Introduction
In September 2025, CADEF’s Gender & Child Protection Advocate intern, Faith Njio, conducted field engagements in Samco and Bota Land communities, located in Limbe Sub Division, South West Region of Cameroon. Through focus groups, household visits, and community dialogues, she documented urgent child protection challenges and community-driven solutions. This report summarizes her findings and outlines actionable steps for CADEF and its partners.
Executive Summary
Faith’s fieldwork revealed three priority concerns: teenage pregnancy, school dropout, and gaps in parental support. Community members shared protective strategies including open communication, values-based parenting, and faith-rooted resilience. CADEF is responding with a 3-month awareness campaign, a parental skills series, and a referral pathway to support vulnerable children and families.
Key Findings
- Teenage pregnancy driven by poverty, peer pressure, and early relationships
- School dropout linked to financial hardship and lack of parental guidance
- Parental practices include supervision and household rules, but face challenges
- Protective behaviors include open communication, spiritual guidance, and refusal skills
Recommendations
- Launch a 3-month awareness campaign using refined flyers and radio spots
- Deliver a 4-session parental skills series in Samco and Bota Land
- Formalize a referral pathway with local health and education actors
- Integrate intern findings into CADEF’s M&E dashboard and onboarding module
Action Plan
| Week | Activity |
|---|---|
| 1 | Finalize campaign materials and referral flowchart |
| 2–5 | Roll out parental sessions and school outreach |
| 6–8 | Monitor indicators and host intern reflection session |
Annexes
- Samco FGD Briefing
- Bota Land Briefing
- CADEF Community Child Protection Brief
- Njio Faith Field Engagement and Reflection
- Internship Role Review Document
📌 Want to partner, volunteer, or support this work? Contact us at info@cadef.org or visit our Get Involved page.