Interview with Ajomuzu Collette Bekaku – Founder and Executive Director of CAPEC
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Develop Africa
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2017/08/25
Cameroon Association for the Protection and Education of the Child (CAPEC) is one of Develop Africa’s Partner in Cameroon. Below is an interview with Ajomuzu Collette Bekaku — Founder and Executive Director of CAPEC
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What was the original interest in the protection and education of children?
I grew up in a community where child labour was perceived as “normal”. It was a time in Africa, especially in Cameroon, when it was normal for children to help parents at home with little household chores like sweeping the compound, selling fruits to raise income for the family, etc., just to name a few. However, it was also a time when it was normal for children to work on
banana and rubber plantations. It was also normal for them to carry very heavy loads on their heads (which impairs their health and growth), and it was normal for them to work under hazardous conditions full of dangerous chemicals and insecticides (which also impairs their education, health and growth). As a result of seeing this situation in my community i.e. child labour, I became motivated and pushed myself to become an advocate for children’s protection and education.
I personally believe that children should be educated, offered opportunities for their development and not used as labourers.
What was the inspiration for the foundation of the Cameroon Association for the Protection and Education of the Child (CAPEC)?
I grew up with a single parent (my mum), in Mambanda Village, who was a primary school teacher. The majority of people leaving in this village were peasant farmers who were working in Banana and Rubber plantations for the Cameroon Development Cooperation (CDC), who were paid according to their daily productivity. In order for them to increase productivity and make
more money at the end of the month, parents were obliged to use their children as labourers in the plantations. Children worked under hazardous conditions. As a 10-year-old girl, I went through this hardship and pain like other children in my situation. During this phase of my life, I organised storytelling events among fellow children aiming to focus our respective visions on life. This enabled me to understand that children, even while poor and living in hard conditions, all had so much potential and vision. This motivated me to promote the rights of children in poor, rural communities like where I grew up. This story and history lives in me, and my actions are still guided by my passion for a community where child rights are promoted and respected.
Immediately I graduated from university, and in conjunction with my work within various communities, I thought of formalising and sustaining the response to challenges faced by children by creating CAPEC, which is a growing, reputable and non-profit organisation. I started CAPEC in order to protect and educate underprivileged children living in various communities
across Cameroon.
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