A Movement Built on Belief and Partnership
Education is not just about attending school; it is about opening doors that were previously locked. For the girls and young women of Cameroon, it is also about the confidence that builds as girls have the same opportunities as their male classmates. According to UNESCO and the World Bank, in Cameroon and across sub-Saharan Africa, girls often face significant barriers to completing their education. Poverty, early marriage, gender-based violence, and cultural expectations all contribute to high dropout rates, particularly in secondary school.
That is the vision behind A2Empowerment, an organization committed to preventing the injustice girls face when their education is deprioritized. Since 2008, we have walked alongside more than 1,000 young women in Cameroon, providing them not just with scholarships, but with mentorship, skills, and the belief that their dreams matter.
From Peace Corps Vision to Sustainable Impact: A Cross-Continental Partnership
As a Peace Corps Volunteer, Anne Rapin witnessed firsthand the barriers facing girls in the rural village where she taught science. After relaying the challenges to one of her closest friends, Anne Cheung, the two Annes founded A2Empowerment to provide need and merit-based scholarships and mentoring to young women at the highest risk of dropping out of high school. From the beginning, they recognized that sustainable impact required deep collaboration with Cameroonian educators and community leaders who understood the cultural, economic, and social dynamics shaping girls’ lives.
Today, A2Empowerment partners with World Economy Skills and Agro Development (WESAD) to administer programs on the ground. The Cameroonian mentors, many of them program alumnae, participate in identifying applicants, awarding scholarships, and guiding recipients throughout the school year. This partnership with WESAD represents more than coordination; it embodies the commitment of both organizations to sustainable, locally-led development. Program decisions, including scholarship selection, mentorship structures, and community outreach, are shaped by Cameroonian leaders who ensure that interventions reflect local realities and priorities.
“Our scholarship recipients are not just receiving financial support,” explains a program mentor. “They are joining a network of empowered women who believe in their potential and walk beside them every step of the way.”
Since 2008, A2Empowerment has awarded more than 2,550 scholarships to girls at risk of dropping out of school and has supported additional leadership and skills-building programs for young women in Cameroon. Scholarship recipients who maintain strong academic performance are eligible for renewal in subsequent years, creating continuity and long-term educational support.
A2Empowerment believes mentorship is a valuable tool. Monthly meetings connect scholarship recipients with trained mentors and peers, creating support networks that last beyond graduation. These gatherings create more than academic accountability; they foster sisterhood, peer support, and a network of young women who grow together. Girl Boss Curriculum, developed by Launch Girls, is used by mentors to share life skills and work-readiness training, equipping the participants to transition successfully from school to employment.
A2Empowerment is also currently piloting business training, seed funding, and ongoing guidance for female entrepreneurs who are survivors of gender-based violence. For survivors of gender-based violence, economic independence is often the turning point between vulnerability and stability. By pairing training with seed funding and mentorship, the program aims to support both recovery and long-term self-reliance.
The business training is coordinated by Cameroonian leaders who understand their communities’ needs, ensuring that support meets local priorities rather than external assumptions.
The Evidence: Why Girls’ Education Matters
Research consistently shows that educating girls creates ripple effects throughout entire communities. Research from the World Bank shows that each additional year of secondary education for girls can increase future earnings by up to 25 percent, while reducing early marriage and improving child health and educatinal outcomes.
For survivors of gender-based violence, access to education and economic opportunities provides both healing and independence. Entrepreneurship training and business support help women rebuild their lives with dignity and self-sufficiency.
Ways to Get Involved: You can be part of transforming lives and building a more equitable future for girls and women in Cameroon.
Donate Online: Your contribution provides scholarships, mentorship, and entrepreneurial training. Approximately $80 covers tuition, fees, and supplies for one young woman to attend school in Cameroon for a year. Visit: https://www.a2empowerment.org/support-us
Spread the Word: Share our mission in your network and on social media. Follow us: @a2empowerment on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn
Stay Connected: Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates on our scholars’ progress and program impact.
Volunteer Your Skills: We welcome supporters who can contribute professional expertise in education, fundraising, communications, and more. Our contact email is info@a2empowerment.org.
Learn More About Us: Visit our website – www.a2empowerment.org
Every scholarship funded represents one young woman who can continue her education. Every mentorship hour invested means one more girl who believes in her own potential. Every dollar contributed helps break the cycle of poverty and build pathways to empowerment for A2Empowerment scholars.
About A2Empowerment
A2Empowerment is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women in Cameroon through education. Founded in 2008, A2Empowerment has awarded over 2,550 scholarships to young women selected based on need and merit. Mentors receive training through a partnership with WESAD. This training focuses on building entrepreneurial skills through the Girl Boss curriculum, and supporting female entrepreneurs, many who are survivors of gender-based violence.
Contact Us: Email: info@a2empowerment.org Website: www.a2empowerment.org EIN: 26-2873259