentic leadership, management and entrepreneurship and especially the role they should play in society as leaders, managers, entrepreneurs, with wisdom, clarity and vision to make things move forward and contribute to the social and economic in their home communities; the participants also received tools on how they can act to empower others.

The first day was entirely for the plenary with one hand, speakers who came to share their success stories, their experiences and give advice to participants. One the second hand, we had a communication from the Ministry of Promotion of Women and intervention of two structures that fund micro projects for women and youth in entrepreneurship. They gave information on their funding opportunities and the process to benefit from their funding. We also organized two workshops in editing projects, business development and resource mobilization. 



WIN Forum Cameroon 2011 will be even greater and more expanded with the participation of women and men of all the francophone countries in Central Africa, namely Chad, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, RCA, DRC, Burundi and Rwanda.


Women, once again ask for WIN CENTRE Cameroon for leadership and entrepreneurship. The centre is important because women and young women need to be trained permanently. We are planning to organise twice a year an Institute for about three weeks on capacity building for women and young women on leadership, management and entrepreneurship. The centre will be also a place where women of all generations can come together and share, discuss on leadership and entrepreneurship issues.

WIN is now well known in Cameroon and the sub region of Central Africa and we have a big WIN community in Cameroon and Central Africa. There is also a wonderful team of dynamics volunteers here with me.

Yotchou T. Pelagie, Ladies Circle, Cameroon

Here at W.I.N. we are very excited by the potential for more of these kind of exciting initiatives to develop out of support given to individual women by the W.I.N. Women's fund. By inspiring individuals to rise to their personal leadership challenges, helping them to develop networks of support locally and globally and in small ways enabling them to realize their visions, the W.I.N. community can make a small but important contribution to leaving the world a better place.