Winter 2020 Newsletter

A New Normal?

Cameroon, a unique Central African country that has for decades remained relatively stable, is experiencing multiple complex crises impacting Breaking Ground’s ongoing community development efforts. The Islamist sect Boko Haram has increased its armed attacks in the north and rebels from the Central African Republic are making violent incursions in the east. Since 2016, the northwest and Southwest provinces have been plunged into an armed conflict resulting in more than 679,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), 60,000 people seeking refuge in Nigeria, children of all ages missing years of school, and young adults unable to find employment.

The consequences of these crises are widespread across the country. According to the last FAO 2020 Synthesis Report on Food and Nutrition, Cameroon is now among African countries with a significant threat of food insecurity. The arrival of COVID-19 in March 2020 has further complicated the situation in Cameroon. In light of these dramatic changes, Breaking Ground has conducted a self-study and context analysis to realign our mission with the needs of the communities and individuals we serve. We want to share with you what we are doing now, and why your support is so important at this moment.  

Breaking Ground in a Time of Crisis in Cameroon

Since 2006, Breaking Ground has been working in Cameroon to help communities achieve lasting solutions to their self-identified needs by investing in local knowledge, empowering women, and promoting economic development. This approach has resulted in highly successful sustainable development, education, and empowerment initiatives across Cameroon, and has produced an important network of trusting relationships with individuals, communities, civil society organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and ministries within the Cameroonian government.

In response to the violent social and political crisis in Cameroon’s Southwest and Northwest provinces, Breaking Ground has maintained its mission and focus by adapting its operations to meet a new landscape of need by partnering with local and international NGOs and other humanitarian organizations, and has committed to promoting and engaging in an international grassroots peace-building initiative.

Kompina Water Project

Breaking Ground is the implementing partner for a water project in the community of Kompina, funded in part by ICA Canada and CIC Cameroon. The project aims to provide drinkable water to 20,000 people in this village 40km from Douala. The project includes construction of a storage tank of 12 cubic meters, 4 kilometers of water pipe, and 5 water fountains. Much of this project is complete, and Breaking Ground is now preparing to receive the water pump, which is in the Port of Douala. Reflecting Breaking Ground’s mission, this project is a community-driven initiative and we, along with our partners ICA and CIC, are working alongside community leaders to help complete this important addition of vital resources to the community. 

Field Research in a Time of Violence and Political Crisis

Based in part on Breaking Ground’s history of developing relationships with local communities, we have been partnering with ICA Canada and Children Believe Canada to conduct critical field research in the West and Littoral regions. This research is intended to determine the needs of internally displaced persons and to provide valuable data to inform a project proposal for educational and educational support in several communities receiving internally displaced persons. The data demonstrate that these communities require and will benefit from Breaking Ground’s agricultural development and women’s entrepreneurship expertise, in conjunction with ICA Canada’s school building expertise.

Peace-Building

Since 2019, Breaking Ground has been working actively with several partners to develop a peaceful solution to the socio-political crisis that primarily impacts Cameroon’s two English speaking regions of the Northwest and Southwest. This includes initiatives in education, agriculture, entrepreneurship, conflict resolution, and basic community development. Our partners include researchers, journalists, activists, nongovernmental organizations, universities, and other civil society organizations from around the world.

We are working in the field with local NGOs (e.g., REDHAC) to ignite a peace initiative now in some communities by organizing inter-community dialogue. Four dialogue meetings were organized in 2020 in Bamenda, Dschang, Bafoussam, and Buea. We also submitted a collaborative peace-building proposal to Global Affairs Canada and we expect a decision in early 2021.

We also joined a consortium of NGOs in a joint proposal to the United Nations to support IDPs and returning refugees once the current conflict ends. The consortium includes ICA Canada, Children Believe Canada, the Dallaire Institute, South Africa’s Graca Machel Foundation, Germany’s Engineers Without Borders, and CIC Cameroon. Negotiations with UN agencies is still ongoing, and the consortium plans to submit proposal in 2021.

What This Means

Breaking Ground needs your continued and sustained support to continue to play its critical role in all of these ongoing efforts. We can’t predict when the violence will end, or when families can return to their homes and land, when children can go back to school in their own communities, or when people in Cameroon will receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

What we do know is that Breaking Ground’s ability to do its work in this beautiful, war-torn country depends on you. Please consider making a generous end-of-year donation to help Breaking Ground continue what it’s doing – saving lives and securing a future of peace in Cameroon. Thank you!