Fact Sheet
The Foundation at a glance — legal status, governance, programmes, operating areas and indicative budget. Prepared for partners, donors and journalists.
Identity and legal status
| Public name | Women's Light Foundation |
| Name on the bank account | Women's Light Association (Afriland First Bank). The registered legal name is being confirmed against the registration certificate. |
| Abbreviation | WLF |
| Organisation type | Community-based association (non-governmental, not-for-profit) |
| Established | 2025 |
| Founder and President | Ngong Sonedita Nyeah, known online as VeryDarkWoman |
| Vice-President | Tanyi Nkongho Bradon Besong |
| Treasurer | Dr. Ngalle Jonas M. |
| Legal basis | Law No. 90/053 of 19 December 1990 on Freedom of Association |
| Supporting instrument | Decree No. 92/455/PM of 23 November 1992 |
| Supervising ministry | Ministry of Territorial Administration (MINAT) |
| Motto | Lighting the Path for Women and Girls |
| Working languages | English and French |
Contact and location
| Head office | Campaign Street, Buea, Southwest Region, Cameroon |
| Second base | Bamenda, Northwest Region, Cameroon |
| Telephone | +237 672 468 845 (also WhatsApp) |
| Finance and administration | +237 677 135 891 |
| International and diaspora | +1 (380) 284-9387 |
| General enquiries | contact@womenslight.org |
| Programmes and partnerships | info@womenslight.org |
| Website | https://womenslight.org |
Governance
- General Assembly — the supreme decision-making body, composed of all registered members. Meets at least once each year, approves the accounts and elects the Bureau.
- Bureau (Executive Committee) — elected by the General Assembly. Comprises the President, Vice-President, Secretary-General, Treasurer and Advisors.
- Board of Advisors — a voluntary body of legal, financial, gender and development experts guiding strategic direction without executive authority.
- Management — officers leading each of the seven thematic pillars, plus finance and administration, and communications and fundraising.
Programme pillars
| Pillar | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1. GBV Prevention & Response | Safe spaces, psychosocial support, legal aid, case management and referral, community sensitisation, engaging men and boys, survivor economic reintegration |
| 2. Girl-Child Education & Protection | Bursaries, re-enrolment campaigns, girl-friendly learning spaces, school feeding, adolescent girls clubs, menstrual health education, mentorship |
| 3. Water, Sanitation & Hygiene | Community water points and boreholes, sanitation facilities, menstrual hygiene management in schools, hygiene promotion, WASH committees |
| 4. Women's Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment | Village Savings and Loan Associations, vocational training, agri-business and market linkage, financial literacy, start-up micro-grants, cooperatives |
| 5. Environment & Climate Resilience | Tree planting and reforestation, waste management, climate-smart agriculture, women as environmental champions, renewable energy awareness |
| 6. Advocacy, Research & Policy | Documentation, participatory needs assessments, policy briefs, community dialogues, media advocacy, engagement with ministries and UN agencies |
| 7. Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights (adopted 2026) | Maternal health, family planning information and referral, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, post-rape care referral, HIV and STI prevention, ending FGM and child marriage |
Where we work
Initial programming is concentrated in the Northwest Region (regional capital Bamenda) and the Southwest Region (regional capital Buea), selected for high poverty rates, limited access to social services, large displaced and host communities, many single-headed households and significant numbers of out-of-school girls. The Foundation's mandate is national in scope across Cameroon.
International alignment
- UN Sustainable Development Goals 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 13 and 16
- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
- Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
- The Maputo Protocol (African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa)
- IASC Guidelines on Gender-Based Violence in Humanitarian Settings
- SPHERE Humanitarian Standards
- Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) on Quality and Accountability
- Do No Harm principle
- PSEA — Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, mandatory for all staff, volunteers and partners
Indicative three-year budget
Figures are in Central African Francs (XAF), as set out in the Foundation's organisational framework. All figures will be refined through detailed needs assessments, community consultations and donor engagement. Approximate conversion: XAF 600 = USD 1.
| Thematic area | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | 3-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GBV Prevention & Response | 12,000,000 | 18,000,000 | 25,000,000 | 55,000,000 |
| Girl-Child Education & Bursaries | 15,000,000 | 22,000,000 | 30,000,000 | 67,000,000 |
| WASH Infrastructure & Hygiene | 20,000,000 | 25,000,000 | 20,000,000 | 65,000,000 |
| Women's Livelihoods & VSLAs | 10,000,000 | 15,000,000 | 20,000,000 | 45,000,000 |
| Environment & Climate Resilience | 5,000,000 | 8,000,000 | 12,000,000 | 25,000,000 |
| Advocacy, Research & Policy | 3,000,000 | 5,000,000 | 7,000,000 | 15,000,000 |
| Staffing & Administration | 18,000,000 | 22,000,000 | 28,000,000 | 68,000,000 |
| MEAL & External Evaluation | 4,000,000 | 5,000,000 | 6,000,000 | 15,000,000 |
| Communications & Fundraising | 3,000,000 | 4,000,000 | 5,000,000 | 12,000,000 |
| Total (XAF) | 90,000,000 | 124,000,000 | 153,000,000 | 367,000,000 |
Year 1 is approximately USD 150,000; Year 3 approximately USD 255,000; the three-year cumulative total approximately USD 612,000. Budgets are presented in donor-preferred currencies (USD, EUR or GBP) in all formal grant proposals.
The sexual and reproductive health and rights pillar, adopted in 2026, has a separate indicative annual budget of XAF 34,000,000 (about USD 56,700), which is not included in the totals above.
Accountability
- A MEAL plan with indicators, baselines and targets for each thematic pillar
- Quarterly internal programme reviews and bi-annual external evaluations
- A Community Accountability and Reporting Mechanism (CARM) with a confidential feedback and complaints channel in all target communities
- Annual reports, audited financial statements and programme impact reports to be published once available (none published yet)
- All data disaggregated by sex, age, disability status and geographic location
- Learning sessions held at least twice per year to integrate findings into improved programming
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