How CAMGEW Restored Forests and Empowered Women in Cameroon – 2025
All of the Major achievements by our network partner CAMGEW and a summary of their annual report focused on reforestation and women’s equality in Cameroon, with support from FIOH.
In 2025 CAMGEW was restoring forests and empowering women in Cameroon, rebuilt livelihoods with sustainable agriculture and a focus on youth livelihoods — while quietly transforming itself from a single-forest project organisation into a multi-region programme NGO with a 2026–2030 strategy.
Nine Headline numbers
| Indicator | 2025 Result |
| Native trees planted | 11825 seedlings plus 406 wild stems protected |
| Cumulative total trees planted | 134880 over 14 consecutive years |
| Critically endangered trees planted | 1386 Newtonia Camerunesis IUCN Red List |
| Degraded Forest restored | 12=-15 Hectares |
| Farmers trained in agroecology and enterprise | 600+ |
| People reached by environmental education | 4161 |
| Confidential counselling provided | 510 |
| Girls in leadership programmes | 102 |
| Livestock Livelihood beneficiaries | 230+ households |
The annual report has itemised, verifiable and audited statistics to support the following areas of action.
International Awards 🏆
Equator Prize New York
Gender Just Climate Solutions Sevidzem Ernestine Leikeki
Innovative ideas and technologies in agribusiness in efforts to preserve the Kilum Ijim forest
Ashden Award shortlisted
CAMGEW Cameroon Gender and Environment Watch on its way to NGO status with photography from Director Emmanuel Wirsiy and edited by FIOH
Source: CAMGEW 2025 Full Annual Report (80 pp). www.camgew.org Prepared for FIOH website digests and articles. CAMGEW Cameroon Gender and Environment Watch. Founded Oct 2007; works in 3 regions of Cameroon (North West, West, Adamawa). FIOH–UK was one of CAMGEW’s original tree-planting funders (2012-2017).
If you wish to support our cause and fund future projects on restoring forests and empowering women in Cameroon like CAMGEW’s please Donate via our website. To read more articles like this one, try reading this one of Cassava Farming in Sierra Leone.
New Nursery School for Malawi Summer 2025
Village of Wamuzare Euthini near Mzuzu. Malawi
Lasallian Outeach Projects. A chance meeting with a lovely lady from Malawi (Leah),who has requested that, if possible, we could make best use of the land that they own in her village Wamuzare Euthini. Her mother (Ella) died last year and she would like to dedicate the efforts we hope to make a suitable dedication to her mother. Moreover, the local community are invested in this initiative are willing to help in whatever way they can.
Proposal for the Establishment of Ella’s Foundation
Introduction
The Ella’s Foundation is dedicated to uplifting the community of Wamazure Euthini Village by fostering a collaborative approach to sustainable farming, education, and female empowerment. Central to our mission is the belief that change is a two-way street—the foundation aims to work hand-in-hand with the community, empowering the youth and local residents to take an active role in the development and execution of initiatives. Through dynamic partnerships, we seek to create a sustainable environment where the community thrives, with the youth leading the charge in building a brighter future.
Vision
To create a dynamic, self-sufficient community in Wamazure Euthini Village, where the youth, in partnership with Ella’s Foundation, are actively involved in shaping a future of empowerment, education, and sustainable living.
Core Focus Areas
The foundation will focus on the following key areas, with a commitment to community involvement and leadership:
- Youth-Led Development and Empowerment:
- Engaging the youth as active partners in the planning and implementation of farming, educational, and entrepreneurial initiatives.
- Establishing youth leadership teams to collaborate with the foundation, bringing fresh ideas and local knowledge to the forefront.
- Providing educational programs that focus not just on skill development of Maths, Science and English but also on but on developing the child as a whole, creating an understanding and awareness of their mental health, providing leadership programs, decision-making, and community responsibility training.
- Female Empowerment and Health Education:
- Involving young women in shaping and leading programs aimed at reducing early pregnancies and promoting gender equality.
- Creating mentorship opportunities for young females, with a focus on helping them design their own paths toward independence and career success.
- Offering reproductive health education and life skills training, while ensuring young women have an active role in running these programs.
- Sustainable Farming and Income Generation:
- Partnering with the community to co-design and co-manage sustainable farms that provide food security and economic opportunities for the village.
- Encouraging innovation and local input into farming methods, empowering the community to adapt traditional knowledge with modern techniques.
- Building cooperative farming models where profits are shared, and decision-making is collective.
- Community-Led Early Education and Adult Learning:
- Developing nursery schools that are run by local teachers and community volunteers, with the foundation acting as a facilitator and resource provider.
- Empowering parents by offering adult education and life skills training, helping them contribute to the community’s economic growth.
- Co-creating programs where community members, parents, and educators contribute to curriculum development and early learning activities.
Nursery School Now completed Sept 2025
This facility will cater to the early learning needs of children in the community. It will include:
- Classrooms designed for children aged 2-5 years, promoting early childhood development.
- Outdoor play areas for physical activity and social interaction.
- Facilities such as restrooms, a small kitchen for snack preparation, and nap rooms.
Primary School Vision and target for 2026
The primary school will provide education for children aged 5-11 years. The building will include:
- Classrooms for each grade level.
- A multi-purpose hall for assemblies, sports, and school events.
- Administrative offices for staff, a staff room, and meeting spaces for teachers.
- A playground for physical education and recreation.
The build team of locals, clergy and Lasallian outreach volunteers
Initial preparation of footings and well for clean water
Transformation by block work
Happy new parents and customers
- Additional objectives
- To highlight the risks in the area of HIV and how best to cope.
- How do we keep our young people from leaving Malawi because of lack of opportunity and employment
Installation of Solar panels for sustainability in collaboration with www.lightsforlearning.org
Hearts Indian Charitable Trust NGO working in collaboration with FIOH
Helping today for a better tomorrow
Our Vision
To provide nutritious food, clean drinking water, and safe shelter for underprivileged children.
To ensure access to quality education, school supplies, and digital learning support for poor and orphaned children.
To organize health camps, vaccinations, and regular medical check-ups for children and mothers.
To support orphans, differently-abled children, and children with special needs with love, care, and rehabilitation services.
To create awareness on child rights, stop child labour, and protect children from abuse and exploitation.
To provide skill development, art, sports, and cultural opportunities for holistic child development.
To empower poor families and single mothers with livelihood programs, ensuring better care for their children.
To establish children’s libraries, play centers, and safe spaces that encourage creativity and learning.
To promote environmental awareness among children through tree plantation, cleanliness, and plastic-free campaigns.
To provide scholarships and sponsorships for poor and meritorious students for higher education.
