Bamenda, Cameroon - Hope for the Needy Association (HOFNA) Cameroon was honored with the prestigious title of Community Development House of the Year during the New Breed Africa Celebrity Awards (NBACA) event held on Sunday, March 10. The award was received by Bakah Derick, Communications Assistant at HOFNA, on behalf of the Executive Director Christelle Bay Nfor. HOFNA, a women-led non-profit organization based in Bamenda, was recognized for its outstanding work in 2023. According to Atangche Zita Ngeche, the promoter of NBACA and CEO of New Breed Africa Foundation, HOFNA received the award for their dedication to empowering disadvantaged and vulnerable women and girls in Cameroon. Speaking to reporters on behalf of the Executive Director, Bakah Derick highlighted HOFNA's mission to strengthen the leadership, power, and voices of marginalized women and girls, empowering them to become self-reliant and socially conscious leaders. The organization focuses on addressing g

By Ngenwie Azeh S. Celebrated Social worker and women’s rights activist Christelle Bay Nfor has been honored in London- United Kingdom with an award for her work in women empowerment. The Award trophy and certificate were handed to the honoree on Friday 14 July 2023 during a high profile event in the Palace of Westminster, House of Lords, London UK following the recommendation of the Advisory Board and under Authorization granted by the Board of Trustees of the African Achievers Award.   Christelle Bay Chongwain Nfor displaying her trophy and certificate at the event  Accepting her award and honor, Christelle Bay Nfor, founder and Executive Director of the multiple award winning not-for-profit non-governmental organization, Hope for the Needy Association (HOFNA) Cameroon shared her journey and life story dedicating the award to men who work at every level to end Gender-based violence and others.  “I am dedicating this nomination to the men around the world who are partners

By Ngenwie Azeh S.  Hope for the Needy Association (HOFNA) Cameroon has launched a radio drama series as part of efforts to end gender-based violence across Cameroon. In addition to several activities including the training of vulnerable women with entrepreneurship skills and providing them with startup material, the training of community leaders on psychological support and trauma healing, HOFNA has launch the radio drama series title Egage - Never Give Up in North West, West, South West, Littoral region and Centedmr region in the days ahead.  Egage-Never Give Up airing on Fussep Community Radio in Bafoussam-West Region  According to the Executive Director of HOFNA Cameroon, Engage has as purpose "to engage communities through information sharing and gathering to end gender-based violence. This would raise awareness on child trafficking, child, early/forced marriages, and engage communities in reporting and preventing cases of GBV. The interactive radio program allows

By Bakah Derick  In an effort to combat gender-based violence in conflict affected communities in the North West Region of Cameroon, Hope for the Needy Association (HOFNA) has trained and inserted 100 trauma and psychosocial counselors in communities. The new set of counselors who have been drawn from communities where they provide leadership either in community based  groups, schools, traditional cycles or local administrative authorities are expected to provide assistance to persons with mild and moderate forms of trauma.    The intensive trainings have focused on ‘trauma healing and psychosocial support for community peacebuilding’ with the purpose to ‘raise awareness on trauma and the need for systemic and holistic community-based healing through knowledge and use of psychosocial support in order to reduce the incidence of gender-based violence in crisis and conflict situations.’  According to the Executive Director of HOFNA, the project is inspired by the fact that men

By Burinyuy A. B.  Participants in the  skills building and entrepreneurship programs for 100 economically vulnerable internally displaced persons by Hope for the Needy Association (HOFNA) have ended their training in celebration following the complete production and packaging of all products planed for and reception of their startup capital.  HOFNA trainees receiving startup  They celebrated the complete production of treatment and bathing Soap, glass cleaner, powdered soap and Vaseline. Beyond dancing and singing, they shared their feelings about their productions.  "These are things I use to see only on television. I didn't know I will one be the one doing this. The soap is so nice and I am very happy. I want to thank HOFNA for making me part of this training. I will like to start my own production very soon and I will use the short form of my name for the products which is KiK..." Frida Kidu from Ako Subdivision said  According to Kunde Sidonie Nkfunjie fr

By Bakah Derick  The CEO of Bamenda based fashion designs Vuvu has made a rare outing on her Facebook account on her family. Vumonsi Ngwefonta who lastly made a post updating her profile picture on September 11, 2021 on the social media platform only returned in the early hours of Wednesday 7 September 2022 to announce what indicates a long time problem with the father of her children.  Vumonsi Ngwefonta CEO VUVU fashion designs  "Mr Vutumu Aloysius ,the finance director of SABC and Castel group Cameroon,I am coming for your career and reputation and whatever you think you have built if I don't have the desired access to my kids.  They say silence breaths evil and injustice. I am tired of being silent." She wrote  The post  Contacted, VUVU fashion designs CEO confirmed to www.hilltopvoices.com that every word in her statement is true and means everything she has said. Not going further, she maintains that the man she married and later divorced on h

OPINION  The tax the Cameroon Government has imposed on Mobile money in Cameroon, is this yet another way to make the poor poorer? Christelle Bay Nfor Founder HOFNA Cameroon and Chevening Scholar  A tax of 0.2% has been placed on any amount sent or withdrawn and “is applied to all transactions carried out through traceable technical platforms such as internet, mobile phone, wire order, fax or telex. This tax is not applicable to bank transfers and electronic transfers meant to pay tax and customs duties. It is also applicable to cash withdrawals from financial institutions and mobile telephony operators”. My focus is on Mobile money. First, it is important to note that the two main providers of Mobile Money Service in Cameroon (MTN and Orange) already pay various taxes such as Value added tax. These service providers apparently pay administrative fee related to their MOMO or Orange Money service which probably  increases the cost of sending or picking up money.   Mobile mon

By Bakah Derick Over 25 teenage boys and girls have taken part in the 2021 edition of the Leadership Bootcamp orgamised annually by Hope for the Needy Association (HOFNA) Cameroon - a Bamenda head quartered not-for-profit organisation. During the bootcamp in Bamenda recently organised with support from the successful social entrepreneur and philanthropist Hon. Ngala Gerald, the teenagers received training on several key issues intended to nurture a new generation of effective and confident servant leaders.    The leadership bootcampers after receiving their back to school support material   "This year's edition of our Leadership Bootcamp at HOFNA is special: bringing together 25 teenage boys and girls to address issues around servant leadership, gender-based violence especially school related, personal and menstrual hygiene, setting and achieving goals and building healthy friendships, the responsible use of social media among others. Christelle Bay Nfor HOFNA Exec

By Hilltopvoices     The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday march 19, 2021.

  Hope for the Needy Association HOFNA Cameroon has commemorated the 2020 edition of the International Human Rights Day with emphasis on respecting the rights of women which are also human rights. The commemoration marked by a walk in Mvolye Yaoundé on Thursday December 10, 2020 involved about 100 women from across Cameroon.

This is one of the most vibrant sectors in the North West Region NWR. According to one of our consultants, people from the NWR are generally result and society impact oriented  reason why many engage in activities aimed creating an impact in their communities. Non Governmental Organisations in the North West Region

 Staff, collaborators, past trainees and well wishers of Hope For the Needy Association HOFNA CAMEROON have been celebrating the 35th anniversary of Christelle Bay Nfor Executive Director of the institution. The celebration which featured several birthday messages online and events organised locally and internationally celebrated the 35th birth anniversary of one who has been given an avalanche of descriptions. To many, she is a teacher, mentor, fighter for girls and women's rights, sister, mother, friend etc.

By Bakah Derick in Bamenda The Founder and Executive Director of Hope for the Needy Association HOFNA Cameroon, has expressed concerns over a potential rise in cases of Gender Based Violence as many stay home with the partial lockdowns around the world, especially in her community that is already suffering from a violent conflict which is affecting thousands of women and girls.

The Programs Manager of Hope For the Needy Association HOFNA CAMEROON has expressed satisfaction with the interest shown by men in understanding issues around gender based violence.Munteh Florence shared her observations in an interview with Hilltopvoices at the close of five workshops organised in the North West, West, South West, Littoral and Center regions of Cameroon by HOFNA CAMEROON.

Christelle Bay Nfor the Executive Director of Hope for the Needy Association HOFNA CAMEROON talks to Hilltopvoices on the successful organisation of five trainings and workshops in five regions of Cameroon as part of a National Initiative to End Violence Against Women and Girls (NITE-VAWG) involving 100 internally displace teenage mothers, women and 400 community leaders.

By Bakah Derick in Bamenda The founder and executive director of Hope for the Needy Association HOFNA CAMEROON has hailed female journalists working in the North West Region in particular and Cameroon in general for the work they do despite the challenges they face as a result of the ongoing armed conflict and the coronavirus pandemic.

By FAWAH Agather M.  In a world where more than 50 countries are in war including Cameroon, women have been called to be peace builders, complement each other and not compete instead.

From Bakah Derick in Bamenda  Hope for the Needy Association HOFNA Cameroon is currently providing beading and ankara skills to over 100 women drawn from the conflict hit Northwest and Southwest Regions.