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    Comprehensive Child Protection for Conflict-Affected Children in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon (CPiE + EiE)

    Comprehensive Child Protection for Conflict-Affected Children in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon (CPiE + EiE)

    Since 2016, the protracted socio-political crisis in Cameroon’s North West and South West regions has plunged millions of civilians into one of the most complex humanitarian emergencies in the country’s history. With over 2 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and nearly 600,000 internally displaced persons, children have borne the brunt of this conflict. Education, once a symbol of hope, became a casualty of war—over 700,000 children were forced out of school, some for over three years, as schools were targeted, teachers attacked, and entire communities displaced. Beyond physical displacement, the psychological scars of fear, trauma, and instability continue to define childhood for a generation growing up amid violence.

The collapse of social structures and the weakening of protection mechanisms left children exposed to abuse, exploitation, and neglect. Many were separated from parents or forced into adult roles too early, while others, particularly girls, faced sexual violence and early marriage. Without civil documentation such as birth certificates, thousands of children became invisible before the law—excluded from education, health, and protection systems. For displaced and host families already struggling to survive, access to basic health care, education, and psychosocial support became a daily battle. Community cohesion eroded, and trust in social institutions diminished.

The education crisis mirrored the protection crisis. Thousands of children in makeshift settlements or abandoned communities lacked access to safe, structured learning spaces. The absence of learning environments deepened social alienation and left children vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups, exploitation, and child labour. Parents and caregivers, themselves traumatized and impoverished, lacked the means to provide the needed psychosocial and emotional support to their children. The health situation further aggravated vulnerabilities—diseases like malaria, malnutrition, and respiratory infections became rampant, and access to formal health facilities was restricted by insecurity and distance.

It was against this grim backdrop that the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Foundation (LUKMEF), with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), launched the Comprehensive Child Protection for Conflict-Affected Children in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon (CPiE + EiE) project. The intervention sought to restore hope, rebuild protection systems, and reintroduce education and health services in an environment where fear and uncertainty had replaced normal life. By adopting a community-based, gender- and diversity-sensitive approach, LUKMEF empowered local structures—child protection committees, community health workers, and caregivers—to respond to the protection, health, and educational needs of their own children.

The results speak for themselves: over 13,000 children and caregivers received psychosocial support; 500 children gained legal identity through birth certificates; 4,000 children returned to learning in safe spaces; 25 adolescents began vocational training; and more than 31,000 individuals were sensitized on child protection and health. These outcomes demonstrate that when resources meet the will, even the most fragile contexts can yield transformative impact.
Yet, for every child reached, many more remain unprotected and out of school. LUKMEF invites partners and donors to join efforts to scale up or replicate this proven model of community-driven child protection and education in emergencies. Together, we can ensure that no child is left behind because of conflict.

    Comprehensive Child Protection for Conflict-Affected Children in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon (CPiE + EiE)

    Start Date

    20220909

    End Date

    20240229

    Budget

    250.000

    Donor

    SWISS

    Coordinator

    Dr Ngwa

    Sector

    child protection, EiE

    Related Pillars

    Related SDGs

    Region

    North West, South West

    Localities

    Mezam Bamenda I, Bamenda II, Santa, Tubah, Bali         Bangshie (Bamendankwe), Haussa Quarter (Bamendankwe), Santa Meforbe, Mankon Rural (Ndzemabeuh), Bambili Mushong Mabu, Bali Ngwangdikang Fako, Meme, Manyu      Buea, West Coast, Muyuka, Kumba III, Mbonge, Mamfe              Bonakanda, Block 20 Idenau, Ekona Quarter 2c, Barombi Kang – Iraq Camp, Banga Bakundu (Water Tank–Ngonge), Garage-Banya Mamfe

    Beneficiaries

    • 12 Child-Friendly Spaces and Adolescent Clubs established and operational.
    • 324 conflict-affected children received specialized case management.
    • 500 birth certificates issued to undocumented children.
    • 18 mobile clinics conducted in hard-to-reach communities.
    • 100 caregivers supported with livelihood start-up kits.
    • 5 safe spaces for women and children supported and functional.
    • 4,100 children provided with learning materials; 24 teachers trained under “Teaching at the Right Level.”
    • Total 31,321 individuals sensitized on child protection, health, and nutrition.
    The Comprehensive Child Protection for Conflict-Affected Children in Communities of the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon (CPiE + EiE) project was designed with the overall goal of contributing to the comprehensive protection and fulfillment of children’s rights, including their right to education and health in a safe and protective environment. Guided by the humanitarian principles of neutrality, inclusiveness, and community ownership, the project pursued the following key objectives:
    1. To provide community-driven protection services that prevent and respond to violence, exploitation, abuse, and neglect perpetrated against children and women in the conflict-affected Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon.
      • This involved building the capacity of community structures such as Child Protection Committees (CPCs), Community Health Workers (CHWs), and caregivers to identify, report, and respond to child protection risks.
      • It also included providing psychosocial support (PSS) and mental health services, case management, and support to safe shelters for unaccompanied and separated children.
    2. To ensure that children who have been out of school gain access to safe and protective learning spaces and quality education opportunities.
      • Through the establishment of Child-Friendly Spaces (CFSs) and Temporary Learning Centres (TLCs), the project reintroduced learning activities in areas where schools were nonfunctional.
      • Teachers and facilitators were trained in Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) and conflict-sensitive education approaches to ensure inclusive and adaptive learning for displaced and traumatized children.
    3. To strengthen community resilience and ownership of child protection and education mechanisms.
      • The project empowered caregivers and foster parents with livelihood skills and start-up kits as part of its sustainability and exit strategy.
      • It promoted community sensitization on child rights, health, nutrition, and the importance of civil documentation, ensuring long-term awareness and protection culture.
    4. To improve access to basic emergency health services for vulnerable children and caregivers.
      • The project organized mobile clinics, trained CHWs in malnutrition screening (MUAC), and facilitated referrals and treatment for common childhood illnesses.
    Together, these objectives aimed to protect children from harm, restore normalcy to their lives through education and psychosocial care, and build stronger, more resilient communities capable of sustaining these gains beyond the life of the project.
    • 12 Child-Friendly Spaces and Adolescent Clubs established and operational. • 324 conflict-affected children received specialized case management. • 500 birth certificates issued to undocumented children. • 18 mobile clinics conducted in hard-to-reach communities. • 100 caregivers supported with livelihood start-up kits. • 5 safe spaces for women and children supported and functional. • 4,100 children provided with learning materials; 24 teachers trained under “Teaching at the Right Level.” • Total 31,321 individuals sensitized on child protection, health, and nutrition.
    Implementation faced several difficulties inherent to conflict settings. Persistent insecurity and sporadic violence often restricted field mobility, delayed activities, and limited access to some communities. The abduction of a community animator and threats against volunteers highlighted the constant risks faced by field staff. Inadequate infrastructure and limited safe spaces made it difficult to maintain the minimum standard child-to-facilitator ratio in overcrowded Child-Friendly Spaces. Financial constraints restricted expansion of vocational programs and provision of start-up kits to all beneficiaries. Coordination with health facilities was sometimes hindered by lack of resources and logistical challenges during referrals. Moreover, extreme poverty, trauma, and social disintegration weakened caregivers’ ability to support children consistently. Despite these obstacles, LUKMEF’s community-based approach and flexible planning allowed the project to maintain operations and reach its targets without compromising the safety and dignity of beneficiaries and staff.
    The project underscored that meaningful participation of communities ensures sustainability and acceptance, even in conflict zones. Training local volunteers, caregivers, and child protection committees built ownership and fostered continuity beyond project funding. The integration of protection, education, and health within a single intervention proved critical in addressing children’s holistic needs. Flexibility and contextual sensitivity—such as adapting learning through Temporary Learning Centres (TLCs) and the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach—helped overcome barriers caused by insecurity. In addition, collaboration with local authorities and coordination with humanitarian clusters improved access and minimized duplication of efforts. Providing livelihood support to caregivers further strengthened family resilience and reduced dependency. Most importantly, child-centered psychosocial support activities were key in restoring hope and confidence among children who had experienced trauma, proving that healing and learning can coexist even amidst crisis.
    Future interventions should prioritize scaling up and replication of the integrated protection–education–health model across more conflict-affected communities. Expanding partnerships with humanitarian actors and local councils will enhance sustainability and resource mobilization. Increasing investment in vocational training and livelihood support for adolescents and caregivers can reduce vulnerability and promote long-term resilience. Strengthening coordination with local health facilities and education authorities will improve referral systems and ensure better service continuity. It is also essential to enhance psychosocial support capacity by training more community-based facilitators, including peer educators. Establishing permanent safe learning spaces and equipping Child-Friendly Spaces with durable materials will ensure safety and continuity of learning. Finally, integrating digital tools for data collection and communication will enhance monitoring, accountability, and rapid response in dynamic conflict environments, ensuring that every child reached remains protected, educated, and empowered.

    Success Stories

      Emmanuella’s Journey: From Confinement to Classroom Eight-year-old Emmanuella from Ndzemabeuh had never been to school due to her physical disability and her family’s inability to afford transportation. Confined at home, she watched other children play and study while she sat in silence, yearning for a chance. When LUKMEF established a Temporary Learning Centre (TLC) in her community, she defied her parents’ fears and hobbled her way there with sheer determination. Her teacher, Mrs. Rita Achuo, saw beyond her disability and nurtured her confidence. Within six months, Emmanuella could read and write simple words. “When I came here, I thought they would ask for fees. My teacher instead gave me books and pens,” she smiled. Today, Emmanuella is officially enrolled in Class 1, proving that inclusion and opportunity can turn despair into triumph.
        Breaking Barriers: From Isolation to Empowerment For 12-year-old Abongwa, the crisis had stolen everything—his home, his peace, and his dreams. Displacement had forced him into street vending to help his mother survive. When LUKMEF’s community animators found him, he was distributing palm wine in unsafe streets. Invited to join a Child-Friendly Space (CFS), he hesitated but soon realized he could learn again without judgment. Gradually, his confidence blossomed as he received psychosocial support and began basic literacy lessons. Today, Abongwa not only reads fluently but dreams of becoming a teacher to “help other children like me learn again.” His story mirrors the thousands of children rescued from the streets through the project’s integrated protection and education interventions.
    Daybreak for Doris: Healing Beyond Trauma At just 10 years old, Doris from Buea carried emotional wounds deeper than anyone could see. After witnessing violence and displacement, she had stopped speaking entirely. When her caregiver brought her to LUKMEF’s psychosocial support sessions, she remained silent for weeks, avoiding eye contact. With patient engagement through games, drawing, and storytelling, the facilitators slowly broke her silence. One day, she whispered, “I want to go to school again.” Doris was enrolled in a TLC and supported with school materials. Months later, she confidently led her peers in singing the national anthem during the Day of the African Child event. Her recovery is a testament to the transformative power of mental health and psychosocial care provided under the project.
        Hope Restored: Livelihoods and Dignity for Caregivers Grace, a widowed mother of three in Kumba, had lost her husband to the crisis and was struggling to feed her children. With LUKMEF’s support, she joined a livelihood empowerment group where she learned soap-making and small-scale poultry farming. Provided with start-up kits, Grace started earning an income and could afford food, rent, and school supplies. She now mentors other women in her community. “I no longer beg. I can send my children to school with pride,” she said. Grace’s transformation demonstrates how empowering caregivers with livelihood skills builds resilience and breaks the cycle of dependency among displaced families.
      Healing Hands, Renewed Smiles   In the remote village of Banga Bakundu, 6-year-old Mbong was diagnosed with severe malnutrition. Weak and listless, his mother feared he wouldn’t survive. During a mobile clinic mission organized by LUKMEF, community health workers screened him using the MUAC tape and referred him for treatment. After consistent follow-up and nutritional counseling for his mother, Mbong made a full recovery. Today, he runs and plays with his friends in the CFS yard. His story symbolizes thousands of children whose lives were saved through LUKMEF’s integrated health and nutrition response—a shining reminder that when care reaches the forgotten, hope is reborn.