The United States Embassy in Cameroon with its implementing partner Women in Entrepreneurship and Technology (WETECH) is set to empower 40 women entrepreneurs and help them scale their endeavours to the next level.
The second edition of the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) has been launched, and the 40 selected beneficiaries are ready to gain the necessary skills to expand their businesses.
The launching ceremony took place Tuesday, November 26, 2024, in Yaounde in the presence of a representative of the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, dignitaries, members of the Diplomatic Corps and other guests.
The event was chaired by the Charge d’Affaires, a.i. US Embassy, John G. Robinson, who pointed out that AWE is not just a program but a catalyst for change. “It empowers women to dream big, break barriers, and build thriving businesses by providing essential skills, networks, and resources. AWE propels women to new heights,” he said.
The US Department of State implements this vision through various programs like TechWomen, TechGirls, AWE, and numerous grants and technical assistance. These programs address the diverse needs of women entrepreneurs, from providing mentorship and training to facilitating access to capital and markets.
“We know that the road to success is not always easy. Women entrepreneurs face unique challenges, from accessing capital to overcoming gender bias. That is why AWE is committed to providing the tools, resources, and support the need to succeed” the Charge d’Affaires highlighted.
Through Arizona State University’s 100 Million Learners initiative, our dedicated mentors, and our network of inspiring women, AWE is empowering women to reach their full potential.
“Let’s continue to support women entrepreneurs, invest in their ideas, and create an environment where they can thrive. Together, we can build a better future for women entrepreneurs in Cameroon and beyond” the US Embassy official said.
The implementing partner for the second edition of AWE is Elodie Nonga, Founder of WETECH, and according to her the objectives of the training are to support the entrepreneurs to ensure they have strong businesses with better structure and organization and make sure they can impact.
The selection for this edition laid emphasis on women supporting women because “we want to make sure that after the program, they will definitely share what they learnt to other people, to empower and support women entrepreneurs in their communities”.
To young women entrepreneurs, she encouraged them to keep pushing and giving all they can to ensure they add value to the economic growth of the country and also to continue providing better goods and services to the population.
As innovation for this edition, the selection criteria changed, unlike last year where beginners were given a chance, this edition selected entrepreneurs with more than two years of experience with businesses that are already going to ensure they go to the next level.
Participants will also have the opportunity to showcase their products and services, and through AWE they will have more reach and visibility.
Talking to the press after the launching ceremony, John G. Robinson highlighted the important role women play not only in their communities but in the country as a whole.
“So empowering them, giving them the tools, access, skills that they need is crucial and central to the economic development of Cameroon and worldwide” he emphasized.
According to the Diplomat, Elodie Nonga is a brilliant entrepreneur and her innovative App, Alert GBV, is a testament to her commitment to reducing gender-based violence and making communities safer.
AWE Participants
Timia Tandi, CEO and founder of Gateway Africa is participating in the second edition of the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs. Timia applied for AWE because she was looking for an opportunity “to improve on knowledge, and experience across diverse fields which would be relevant for the smooth running of the activities of my organization”.
“I was also looking for an opportunity to network and build collaboration with other women in the same sector and also women across diverse fields to see how together we can impact society better’ Timia added.
Through AWE, she hopes to improve the modules of her Academy and also be able to use the different resources that the program allocates to see how to foster and push their activities forward.
Ann-Christine Nkwain is the Founder and CEO of Annie’s Braids, a Beauty salon based in Yaounde, and a beneficiary of the first edition of AWE. She attests to the fact that the training gave her another side of business through the experience she got.
“I had mentorship from the online platform, Dream Builder which helped us to teach how you can start a business from scratch” she explained. Talking about her experience, Nkwain applauded the fact that though her mentor was in America, she was drilled on what business out of Cameroon looks like, “and the many ideas that she gave me really helped me to make my business better and to accelerate it” she affirmed.
One of the major outcomes of the training session, Nkwain mentioned, is that AWE Alumni have special consideration at Bange Bank Cameroon, one of the partners as they can take loans at low interest rates and payback at their own preferences.
About AWE
Since 2019, the AWE program has empowered more than 25, 000 women in 100 countries giving them skills, networks, and access that they may not otherwise have had.
After the launching, the participants will participate in a three-day boot camp, which will be followed by coaching and mentorship sessions spanning six months, and the training will be crowned with a closing ceremony and handing over certificates.