What happens when a community believes crop failures are caused by witchcraft rather than climate change? Eteki Stella Dopgima, a gender and community development expert from Cameroon, reveals the fascinating journey of transformation taking place in her rural community.

Stella's work with FOCWED (Forum for Christian Women Empowerment and Development) demonstrates how powerful education combined with practical solutions can shift perspectives and build resilience. Through a groundbreaking project supported by AUDA-NEPAD, her team secured 2,000 hectares of community land, creating opportunities for women farmers while introducing climate-smart agricultural practices.

The results speak volumes: 60-70 youth employed through value-added processing, a community climate change hub that demystifies environmental challenges, and innovative solutions like vegetable dryers and organic fertilizer production that directly address post-harvest losses. Most impressively, these achievements occurred against the backdrop of regional conflict that limits women's mobility and threatens food security.

"We are not growing crops, we are growing resilience," Stella explains, capturing the essence of work that rebuilds trust and empowers women to lead despite challenging circumstances. Her vision of "making agriculture sexy" represents a profound narrative shift, transforming farming from perceived punishment to an appealing livelihood with genuine potential for youth.

For anyone interested in the intersection of climate action, gender equality, and resilient food systems, Stella's story offers both inspiration and practical wisdom. Her approach shows how community-led solutions can simultaneously address environmental challenges while creating economic opportunities and challenging harmful misconceptions.

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