Indigenous Mbororo girls challenge stigmatization, assert dreams

Some indigenous Mbororos have said they too have big dreams to achieve. They were speaking during a roundtable discussion organized by the Cameroon Indigenous Women Forum, CAIWOF organized last Monday, August 9.

It was organized to educate and empower young indigenous girls on the importance of education, gender equality, empowerment of women and girls. The roundtable discussion was an opportunity to sensitize development stakeholders on the specific needs of indigenous Mbororo women and girls.

Speaking to Mimi Mefo Info, Hashiatu Ibrahim, a young Mbororo girl said she also has dreams despite the stigma she faces in society as an indigenous girl.

“As indigenous Mbororo girls, we face several challenges. Sometimes in school, people laugh and make a mockery of us asking us that ‘you Mbororo girl what do you think you can do?’, ‘When did you even start schooling? I know you will soon get married’”.

She said she holds firm to her dream of becoming a medical doctor in order to impact the healthcare system of her community. She is spurred by the fact that her people sometimes lack the necessary care and facilities for their well-being.

“My dream of becoming a medical doctor stems from the fact that I like helping people. Being an indigenous girl, when this dream is realized, I will talk to my fellow indigenous girls that they can also go to school and realize their dreams too,” Hashiatu hoped.

“…The challenge is also the same in the communities and the society but I think we should be facilitated with some social amenities like access to education, healthcare services,” another indigenous girl, Raihanatou added, insisting that, “We say Yes to education and we are ready to have quality education”.

Hosting the discussions, the Coordinator of CAIWOF, Madam Bouba Aeisatu, stressed on the need to take into accounts the specific needs of indigenous girls in the implementation of the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, in Cameroon.

She says “women and young girls should not be left behind, they have specific needs like eradicating early and force marriages and facilitating the education of the girl child”.

The Coordinator, who is considered a role model for the indigenous girls, urged the stakeholders and key ministries concerned to intensify efforts towards ensuring quality education for indigenous youth.

The round table discussion was part of activities to commemorate the 27th edition of the International Day of Indigenous People on the theme “2030 agenda, leave no one behind: Indigenous people and the call for a new social contract”.