HERE ARE OUR MOST RECENT EVENTS TO ROUND OFF THE YEAR!

The Fight Against HIV/AIDS: Together, We Can Make a Difference

In the continuous fight against HIV, we've worked tirelessly to conduct a range of awareness activities in communities across the North West and South West regions of Cameroon. From life skills sessions to voluntary testing campaigns, we're committed to preventing HIV and improving the lives of those affected. And we're proud to say that our efforts are having an impact. Recently, we've reached more than 150 young people with our interventions and distributed condoms to those we reached as a preventative measure. With every step we take, we're getting closer to our goal of ending the HIV epidemic.

In the same spirit, on World AIDS Day, 1 December, our dedicated team took to the streets of Buea to conduct HIV tests, wear red ribbons to break the stigma of HIV, and raise awareness of the importance of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.

Breaking the Taboo: Menstrual Health Management With Adolescents

As part of our commitment to promoting Menstrual Health Management Practices (MHMP), we conducted a training on best practices for MHM with students at the health club of the Blessed School Complex in Bamenda, Cameroon. Similarly, in collaboration with IREX, we continued our data collection, collecting data from six schools in Buea to identify strategies to increase male involvement in MHM and prevent gender-based violence. The data collected from over 190 students will be invaluable in shaping future initiatives.

 Uniting for change: Community Leaders Engage in Dialogue to End Gender-Based Violence

With the support of Amplify Change and Menengage, we regularly hold community dialogues with leaders from different communities to strategise on how to combat gender-based violence (GBV) and promote the acceptance of women's sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). We also conduct targeted door-to-door sessions on GBV in these communities to maximise impact and equip them with the knowledge to continue similar campaigns. Recently, 12 community leaders in the North West region were trained on SRHR concepts, clarifying their role in providing quality information to their communities. As a result, 41 people received accurate information about SRHR and services to address gender-based violence in their respective communities.

Breaking Barriers: VIAC's Safe Abortion Sessions Empower Young People to Take Control of Their Health Choices

As part of our ongoing commitment to improving access to safe abortion and reproductive health services, and with support from the African Women's Development Fund (AWDF), we continued our Value Clarification and Attitude Transformation (VCAT) sessions in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon. These sessions aim to promote open discussion about abortion and raise awareness about safe abortion services.

During the VCAT sessions, participants receive information on the differences between safe and unsafe abortion, the factors that lead individuals to seek unsafe abortion, and the barriers to accessing safe abortion services. The goal of these sessions is to normalise conversations about abortion and increase awareness of safe abortion options, ultimately reducing the prevalence of unsafe abortion in Cameroon, where abortion laws are restrictive. In doing so, we aim to improve reproductive health outcomes for people seeking safe abortions.

Empowering Internally Displaced Children: A Day of Creative Skills and Enrichment with the Push Initiative

Collaborating with the Push Initiative, we dedicated Friday 8 December to equipping internally displaced children in the South West with a range of creative skills that will enrich their lives and give them valuable tools for the future. From learning robotics to understanding menstrual health management, from mastering bead making to personal development and arts and crafts, these children were given the opportunity to explore their potential and develop new talents. Working with the Push Initiative was a testament to our commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of these young people, and we are grateful for the opportunity to work together towards a brighter and more hopeful future for them.

Empowering Change: CSCC SANTE's Forum in Douala Sets the Stage for Collective Action

At a vibrant two-day consultative forum in Douala, Cameroon, CSCC-SANTE spearheaded an initiative to reinvigorate the network and prepare for its upcoming Annual General Meeting. Since its inception in 2018, CSCC-SANTE has been a catalyst for empowering civil society organisations (CSOs) to strengthen their capacity and play a central role in national responses to pressing health challenges such as AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and hepatitis B. We were privileged to be part of this transformative event, where organisations had the opportunity to strengthen their skills and drive tangible change on public health issues. The forum served as a platform for collaboration and strategic planning, taking the network's goals to new heights.

Empowering Our Team: Enhancing Fundraising Skills through Grant Writing Training

Our team recently participated in a four-day grant writing and fundraising training programme organised by Reachout and AmplifyChange. The programme provided valuable insights and practical skills to improve our fundraising efforts. Through interactive workshops and discussions, we gained a deeper understanding of effective strategies for securing funding. We are grateful for the opportunity to engage with experts in the field and are confident that this training will strengthen our capacity to make a meaningful impact.

16Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence

From 25 November to 10 December, we embarked on a 16-day activism campaign to promote gender equality, end gender-based violence and empower communities to take action. We held a series of conversations and discussions on different aspects of gender-based violence, including menstrual stigma, toxic masculinity and the stigma surrounding those seeking abortion. We also carried out a social media campaign on all our social media platforms. Through this campaign, we aimed to raise awareness of these issues and empower individuals and communities to stand up against them. We want to build a world where everyone has the freedom to live their lives with dignity and respect, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation or any other factor. We believe this is possible, and we will continue to work towards it every day. Thank you for joining us on this journey.

 YOU CAN ALWAYS TALK TO AUNTY QUEEN!

Au revoir 2023!

Now, as we head into the holiday season, we'll take a moment to reflect on the year that was, while dreaming of all the possibilities that lie ahead. As we say au revoir to 2023, we say hello to 2024 - a year of even greater success, collaboration, and impact. We can't wait to see what we'll achieve together. Thank you, thank you, thank you. May your holidays be filled with joy, laughter, and love. Until next year, au revoir! See you in

2024!

ABOUT VIAC

Vision in Action Cameroon (VIAC) is a youth-led not-for-profit organization that supports and enables adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) and communities in programs and influences change in the areas of Research (Evidence Generation), Advocacy (community mobilization), information & communication. VIAC is committed to feminist principles, using gender transformative and rights-based approaches.

At VIAC we believe that reproductive Health is a fundamental human right of every woman and man throughout her/his life cycle.