An Interview with Ramatu

Ramatu grew up engulfed in a culture that emphasized shyness and silence, “where women don’t really talk about what they go through [and] they don’t talk in open spaces.”

After deep consideration and endless support from her father, she made the brave and bold choice to leave her town and marry into a new one for a chance to break the cycle of child marriages that she witnessed in her community and to fight for more autonomy in her life. The inspiration that her father instilled in her helped lead her to be an advocate for others who are raised in similar situations. Ramatu recognized that a lot of women in her community have faced instances of domestic violence and gender-based discrimination, and soon realized that it was not just common in her community, but all communities.

Ramatu recounts that the loss of her father and husband helped inspire her to do the work she does today. She says, “I was inspired to do more because I knew that I had nobody by me.” She founded the Association for the Welfare of Women and Indigenous People, which helps to empower women in communities like hers. Many women and girls in Cameroon lack formal education, so consequently they also lack critical information on menstrual hygiene management and reproductive health. Ramatu’s organization helps to educate and support women in Cameroon who are often in polygamous relationships and helps to implement measures for women that promote consent and safe sexual practices.

Ramatu often faces hate speech when she goes to educate women in other areas in Cameroon, specifically by men, who fear what this empowerment will do to their community. Despite this, Ramatu continues to be an unwavering advocate. She recalls a quote her father used to always say, that “if you educate a girl, you educate a nation,” which has helped to instill the passion in her to continue her work. Today, her work has also transitioned into encouraging women’s participation in peace building processes and creating spaces, such as literacy centers, for women who have been victims of gender-based violence and early marriages that prevented them from receiving an education. The programs that Ramatu’s organization creates simultaneously help to foster independence within women in Cameroon and break down the barriers that have long stood in their way to receiving an education.

The crisis in Cameroon has made educating more women and girls incredibly difficult and has prevented Ramatu and others from continuing the important dialogue surrounding the empowerment of women in Cameroon. Nonetheless, Ramatu strives to create more spaces for women in their communities and will continue to fill leadership roles that make more dreams a reality for women in all corners of Cameroon.