Bright Light Projects (BLP) marked a transformative milestone today at the Women Empowerment and Family Centre (WEFC) in Buea, Southwest Region of Cameroon, during the orientation ceremony for its newest cohort. Twenty dedicated young individuals—15 girls under the flagship Girls Shall Rise (GSR) program and five boys via the Young Men Entrepreneurship (YME) initiative—were officially welcomed into BLP’s one-year training in disciplines like Computer Information Systems, Graphic Design, Hotel Management and Catering, Fashion Design, and Sewing. This event underscores BLP’s enduring partnership with WEFC, a cornerstone of our strategy to empower vulnerable youth fleeing the Anglophone crisis since 2016, many of whom have dropped out of school in search of safer paths to self-reliance.
In a poignant integration of advocacy and education, the BLP team seized the moment to brief trainees on the ongoing 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) (November 25–December 10), spotlighting this year’s theme: “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls.” Sessions covered causes like online harassment and power imbalances, consequences such as emotional trauma and isolation, and prevention strategies including bystander intervention and digital safety tools. “These programs aren’t just about skills, they’re about building resilient leaders who challenge violence and foster equity,” noted Franco Bonghan, BLP Executive Director. Since 2018, GSR has empowered 540+ girls with 95% securing jobs or businesses within six months, while YME has supported 112 young men since 2022, aligning with UN SDGs 4 (Quality Education) and 5 (Gender Equality).
BLP’s Guiding Principles
Mission: To foster community initiatives through strategic partnerships by empowering communities to drive sustainable development through livelihood support, sustainable food systems, environmental stewardship, and energy access for a resilient and equitable future.
Vision: We envisage a society where empowered beneficiaries become self-reliant leaders, contributing positively to the development of their communities and shaping a thriving and equitable future for generations to come.
Motto: Rebuilding Broken Communities.
As these 20 trailblazers embark on their journey starting November 24, BLP reaffirms its commitment to holistic empowerment. Follow their progress and support our work at www.brightlightprojects.org/donate.
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