The “Association pour les jeunes filles-mères du Cameroun” took its campaign to Government Bilingual High School, Nkol-Eton, Yaounde, on April 22, 2016.

Concerned about the growing number of unwanted pregnancies amongst young girls over the years, a local charity, the «Association pour les jeunes filles-mères du Cameroun» AJFMC, has decided to tackle the problem from the roots. Apart from young single mothers, its awareness campaign also targets young vulnerable girls.

AJFMC members were in Government Bilingual High School, Nkol-Eton, Yaounde, on April 22, 2016, where they discussed with Forms 1-3 students. Explaining the reason for the choice, AJFMC President, Léonie Enone Ella Chedjou, said students in such classes are very young and thus more vulnerable to sexual temptation. “Young girls need to understand their menstrual cycles in order to avoid unwanted pregnancies. I believe young students want to know more about their bodies,” explained Chedjou. She announced that her association will this week take the awareness campaign to Collège la Gaièté, Yaounde.

Germaine Mama, AJFMC Secretary General, said they thought it necessary not to wait until young girls become pregnant before telling them what they should have avoided. “We realised that sex tends to be a taboo subject between parents and their children. Even in school, the risks facing children who get involved in sex are not often explained in detail,” Mama pointed out. The topics discussed at the awareness campaign included understanding and calculating the menstrual cycle, and abstaining from sex until maturity or marriage.

AJFMC exists since January 2013; and has so far made four sensitisation visits in the Centre Region; including one to an orphanage. For now, the over 40 members fund their activities while waiting for any external support. Meanwhile, AJFMC will from June 3-11, 2016, mobilise the public to donate for the setting up of a children day-care centre in Yaounde, equipped with workshops for young single mothers to learn trades like sewing, secretarial studies, hair dressing, etc. This is to enable young single mothers secure means of livelihood. The week will be concluded with an evening gala at the Hilton Hotel, Yaounde.