The 19th of August 2022, World Humanitarian Day, happened to be another opportunity for United Nations Volunteers in Cameroon, to be inspiration in action. Following a 3-day Capacity Learning Development Facility (CDLF) on career, stress management and leadership in Bagofit, East Region, these 21 volunteers marked the international celebration by impacting the lives of members of a Baka Community in the heart of the region’s rainforest. Among them, eleven (11) volunteers serving with UNFPA, joining a village of other actors to reach the Sustainable Development Goals.
United Nations Volunteers in action in the East Region of Cameroon
In what turned out to be a once in a lifetime experience for most participants, UN volunteers in their quest to serve, covered a 2hours, 215 kilometre road trip and later trekked a 4-kilometers earth road for a field visit into the Baka camp, near the town of Dimako, Upper Nyong Division, East Region of Cameroon. "The motivation in us is greater than the pain we can endure!" hinted Teng Mbong, a midwife volunteering at UNFPA in the town of Buea.
Commonly referred to as Pygmies, the Baka community, together with the Bakolas, Bagyelis and Batwas, are the most ancient settlers of the Equatorial rainforest in Central Africa. From time immemorial, these indigenous people have lived in the forest and do not plan to leave it any time soon. A distinguishing feature about them dwells in the preservation of their environment, practices and customs, one of which is the construction of eco-friendly houses built exclusively with local materials; very much to the admiration and amazement of visitors.
Volunteers are an inspiration in action
The first objective of this field visit was to take part in the construction of a typical Baka shelter, made of leaves and barks of trees.
This activity did not solely register as one of UN Volunteers’ numerous community engagement services, a guiding principle for UN volunteers, it was also a way to contribute to SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities, SDG 13 on climate changes and SDG 10 on reducing inequalities. Agnes Okodombe, National Coordinator of the UNV Programme in Cameroon commented the activity as follows, "UNVs are volunteers who are driven by the urge to impact the communities where they serve. They serve different UN entities. The one thing they all have in common is their engagement in all the communities they serve. Actually, eagerness and enthusiasm can be read on their faces as this is the first time that all UNVs in Cameroon come together since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic."
The second objective of this field visit was to donate basic food items to promote the consumption of a balanced diet among the Bakas, on one hand, and on the other hand, to compensate for the shrinking of their sources of livelihood, with the depleting forest resources resulting from over-exploitation and climate change. Hans Njei, Logistics Assistant with UNFPA Cameroon led the activity and shared his impressions, "This was a moment of perfect communion. I believe there couldn’t be any better gesture for the Bakas coming coincidentally on World Humanitarian Day."
Baka women and girls receive information and services about sexual and reproductive health
Besides joining them to build their homes and providing food items, the UNVs working with UNFPA, the UN Sexual and Reproductive Health agency, took advantage of this encounter to have conversations with the Bakas about bodily autonomy and their needs in relation to sexual and reproductive health and rights with regards to SDG 5 on gender equality and SDG 3 on health, the core SDGs for UNFPA. The UNFPA volunteers had an educational talk with women and girls whereby the women shared their worries about early pregnancies, sexual violence as well as the challenges they encounter to report, seek protection and services. They shared deep concerns around the lives of Baka women characterised by their habit never to complain in case they suffer abuse compounded with the generalized feeling of being considered as inferior.
Sandrine Ngapout, a UN volunteer working with UNFPA as GBV specialist in the country’s conflict-stricken Far-North Region remarked that,
"Baka women and girls are particularly exposed to violence and abuses by workers in the wood industry as no risk mitigation measures are in place. The limited knowledge Baka women and girls own on their sexual and reproductive health and rights is an aggravating factor to their vulnerability. The first urgent step is to raise awareness in the community."
The plight of Baka women is a representation of the struggled of many other indigenous women in the East Region of Cameroon in need of sexual and reproductive health information and services.
UN Volunteers drilled on career, stress management and leadership skills
Prior to this immersion into the lives of the Baka was the Capacity Learning Development Facility (CDLF) on career, stress management and leadership. The CDLF is a scheme developed by the UN Volunteers Programme in Bonn, in collaboration with UN entities hosting UN Volunteers, to strengthen the capacities of serving volunteers as well as to prepare for a smooth transition.
The learning experience was described as being "inspiring" by Franck Tatillong, Midwifery Advisor with UNFPA, and as "timely" by Monique Meka, Midwife with UNFPA in Douala who now feels empowered to deal with the demanding tasks to be carried out in complex, hostile and volatile environments.
The visit to the Baka settlement actually came as a first hand opportunity for the trainees to practice their newly acquired skills. Henceforth, the quality of their service and delivery is expected to create more impact in their respective fields of work.
The Resident Coordinator of the UN System in Cameroon and Humanitarian Coordinator describes UN Volunteers as "development champions and soldiers."
Mr. Mathias Z. Naab, UN Resident Coordinator ,during an online town hall with the volunteers described volunteers as "front liners in the battles for development, the promotion and protection of human rights among others." Answering questions from the volunteers, he called on them to "make good use of the skills, knowledge, competencies and experience gained in order to be development champions in all settings where they will have to find themselves in" and underlined the high expectations placed on them by the entire UN System.
“All work without play makes Jack a dull boy…”
The 2022 session of the CDLF was not just about learning and service to the community. It was also about volunteers having fun during a cultural evening with singing, dancing and comedy as well as daily sports sessions. "Quite a memorable experience," as they said at the end.
