About Women's Light Foundation

What Women's Light Foundation does

Women's Light Foundation works at the intersection of gender justice, quality education, public health, environmental sustainability and economic empowerment in Cameroon. Rather than treating these as separate sectors, the Foundation delivers them as connected pillars, on the reasoning that a survivor of violence who gains no economic independence remains at risk, and a girl who returns to school without sanitation facilities is likely to drop out again.

Mission

To empower women, girls and underprivileged communities across Cameroon through integrated, community-led programmes in gender-based violence prevention and response, girl-child education, water, sanitation and hygiene, environmental protection and sustainable livelihoods — ensuring that every woman and girl can live with dignity, safety and opportunity.

Vision

A Cameroon where every woman and girl, regardless of geography, social status or background, lives with dignity, enjoys access to quality education and healthcare, is free from violence, and has the tools to build a self-sustaining and fulfilling future.

Core values

• Dignity — every individual is treated with full respect and humanity, without discrimination.
• Inclusion — priority is given to the most marginalised: underprivileged girls, single mothers, internally displaced persons, persons with disabilities and rural women.
• Accountability — the Foundation is transparent, results-focused and answerable to the communities it serves.
• Resilience — programmes build long-term community capacity to withstand and recover from hardship.
• Integrity — the highest ethical standards are upheld in governance, finance and programming.
• Community ownership — interventions are designed and implemented with communities, not merely for them.
• Sustainability — lasting change is sought through local systems rather than dependency.

Where the Foundation works

The Foundation's head office is at Campaign Street, Buea, in the Southwest Region, with a second base in Bamenda, the Northwest Region's capital. These regions were selected because they combine high rates of poverty, limited access to social services, large numbers of displaced and host community members, many single-headed households and significant numbers of out-of-school girls. The Foundation's mandate is national, and its model is designed to be replicated in other Cameroonian regions over time.

Standards and safeguards

Women's Light Foundation commits to designing and delivering all programmes in line with internationally recognised frameworks: the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Maputo Protocol, the IASC Guidelines on Gender-Based Violence in Humanitarian Settings, SPHERE Humanitarian Standards, the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability, the Do No Harm principle, and a mandatory policy on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) applying to all staff, volunteers and partners.

Accountability

The Foundation operates a monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) framework with indicators, baselines and targets for each pillar. It conducts quarterly internal programme reviews and bi-annual external evaluations, and operates a Community Accountability and Reporting Mechanism (CARM) including a confidential feedback and complaints channel in all target communities. All data is disaggregated by sex, age, disability status and geographic location. Annual reports, audited financial statements and impact reports will be published as they become available; none has been published yet.

Legal status and future trajectory

Women's Light Foundation is constituted as a registered association rather than an accredited NGO. This is a deliberate sequencing decision: association status allows swift registration, community trust and operational agility. The Foundation intends to apply for recognition as an association of public utility (association d'utilité publique) with the Ministry of Territorial Administration, and subsequently to pursue full NGO accreditation once it meets the requirements for financial audit history, programme documentation and governance compliance.

The seven programme pillars

Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response

Safe spaces for survivors; psychosocial support and counselling; legal aid and rights awareness; GBV case management and referral pathways; community sensitisation on gender norms; engagement of men and boys as allies; and economic reintegration support for survivors.

Girl-Child Education and Protection

Scholarships and school bursaries; school re-enrolment campaigns; safe, girl-friendly learning spaces; school feeding support; adolescent girls clubs; menstrual health education; digital and vocational literacy; and mentorship by successful women.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Rehabilitation and construction of community water points and boreholes; sanitation facility construction; menstrual hygiene management in schools; community hygiene promotion; training of WASH committees; and handwashing infrastructure.

Women's Livelihoods and Economic Empowerment

Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs); vocational and skills training including tailoring, soap making, agro-processing and computing; agri-business and market linkage support; financial literacy; start-up micro-grants; and women's cooperative development.

Environment and Climate Resilience

Community tree planting and reforestation; waste management and clean community campaigns; climate-smart agriculture training; developing women as community environmental champions; renewable energy awareness; and conservation education in schools.

Advocacy, Research and Policy

Documentation of gender-based violence, education and livelihood challenges; participatory community needs assessments; policy briefs and position papers; community dialogues and town halls; media and social media advocacy; and engagement with government ministries, UN agencies and civil society.

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)

Adopted in 2026. Maternal health and safe motherhood; family planning information and referral; adolescent sexual and reproductive health education; post-rape care referral within 72 hours; HIV and STI prevention; and campaigns to end FGM and child marriage. The Foundation informs and refers; it does not provide clinical care.

Frequently asked questions

What is Women's Light Foundation?

Women's Light Foundation (WLF) is a Cameroonian community-based association registered under Law No. 90/053 of 19 December 1990 on Freedom of Association. Established in 2025, it works to advance the rights and opportunities of women, girls and underprivileged communities across Cameroon through seven integrated programme pillars covering gender-based violence, girls' education, sexual and reproductive health and rights, water and sanitation, women's livelihoods, environmental resilience and advocacy.

Who founded Women's Light Foundation?

Women's Light Foundation was founded by Ngong Sonedita Nyeah, a Cameroonian social entrepreneur, women's rights advocate and digital storyteller known online as VeryDarkWoman. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from the University of Buea and serves as Founder and President. The Foundation was established in 2025, building on community work she was already undertaking.

Where does Women's Light Foundation work?

The Foundation's head office is at Campaign Street, Buea, in Cameroon's Southwest Region, with a second base in Bamenda in the Northwest Region. Its mandate is national in scope across Cameroon. These two regions were chosen first because they combine high poverty rates, limited access to social services, large displaced and host communities, and significant numbers of out-of-school girls.

Is Women's Light Foundation a registered organisation?

Yes. It is constituted as a community-based association under Law No. 90/053 of 19 December 1990 on Freedom of Association in Cameroon, and operates in compliance with Decree No. 92/455/PM of 23 November 1992 and the regulations of the Ministry of Territorial Administration. It intends to pursue recognition as an association of public utility and, subsequently, full NGO accreditation.

What does Women's Light Foundation do?

It delivers seven integrated programmes: gender-based violence prevention and response; girl-child education and protection; sexual and reproductive health and rights; water, sanitation and hygiene; women's livelihoods and economic empowerment; environment and climate resilience; and advocacy, research and policy. These are delivered as connected pillars rather than separate sectors, on the reasoning that safety, schooling and economic independence reinforce one another.

Which Sustainable Development Goals does the Foundation address?

Its programmes align with UN Sustainable Development Goals 1 (No Poverty), 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 13 (Climate Action) and 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

How is Women's Light Foundation governed?

Governance rests on three bodies: a General Assembly composed of all registered members, which is the supreme decision-making body and meets at least annually; a Bureau or Executive Committee elected by the General Assembly, comprising the President, Vice-President, Secretary-General, Treasurer and Advisors; and a voluntary Board of Advisors providing legal, financial, gender and development expertise.

How can I support or work with Women's Light Foundation?

The Foundation accepts donations, welcomes volunteers and interns, recruits staff for programme and support roles, and forms partnerships with government bodies, UN agencies, international NGOs and businesses. Details of current opportunities and ways to give are published on womenslight.org.

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