Cameroon
During the FOURTH week of February we listen to the heart of the world and hold the Sisters of St. Joseph and the people of CAMEROON in our prayer
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon is a country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon’s coastline lies on the Bight of Biafra, part of the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean.
Cameroon, which is home to more than 200 different linguistic groups, is known as "Africa in miniature" due to its diversity. Natural features include beaches, deserts, mountains, rainforests, and savannas. The highest point at almost 4,100 metres is Mount Cameroon in the Southwest Region of the country, and the largest cities in population-terms are Douala on the Wouri river its economic capital and main seaport, Yaoundé its political capital, and Garoua. The country is well known for its native styles of music, particularly makossa and bikutsi and for its successful national football team. (Information from Wikipedia)
Population: 23.5 million
Cameroon has one of the highest literacy rates on the continent. Its progress, however, is hampered by persistent problems with corruption.
Created in 1961 by the unification of two former colonies, one British and one French, the modern state of Cameroon has also struggled to find peace and unity.
Sisters of St. Joseph of Cuneo, Italy
Seven sisters serve in schools parishes, prisons, empowerment of women, visiting persons with physical challenges, and in AIDS programs. (Information from UN-NGO statistics)
Since 1985 the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cuneo have been in Cameroon. The young Church of North Cameroon has insistently asked the Congregation, in the person of the Bishop of Maroua-Mokolo, to be present in this dry land, thirsty for humanity and for God.
Information from: http://www.suoresangiuseppecuneo.it/index.php/dove-operiamo/africa/cameroun
Recent News
https://www.voanews.com/a/cameroon-seeks-greater-female-political-participation/4264003.html
Political parties in Cameroon have set an ambitious goal ahead of this year’s polls — to put women in at least 30 percent of elected offices.
An all-female orchestra plays as 300 women selected from associations around Cameroon campaign in markets, universities and popular spots in the capital, asking women to register to vote.
Twenty-nine-year-old fish seller Clarisse Kongnyuy says she agreed to register because the women convinced her that with hard work, she might even one day be on the ballot.
Observers say the odds of success are long, at least in the short term.
Senator Julienne Djakaou of Cameroon’s Far North region says many women are not able to participate in decision-making because of traditional misconceptions and early marriage, which derails their education.
She said she did not believe it when men in her community said the Bible prohibits women from participating in politics, and so she went to seek advice from the highest member of the Roman Catholic Church in Cameroon, Cardinal Christian Tumi. She said he told her that politics was for both men and women.
February 25, 2018
Since the outbreak of the so-called “Anglophone crisis in 2016”, many civilians and soldiers have been killed, but access to the affected areas remains difficult, making it difficult to access information on the spot.
The 77-year-old who says he is an Anglophone but against secession from Cameroon, has repeatedly blamed incumbent Biya for the crisis and the deterioration of the security situation in English-speaking Cameroon.
The government insists that the regions remain safe and secure despite guerrilla style attacks that have claimed the lives of over twenty security officials.
United in prayer, the Global Joseph Family, 11,000 sisters in 52 countries, listening to the heart of the world.