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.
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 for reactions and concerns from communities on existing forms of GBV to be responded to."
Written and directed by renowned film actor Vugar Samson popular known as Grand Pa, Engage- Never Give Up the drama series tells the story of a young woman who faces several challenges including the domestic and the armed conflict in her region. With her mother, they are abandoned by their family head. The young woman ends up in a town she doesn't master and finds herself doing many things in search for survival.
"As you can see i practically in tears. The beginning of the series is so emotional and I truly will not want to miss the next. I just feel for the poor girl and the decision of her father to beat her up like an animal." Peter Kum reacts after listening to the first episode over Eden Radio in Limbe.
The radio drama series is part of the project "enhancing community peacebuilding through trauma healing, psychosocial support and prevention of gender-based violence currently being executed by HOFNA Cameroon with support from the German foreign mission through the German Embassy in Yaoundé.