AMEF Wins Menstrual Hygiene Advocacy Champion Award






By Tarhyang Enowbikah Tabe

The Authentique Memorial Empowerment Foundation (AMEF) has won this year’s Menstrual Hygiene Advocacy Champion Award.

Th award was organized by international menstrual hygiene coalition known as the “Redvocate Awards” which took place during “Red Charity Fundraiser Gala” to support displaced girls with dignity kits on May 10, 2025 at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel.

This esteemed recognition is dedicated to honouring individuals and organizations making significant efforts to improve menstrual hygiene and break the stigma surrounding it.

AMEF’s inspiring work and unwavering commitment to this cause according to the Mokwe Welisane Nkeng, General Coordinator of the International Menstrual Hygiene Coalition, have made a difference in the lives of many, their nomination reflected the impact of their dedication.

The Redvocate Awards aim to celebrate trailblazers who are driving positive change and fostering a more inclusive and informed society.

Amongst the many action towards Advocating for better Menstrual Hygiene practices carried out by AMEF, is the EMERGE: Empowering Local Authorities; Advocating for Menstrual Hygiene Management project.

During activities of the project, the Emerge team engaged in impactful advocacy work, providing essential training to quarter heads, traditional leaders, and religious authorities on the critical topic of Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM).

The enlightening sessions touched upon dispelling myths and addressing taboos surrounding menstruation, an issue that is often overlooked but is crucial for the well-being of women and girls.

One of the focuses of the training was to educate participants on the proper usage of both reusable and disposable pads, as well as the responsible management of their disposal.

This practical knowledge equipped local leaders with the tools needed to support women and girls in their communities in maintaining proper menstrual hygiene practices.

The training was organized into three groups, each tasked with outlining the distinct roles that fathers, religious leaders, and traditional leaders can play in promoting positive attitudes towards menstruation.

By involving these influential figures, Emerge aimed to harness their leadership and guidance to create a more supportive environment for discussing and addressing menstrual health issues.

As the session drew to a close, a resounding call to action resonated among the participants: to actively work towards breaking the social stigma associated with menstruation, to normalize conversations around this natural bodily process, and to contribute to sensitizing local communities on proper Menstrual Hygiene Management practices.

Through these efforts, Emerge paved the way for a more informed and inclusive approach to menstrual health, ensuring that women and girls receive the support and understanding they deserve from their local, traditional, and spiritual authorities.

 

About AMEF

The Authentique Memorial Empowerment Foundation (AMEF) is a national Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that is nonprofit and non-political. Its creation came about in2006, through a fieldwork carried out by its founder (a social anthropologist and gender expert) in 2001, in the remote and enclave sub-division of Akwaya in Manyu Division which led to the discovery of the “Money Woman” phenomenon. The foundation was later legalized in 2008 with a vision to cater for the rights of the girl child (0-12years) as well as young girls and women entrapped in early and forced marriages.

 

Mission

AMEF’s Mission is to ensure the rights of children and other vulnerable groups are Protected, Support the development of children, Youths and empower Women through Formal and Non-Formal education, while improving the socioeconomic wellbeing of local communities through a participatory approach. AMEFs main purpose is to provide standard basic education with the a focus on children, Fight for the Protection of Children, women and girls especially victims of early and forced marriages and those in Crisis areas, Promote Gender Equality through livelihood schemes and Economic diversification among women and Youths while encouraging a participatory approach in ensuring Socio-Economic insertion and Reinsertion of women and other Vulnerable groups in enclaved areas. AMEF operates four (4) Major Programs to meet these objectives namely:

Education and Child Protection services, which provide formal and non-formal learning, entrepreneurship skills development and psychosocial support to conflict- affected and out-of-school children.

Economic Development and Livelihoods services, which provide income generation support to vulnerable households, integrating climate smart-agriculture approaches and entrepreneurship skills development.

Protection services, including support for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), peace building activities and human rights advocacy activities.

Health, Nutrition, and WASH, such as hygiene promotion for disease prevention, malnutrition screening, and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) awareness raising.

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