7 people. 7 stories of hope, change and opportunity. 

Marthe Wandou is the recipient of the Right Livelihood 2021 Award, also known as the alternative Nobel Prize. She received the award in recognition of 30 years spent advocating for children and women's rights in her home region of Far North, Cameroon, an area affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

In 1998, Martha founded Action Locale pour un Développement Participatif et Autogéré (ALDEPA), a local member of the Civil Society Organization (CSO) Platform established by the Regional Stabilization Strategy (RSS) for the Lake Chad Basin. The CSO Platform was launched in 2020 as a means to improve the localization agenda of the stabilization process in the Lake Chad Basin region.  

Marthe has campaigned to change harmful cultural practices, such as child marriage, giving girls more options for their future. "I was lucky to be one of the first girls from my village to attend university in Yaoundé. My parents and relatives understood the importance of education. I want other young girls to get the same opportunity and go beyond what I have done today."

ALDEPA has developed several initiatives to encourage mutual vigilance for the wellbeing of girls; provide a safe space to openly discuss and condemn harmful practices; and provide pro-bono assistance to families, guiding them through the judicial process and identifying the best methods to use.

ALDEPA’s actions have impacted more than 50,000 young girls today. One of their key achievements has been the creation of community structures in every village where ALDEPA operates. These structures serve as relays by working with 1,000 active volunteers to prevent and report violence. Religious and traditional leaders, police officers are other partners are supporting ALDEPA’s work and playing a crucial role in changing behaviours and mindsets.

The CSO Platform is enabling ALDEPA and other CSOs to play a more significant role in society, from direct partnerships and advocacy to influencing policies for improved stabilization in the region.

Read more stories in The People Edition.