Thérèse and Emmanuel Ngamo from the Family Ministry become WWO Ambassadors

Thérèse and Emmanuel watch the film "In-visibles" made by Lia Beltrami for the WWO (Photo credit: Thérèse and Emmanuel)

Esther Nyacke Ntah

WWO Community Manager, French-speaking Africa     

Thérèse and Emmanuel Ngamo are responsible for the Family Pastoral Care Service of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon. They heard about the World Women´s Observatory (WWO) and decided to become "Ambassador" and "Ambassadress" for the invisible women of the WWO. They kindly shared with us their motivation for supporting "invisible women" in this interview.

Thérèse and Emmanuel Ngamo, you are responsible for the Family Pastoral Care Service at the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon. Can you tell us a few words about your organisation?         

We are a service of the General Apostolate of the Laity within the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon. The Family Office, in conjunction with the leaders of Cameroon's 26 dioceses :

• Coordinates family pastoral care activities at the national level

• It facilitates the functioning of the networks of diocesan family pastoral care centres

• Raises funds

• Provides technical supervision of the diocesan family pastoral care centres

• Prepares an annual report on the functioning of family pastoral care and presents it to the CENC

• Liaises with government and non-government partners involved in family support

• Provides guidance for the training of trainers as needed.

You are now "Ambassadors" for the Invisible Women of the World Women's Observatory (WWO). What does this role mean to you?

For us, being "Ambassadors for the Invisible" means remaining attentive to violence against women in our environment and denouncing this violence, providing assistance to survivors of such violence with the aim of making them resilient, helping them to gain self-confidence and providing them with support to help them overcome this situation. At the same time, we must be ready to raise awareness among the general public about the reality and harmful effects of such behaviour.

How did you learn about the World Women's Observatory?

Through word of mouth.

You watched the film "In-visibles", which is the basis for the #InvisiblesNoMore campaign. What did it inspire in you?

We saw single mothers, widows and abused women who had been abandoned and were living in poverty, but who, with the help of nuns, learned a trade that they now practise with courage and perseverance. They have escaped poverty and gained independence and self-confidence. They are thriving.  In view of what is happening in our country, women who find themselves in such situations must be given the means to pull themselves out of trouble.

To achieve its goal of making "invisible" women visible, i.e. those who refuse to talk about their trauma, the WWO needs its ambassadors. How do you intend to fulfil your mission as ambassadors?

• Network with associations that share the same goal.

• Be attentive to what is happening in our living and working environments with regard to the treatment of women.

• Create a space to welcome and support these people.

• Encourage women to recognise and claim their rights.