There is no eligibility criteria to be digital

The project I am leading now is: Digital Empowerment for Women/Girl with Disabilities and Adolescent in Bamenda, North West Region, Cameroon. I chose to run this project at this particular period because of the crisis we are experiencing. Since the outbreak of the crisis in 2016, there is interruption of schools, women/girls with disabilities and adolescent girls have become double vulnerable to sexual gender based violence (SGBV). Technology has worked well for me in the context of this crisis and made me to see the need of sharing with sisters and daughters in the same context. I organize digital trainings for these women and girls where I educate them on basic digital skills, internet empowerment, online opportunities, safety and security online. Due to the interruption of schools, a good number of adolescent girls have become mothers, engaged in commercial sex activities and there is an increased in sexuality transmitted infections (STIs), HIV/AIDS. This has cause an increase in poor health; fall in economy, high rate of delinquency, over dependency and increased vulnerability to SGBV among women/girls with disabilities and adolescent girls. These women are exposed to physical and online harassment at all levels due to livelihood hardship they are experiencing.

This project started in 2018 and has impacted very little number of people. I was targeting youths in general and very few expressed interest. Most of them did not want to give a try because of the different forms of violence they have encountered online. As time went on I noticed women/girls with disabilities and adolescent girls have been greatly affected by SGBV in crisis. When I tilted the focus on them, so far, 18 of them have been impacted already this 2020 and hopefully I look forward to impacting 100 or more women/girls with disabilities and adolescents in 4 communities.

“Technology has transformed me and is helping me to transform other women/girls with disabilities and adolescent girls in my community”

To reach this goal, in short term I need digital tools, funds to organize trainings in each community and to support some women and girls acquire tools for continuous participation in online actions. For long term and greater impact for the future, I need to construct an inclusive and equipped digital centre that will continue to run and train more women/girls in the community and limiting their vulnerability to SGBV.

I have been able to reach out and sensitize 75 women and girls in 4 communities of the North West Region. Out of these 75 I have impacted 18 in digital knowledge. During the international women’s day 2020, with support from World Pulse I organized a digital training for women and girls with disabilities. A total of 15 (4 men, 11 women) participants took part in the training and 3 women and 1 man were practically signed up to World Pulse during the training, others are still signing up and follow up will be done to ensure they all have in-depth understanding of the World Pulse platform.

Veronica Ngum Ndi

Woman with disability

World Pulse Ambassador

Bamenda,Cameroon