VIAC August Newsletter & VIAC @10 |
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Greetings from VIAC! As we mark our 10th anniversary, we're excited to take you through our journey of achievements and milestones. This edition is packed with heartfelt thanks to our incredible partners and sponsors, a showcase of our dynamic August activities, and a spotlight on the events we hosted and attended. Stay tuned for our latest website updates and exclusive opportunities awaiting you. Plus, don’t miss out on our latest website updates and exciting opportunities just for you. Dive in and enjoy! |
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VIAC @10 Celebrating a Decade of Impact and Partnership |
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Our History: Ten years ago, VIAC laid its first foundation stone with a focus on peer education for college students, emphasizing skills training and HIV prevention. Over the years, the organization has grown tremendously, sensitizing more than 10,000 adolescent girls and young women on HIV prevention and other STIs, while also providing free HIV testing and intervention to countless individuals in communities. In addition, VIAC has trained over 400 peer educators in schools and communities across the North and Southwest regions of Cameroon on menstrual health management and good menstrual practices. With the unwavering support of our dedicated funders, we have established as a leading organization advocating for menstrual health policies in Cameroon. Today, we are renowned for our "research to change" approach in various aspects of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Through partnerships with supportive community leaders, we have successfully advocated for contraceptive use in approximately 50 communities in the crisis-affected regions of Cameroon. This advocacy has increased access to contraceptives and broken-down barriers and stigmas surrounding their use among adolescent girls and young women. |
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To Our Partners/Sponsors: To our founding partners, MAMA NETWORK, HER VOICE FUNDS, IREX and others who believed in our vision when it was just a seed of hope, we extend our deepest gratitude. Your early support laid the foundation for the impact we see today. To those who have joined us along the way, your belief in our mission has fueled our growth and expanded our reach. Each of you has played a crucial role in turning our shared dreams into reality. To our partnered stakeholders in the government, institutions and communities here is to an impact filled decade we couldn't have done it without you. Our commitment to this "research to change" approach has also enabled us to advocate for safe abortion information among communities and healthcare providers. Employing practical strategies such as value clarification, gender-transformative sessions, focus group discussions, and safe space sessions, we have sensitized over 5,000 adolescent girls, young women, and young men in grassroots communities. |
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Inclusivity and diversity are the driving forces behind our work. Currently, we collaborate with persons with disabilities, gender minorities, and operate in 80 hotspots across the Southwest region of Cameroon. Through these efforts, we provide vital information and services, such as condoms and guidance on their use, information on gender-based violence (GBV), and active referrals for HIV and other STI testing and treatment. Annually, we support more than 200 sex workers, 150 persons with disabilities, and 100 gender minorities, reinforcing our commitment to reaching the most marginalized and vulnerable populations. Because of you, we have been able to turn our vision into a reality that has touched countless lives. As we celebrate this milestone, we also celebrate you—our partners in progress. Here’s to the next decade of empowerment, inclusivity, and impact. Together, we will continue to make a difference, one life at a time.
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In August, we took a significant step forward by hosting a crucial training session for 19 pharmacists at our Head Office. This training centered around the World Health Organization’s protocols for safe abortion services, equipping participants with the critical knowledge and skills necessary to deliver safe and effective patient care. With a solid understanding of WHO guidelines, these pharmacists are now better positioned to enhance health outcomes and champion women’s health |
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| rights. Together, we are setting new standards in healthcare and prioritizing patient safety. |
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Championing Inclusive Reproductive Health |
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At VIAC, we stand firm in our belief that everyone, regardless of physical ability, deserves access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights information. Recently, we held a powerful session with individuals with disabilities, focusing on the importance of accessible safe abortion information. This initiative highlights our unwavering commitment to ensuring that all individuals have the knowledge and resources they need to make informed decisions about their reproductive health. Together, we are creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. |
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Strengthening Protection and Safeguarding |
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Our commitment to safeguarding young people and vulnerable adults remains a cornerstone of our mission. We recently conducted a protection training session with community health facility service providers, reinforcing our dedication to ensuring the safety and rights of people as no one despite gender is above GBV. This training established clear, accessible, and gender-sensitive protocols |
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| designed to safeguard everyone involved. Our comprehensive safeguarding document now serves as a guide for staff, partners, volunteers, and community |
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| members, detailing policies, procedures, and practical templates for effective implementation. Through this initiative, we are enhancing the provision of youth-friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights services in local communities. |
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Advancing Youth-Friendly SRHR Services |
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With the support of the HER Voice Fund, Vision in Action Cameroon recently held a dynamic two-day VCAT and training session for 9 community health service providers from the Southwest Region. Hosted at the Women Empowerment Centre in Buea, this training focused on advancing Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), with an emphasis on safe abortion practices, contraception, and menstrual health management. The participants successfully gained the knowledge and tools needed to educate |
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| and engage their communities effectively. This initiative marks a significant step in raising reproductive health awareness, promoting safe practices, and improving access to youth-friendly services. We are deeply thankful for your steadfast support in making this |
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| impactful training possible. Together, we are nurturing healthier, more informed communities. These versions are designed to be more engaging and impactful, perfect for newsletter content that captures attention and communicates the importance of the initiatives. |
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VIAC Shines at MEA Engage SRHR Symposium |
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We proudly participated in the MEA Engage SRHR Learning and Exchange Symposium in Kenya, organized by Men Engage Africa (MEA). This impactful event brought together policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and advocates to foster collaboration and innovation in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The symposium’s objectives were clear: to exchange knowledge, |
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| build skills through expert-led sessions, and create opportunities for strategic partnerships. Participants left with a deeper understanding of SRHR trends and best practices, ready to implement more effective strategies in their work. We benefited |
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| immensely, forming strategic partnerships and sharing experiences that promise to enhance SRHR initiatives. This symposium not only strengthened our collective understanding but also paved the way for joint initiatives and collective action in SRHR. VIAC remains committed to advancing SRHR and looks forward to leveraging these new insights and partnerships to drive impactful change. |
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Our latest Insights/ Stories In August, VIAC has been busy creating and sharing valuable resources to support our community. We invite you to explore our latest reports and manuals, including the Engaging Community Manual, Creating Safe Space Manual, GBV Response Training Manual for Health Workers, and SOP for Managing Feedback Mechanism. Additionally, don’t miss our thought-provoking blog posts on topics such as contraceptives and abortion practices in rural communities, the historical perspectives on abortion, and menstrual health management. Click the links below to dive deeper into these insightful publications: Blog Posts: Visit our website to read more and stay informed!
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Opportunities The Tutored Online Training Course on Global Education and Intercultural - Interfaith Dialogue is part of iLEGEND III: Intercultural Learning Exchange through Global Education, Networking and Dialogue (2022-2026), Joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe: co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe. The overall objective of the project is to increase the active engagement of EU member States, candidates and potential candidate countries’ citizens (in particular young people) in safeguarding sustainable development and confronting global challenges and inequalities at local and global level. |
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Thank You For Your Unwavering Support |
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© Copyright, VIAC2024, viacvolunteer22@gmail.com, Buea, Southwest Region, Cameroon |
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