LocationsAminatou’s Journey from the Streets to Fabrics: Designing a Brighter Future
November 1, 2024
UNDP-CMR-• Aminatou at her workshop in Zamai market FN region of Cameroon-2024
Aminatou Bouba, a 28-year-old mother of two, resides in Zamai, a town in the Far North region of Cameroon. Her family has faced insecurity due to the Boko Haram crisis and struggled with insufficient income. Like many women in her community, Aminatou sold puffballs by the roadside near her home. However, her meagre earnings barely covered her family's basic needs, leaving her feeling unhappy and exposed to constant insecurity.
In 2017, UNDP intervened in human security project activities through the “Nexus Approach,” bringing hope and opportunity. Aminatou was among 128 young girls and 72 boys selected for women’s empowerment, peacebuilding, and vocational skills development training. Her passion for dressmaking led her to choose sewing as her skill, and after the training, she received a sewing machine and complementary materials from the project. Additionally, UNDP provided her with a store at the community market in Zamai and covered the rent for one year.
Sally Oumarou, the community mobilizer, recalls Aminatou's challenges: “With the income she earned from the roadside, she couldn’t adequately feed herself and her children.” Thanks to UNDP’s support, Aminatou’s circumstances changed. No longer exposed to the elements or insecurity, she now has the technical know-how to thrive. Her sewing machine hums, stitching not only clothes but also a brighter future for her family.
Djapona Lanoua, Aminatou’s sister, proudly shares, “She has become an excellent seamstress, creating dresses not only for me but also for many women in our community. She does so with joy.”
Aminatou’s story doesn’t end there. Her workshop has become a training ground for nine other young people, each sewing their dreams into the fabric. The once-frustrated young woman has transformed into an inspiration, empowered to uplift others.
Aminatou herself reflects on her journey: “Thanks to my workshop, my children now eat three meals a day, ensuring their full participation in school. I hope more women can have similar opportunities to change their lives and pursue their dreams.”
UNDP-CMR-Distribution of work materials to young tailors (RSF beneficiaries) who completed training in 2024, Zamai, Far-North Region-2024
UNDP’s focus on addressing the root causes of local economic integration has created a safer and more stable community. However, challenges persist. Beyond seamstresses like Aminatou, “UNDP has empowered young people in various trades, including bricklaying, metallic work, carpentry, information technology, and car mechanics. With additional funding, access to basic social infrastructure, such as public lighting, can further improve security, enabling women and youths to thrive in the light of progress.” Christophe Charbon, Head of the Stabilization, UNDP Cameroon.
The UNDP Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus initiative in the Far North Region of Cameroon began in 2017/2018 with the support of the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security. The key objective of this initiative is to improve the resilience and well-being of vulnerable populations by integrating humanitarian aid, development efforts, and peacebuilding activities. This approach aims to achieve comprehensive results through peacebuilding and resilience strengthening. This project, implemented in Zamai and Fotokol, focuses on three main pillars: providing basic social services, creating sustainable livelihoods and economic opportunities, and promoting protection, social cohesion, and local governance.