Empowering underpriviledged young girls and women
We work to promote women's sexual and reproductive health rights, promoting their access to information and communication technologies and entrepreneurship
Even at this age and time, sex education remains a taboo subject in our homes. Abortion in particular stirs controversy from emotional, religious, biological, and legal standpoints. Despite the arguments, the statistics are glaring and point to the fact that while we argue about what is right or wrong, our adolescents (age 10 -19 years) are actively engaging in the act. As of 2018, complications from unsafe abortion accounted for 30% of maternal deaths (Leke, 2018) in Cameroon. This is a fact that borders us at BAYA. Regardless of our religious, biological, emotional, or sentimental inclinations, BAYA as a member of the Advocacy for Comprehensive Abortion Care (ACAC) network under the Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians of Cameroon (SOGOC) is advocating
against the dangers of unsafe aborting amongst adolescents We encourage adolescents both males and females to;
• First and foremost, abstain from sex until marriage.
• For those already engaged in sexual activity, to practice the correct and consistent use of contraceptives.
• Be aware that abortion in Cameroon is legally permissible only in the event where the mother’s life is in danger or when the pregnancy is resulting from rape. Even at this, a procedure must be followed to carry out the abortion and by a qualified medical practitioner.
Through intensive entrepreneurial and capacity building training programs, BAYA provides underpriviledged young girls, single mothers and widows with skills needed to sustain their families. Some beneficiaries of the BAYA-entrepreneural program are handed start-up capital in kind and are accompanied by our M&E team to set up small businesses in the production and sales of coconut oil, detergents and African beads across strategic locations within the city of Bamenda. Many thanks to our amazing sponsors Young African Women in Leadership and our other partners who constantly support our course.
BAYA identifies and works closely with girls and women who show the passion and skills to become leaders in different sectors. We use information, mentorship, skills building, entrepreneurship, ICT and health education tailored to meet the needs of less educated women to inspire girls and women to excel.
We pay particular attention to the following groups of underprivileged women:
