ABOUT US
What is CaPROWN
The CaPROWN Association which is an acronym for the “Cameroon Professional Research-Oriented Women Network” was created in 2019 with the main goal of developing a sustainable virtual and physical platform that is exposing, sensitizing, motivating, building capacity, and generating both mentor-mentee relationships, orientating and empowering many female junior researchers in Cameroon and its sub-region across Africa.
As part of its vision and mission, CaPROWN is publishing a biennial book series with the articles of female Cameroonian scientists in their different academic disciplines. And as regards networking, we have a platform for discourse, capacity building, and training on particular skills: i.e. project management techniques, digital tools, and their appropriate applications, and empowering them on how to produce very competitive Scientific Research and/or proposals that will meet international standards.
We equip them with technological Scientific techniques on how to collect and analyze valid authentic digital data. In a holistic manner, we mentor and encourage them to have affiliations with ongoing digital research projects (by interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration motivation) from Cameroon and other countries.
Join the CaPROWN movement today! Explore our programs, attend our events, and become a part of a community that is committed to making a difference
Why CaPROWN ?
Social, economic, and cultural variables, patriarchal power, the weight of tradition and stereotypes have systemically institutionalized gender imbalance by marginalizing and excluding women from not only education in general and science in particular but more so women at the apex positions in academia in Africa.
In order to avoid continuous seasoned scientist/professional female gender polarization and marginalization in our society, Cameroon Professional Research-Oriented Women Networking (CaPROWN) Association took up the initiative (under the sponsorship of the Alexander von Humboldt (AvH) Foundation) to impact the female researcher a proper positive and gender equality mindset orientation; that will thrive and do the magic for a progressive, competitive, and sustainable development at all ramifications in the socio-cultural and traditional patrimonial well-structured societies in Cameroon and Africa at large.
Goal of CaPROWN
The main goal of CaPROWN is to increase the number of female scientific researchers in all disciplines in Africa and equip them with what it takes to compete for high standard scholarships while mentoring and coaching them into their Research career dreams.
Through the above-mentioned goal, strategies, and many other collaborative exchanges among the members and the facilitators, we hope that we will significantly increase the number of women involved in science in Africa. I am very humbled to announce that CaPROWN has received a Humboldt Alumni Award 2020 for innovative networking initiatives! This will adequately foster our vision and mission for CaPROW Networking (CaPROWN) activities.
Prof. Dr. Mrs. Evelyn Fogwe Chibaka
-President and Founder of CaPROW-Network
In order to make a significant change and impact on the development of women in science, three different levels have to be taken care of, First, on an individual level: We have to start with us, the women. We have to change our mindset; we have to determine what we want as individuals. We need to understand that we do not belong where society is placing us. We can do much better! So, firstly, we have to empower ourselves.
Secondly, on the marital level, we have to apply wisdom and diplomacy. We should not forget that society has its norms and traditions. If we can prove that we can manage the house chores, childcare and still work productively in research, this will motivate society to question some cultural and traditional norms.
The third strategy that we should put in place is to change the governmental level: If you look at the policies that the government puts in place, you see that they have good intentions but these policies are not implemented and/or monitored.
It is not enough just to encourage more women to be involved in science and research. We need an equal enabling environment and career opportunities for women as for men.
Holistic empowering by different stakeholders during the 1st CaPROWN International Conference in Cameroon.
We believe all women can embrace who they are, can define their future, and can change the world.
Anonymous