Building a society of all ages: My Take Home from IFA International Workshop on Ageing and Age-friendly Environments

Now I am young, I carry the voices of the old with me, hoping that as I grow older, our societies, cities, laws, policies; communities will be age-friendly.

The world is ageing and it is ageing fast. With Africa to experience the fastest growing ageing population than any region, without having the chance of being rich, Prof Susanne Garon remarked to us all present at the  International Workshop on Ageing andAge-Friendly Environment, at Palais Des Congress, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

The workshop which began on May 27 – 28, organized by the International Federationon Ageing (IFA) and Friends of IFA (FOIFA) brought together over 500 delegates across all works of life; amongst them members of parliaments, government and civil society representatives; policy makers, academicians, journalists, heads of organizations – National and International, traditional elites and elders, from all six continents to critically looked at some four key areas on; Health and Wellbeing into Old Age; Elderly Abuse; Older Persons and Crisis Management and lastly Age-friendly Environments – as well as to seek better means towards addressing this current population trend.

I was however privileged to be one of the panelists’ speakers, presenting my views after Dr. Isabella Aboderin, a renowned expert in active ageing discourses, who highlighted a number of profound issues on age-based inequalities in sub-Saharan Africa, urging governments to invest in health care for ageing people, local elites to collaborate in promoting active ageing and researchers to produce evidence-based and solution-oriented works.

Personally, it was an honorary feeling for me – first to be part of Dr. Isabella’s panelists.  Secondly, to have spoken for the hundreds of ageing mothers in my community whose voices hardly get to the frontline. 

In addition, I felt like, I am being prepared for old age. Now that I am young, I am been mentored to not only promote young people’s agenda but as well the old such that by the time my generation is older,  discourses on age-friendly societies wouldn’t be new.

While writing this article, I could not stop reflecting on the panel discussions, participants’ questions as well as the statistics and projections from the facilitators at the workshop. One of which is the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA 2007)  that states that one of every ten people on the planet is now 60 years of age or older. And by 2050, one of five people will be above 60 years or older. The truth is – by that time, many youths of today will constitute the ageing population.

And when I look at the youth of today, whose livelihood is mark with – severe suffering, poverty, abuse, insecurity, violence, diseases, poor healthcare services, high levels of unemployment in spite the education obtained; I try to visualize what kind of life awaits us [young people] in future, if proper measures are not put in place.         

And as I ponder further, I recall Mme Nesta Hatendi, the regional director of Help Age International for East, Central, West Africa, remark on “Age-Friendly Environments” – where she drew our attention on toady’s politicians, world leaders, statesmen ageing status – and how in spite of the fact that many of these leaders are older adults, they lack the vision towards enhancing healthy and age-friendly environments.

 Again, I recollect, Dr. Omokaro remarks, of Dave Omokaro Foundation, pinpointing the fact that older people’s issues have not been streamlined into development agenda. And also, the fact that there is need for rigorous awareness to shift and change attitudes and behaviors to understand older people invaluable contribution to national growth; many of whom, particularly older mothers are becoming parents again when they should be retired. 

An allusion, Dr. Isabella had also noted with focus on aging population in Africa, 78% of whom remain economically active – she said: yet elderly adults’ rights to basic health are still viewed marginal. They remain invisible in terms of decision making.

So, my take home from the workshop was - as youth activists and leaders now, this is our chance to re-orientate our thoughts and as we call on governments attention on inclusiveness, and the need for sustainable development we remember to also emphasize on elderly people’s rights and their environments - friendly of all ages.

One Ruling Patriarchy Translates his Story into Activism.

Nzume Mathias in the Office attending to a client

Mr. Nzume Mathias is an exceptional among men in a place where patriarchy rules: he is an advocate for gender equality and women’s rights.  

Mr. Nzume is a Cameroonian, married and a father of five; three girls and two boys.  Driven by his personal experiences and agony, alongside his mother’s; Mr.  Nzume knows first-hand the abuses of human rights that take place in Cameroon, and most especially his village in Bakossi – an ethic group in the South West Region of Cameroon.

 “My life had a depression somewhere” said Mr. Nzume, a former secondary school teacher, now Chief of Service for the Family Wellbeing at the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family (MINWEF), South West Regional Delegation - Buea, Cameroon. 

“I grew up as an orphan, yet my parents were alive”   Nzume says. As an orphan , he says – his biological father never recognized him as his child - He would always refer to me as the son of his late brother. A man who was not my biological dad” he said

Mr. Nzume’s situation made him to become an advocate so as to bring   change – a means that would end all injustice especially against women, widows and orphans.  A situation he says it is not the victims making but of fate.

“It was a cruel experience and emotionally distressful”.  He said.

The struggles for an identity led him to discover 2 foreign radio stations; BBC and Voice of America - a transformation  which till date he remains a keen listener. This he said were one of the reasons to why he is an ardent women human rights defender.

“It all became sometimes in the early 80s”.  He recollected. “I came across the radio stations: BBC and Voice of America. They had this gender hour program which drew my attention. Though, I was ignorant about the classical gender concepts; its legal instruments, principles and practices - listening to BBC/VoA enlightened me. So much such that during my under graduate degree, I chose to study a double major BSc: Law and Gender studies in the University of Buea”.

His interest in Gender studies was to have a good insight on women issues particularly traditional norms and women’s position in culture. And the Law aspect was to articulate gender concerns from a legal perspective and also using this platform to intervene in to women’s plight.

After completion of his Bachelor that is around mid-90s, he returned to his usual classroom teaching and in 2008, he was offered the position to head the Service for Family Wellbeing as Chief of Service in Ministry of Women’s Empowerment, South West Regional Delegation (MINWEF), a newly created department in MINWEF. 

As head (chief) of service for the Family Wellbeing MINWEF, his main responsibility is to resolve family conflicts, improve family wellbeing and give assistance to voluntary persons interested in making family wellbeing a social concern.

 Mr. Ediage, a professional architect shares his personal encounters with Mr. Nzume:  “For almost 5 years, after my dad passed away I never said a word to my mother. My mother and I were never in good terms. We never crisscross path. My life was traumatized. I was depressed.  And today, thanks to Mr. Nzume’s one-on-one counseling and dialogue sessions, my mom and I are able to exchange words”.

Mr. Nzume and Client; Ms Melanie

Ms. Melanie, a professional hairstylist also said “Mr. Nzume inspires me a lot. He took his time to look at my problem. He never rushed me. At anytime, anywhere, he is always ready to give advice and help bring peace between me and my parents”.

Note that throughout 2008 – 2011 before the newly 25000 young government recruit, Mr. Nzume was the only male worker in the entire MINWEF- Buea, as well as the first man to hold the position as Chief of Service for Family Wellbeing.

Since granted this opportunity, he has managed over 600 cases of violence against women (ranges from rape [marital], domestic violence, sexual abuse), resolving of family dispute.

 And under his leadership, he organizes an annual mass [grouped] marriages which is celebrated [takes place] every May 15 at the delegation center in Buea. The first mass wedding occurred in 2009 with 51 couples jointly married, in 2010, it was 49 and last year, 51. 

Mr. Nzume believes that change is happening and women human rights are gradually been respected. However, he said – there is need for more comprehensive laws to fully advance women status in Cameroon; especially in the light of marriage, widowhood and sexual and reproductive health.

In addition he says – “both men and women must become partners to the attainment of women’s human rights’.

And to culminate, coming up soon is Mr. Nzume’s book entitled “The Tears of the Female One” where he shares his personal and professional experience; an in-depth insight on how society views women; the way forward for a better society for all.

CTE Workers: A Night Gathering with the Children [video]

This is the most recent Video Documentary  on the CTE Workers Strike, shot 2 days before their evacuation from the Labour Office and National Security Buea, having lived there for closed to 6months (click on CTE ). Their evacuation came after an agreement was reached between govenment officials and the Tea Workers Representatives in the meeting held in Yaounde early this march  (towards resolving the CTE Crisis).  

Government says solution to be sought within 9months!

"Each day, I head for the Labour office, hoping to hear my mother tells me it is over! Finally, let's go home today together. Instead she says: my daughter, we are still waiting on the government to make a statement. Since September 12th till today March 3rd, it remains the same story. Nothing has change. And just like my friends whose parents are also here, we got tired of waiting and hearing the same story all the time. So, today-- we decided to come and stay with our parents. sleep on the same bare floor". Emelda Aka, daughter to an Ex-CTE Worker.