At presentation of recently won int’l award: Women’s Empowerment Minister hails Esther Omam’s selfless service to nation.

The Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Prof Marie-Thérèse Abena Ondoa, has saluted the Executive Director of Reach Out Cameroon, Esther Omam, for her three decades selfless efforts in bettering the lives of the most vulnerable populations in communities, across the country and mobilising women and youth to advocate an end to conflict. 
The member of government made the remarks in Yaounde yesterday. This was during an audience she granted Esther Omam. 
The globally acclaimed peace builder and mediator paid a courtesy visit on the Minister Abena Ondoa to present to her the 2023 Global Pluralism Award, which she won last October 25. 
Esther Omam, it should be said, received the award during a ceremony last November 14, in Ottawa, Canada.
She was singled out for the award from among 200 contestants from across 60 countries. This was for her dedication and sacrifices in efforts to bridge the gap of social injustices, inequalities, marginalisation and discrimination, suffered by the most vulnerable populations in Cameroon.

Omam’s selfless service to nation hailed 
Speaking after being presented the award, Minister Abena Ondoa, congratulated Esther Omam for once more flying the country’s flag high on the global stage. 
“I want to congratulate you for what you have been doing in the community and nationwide, despite the odds,” she said.
Minister Abena Ondoa said the activities carried out by Esther Omam, through her organization, “are extremely important because the government cannot do it all”. 
“We appreciate it,” the minister said, while appreciating the collaboration between her ministry and Reach Out Cameroon in succouring victims conflicts in the country. 
“…when you bring a smile on the faces of others, it makes it possible for children to go back to school and for families to have something to eat. I think we appreciate what you are doing…when families are destabilised, it is extremely difficult for the country to roll on,” the minister stated. 
“Continue the great work” 
Minister Abena Ondoa used the opportunity to call on Esther Omam not to relent, despite the odds but to continue with the good job of bringing hope to the thousands of vulnerable. 
“…congratulations and keep on working. The Almighty God is by your side. May the Almighty protect you because you are taking a lot of risk,” she said.
Though noting that it will take many years for the current situation to be brought to normalcy, the minister urged all and sundry not to lose hope.
She expressed the strong believe “things will change”. Such a positive change, she insisted, will only come if everybody remains optimistic.
“…if we are not positive, there is no way to have hope. We must keep hoping that things will change,” Minister Abena Ondoa said.

Enter Esther Omam
For her part, Esther Omam thanked Minister Abena Ondoa, for accepting to receive her and be presented the award, which she described as “…the pride of a people, the pride of women's resilience in peace and nation building”. 
“This award is a testimony of the resilience, dedication and sacrifices of our Board of Directors, my collaborators, women peacebuilders, partners, friends and allies and myself standing before you today, have made in communities, despite many challenges,” she said.
Omam added: “This Global Pluralism Award has given me hope, confidence and the commitment to keep striving to empower our people to learn to live together in crisis and with the crisis while searching for pathways of peace and fight against violent extremism and Gender Based Violence. We should address the root causes of issues plaguing our society, while treating every man and woman with respect and dignity. I won’t relent because we are nothing without each other”. 
The award, Omam told the minister, was won in a competition where more than 200 aspirants from 61 countries, were involved. 
“I was one of the three who got it. I am filled with joy and tears for all that this award symbolizes, not only to me but for the entire country,” she said, while urging all and sundry “never to relent in doing good that benefits the other”.

Appreciates of her team, others 
She used the opportunity to salute the efforts and sacrifices made by her team in remote communities across the restive English-speaking Regions as well as in the West, Littoral, East, Centre and Far North Regions, to bring life-saving solutions to people, especially to women and children.
She said their efforts have touched over 1, 700,000 lives in the past two years.
Omam also said the activities of the organisation has over the years improved the livelihoods of many, helped others to ascend to leadership positions and children who were not going to schools becoming scholars.
Her humble efforts and that of her team, she said, have also helped women to gain voices, offer opportunities and recognition|.

More still to be done 
Despite the road covered, Omam said she and her team of Reach Out Cameroon, “still have so much to do and a long way to go”.
“…this award is simply a reminder of what awaits us out there- the work we are called to do and the sacrifices we are called to make. This award reminds me of the work we have been doing and which we still have to do. Here I am talking of strengthening community systems, pushing back all negatives in order to push forth good practices such as community dialogues that help build relationships across ethnic, religious, economic, and political divides,” she said.

Appreciates support from family, others 
She used the opportunity to appreciate the support of her family for standing by her, despite the odds. 
Cameroon’s rich cultural heritage and a diversity of ethnic groups, despite the many internal differences, Omam explained, have shaped her understanding and learning.
This, she said, helped her gain lots of insights on the concept of leaving no one behind, no matter the moments and circumstances.

Hails efforts of MINPROFF
Omam also saluted the work done by the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, and for making sure Women Peace and Security Agenda has its place in the country. 
The conflict rocking parts of the country, she said, has exacerbated the vulnerabilities faced by women and the girl child. She added that it has also eroded most of the gains made with regards to the Sustainable Development Goal 5 on Gender Equality. 
Women, Omam said, have been disproportionately affected by the ranging crises in the North West, South West and Far North Regions. Many, she added, have been threatened in the course of doing their work, some maimed for life, targeted, kidnapped or simply killed. 
Such acts, she insisted, serve as a reminder that there is still much to be done in the area of peacebuilding and mediation. She underscored the need for the development of a culture of dialogue. 
Omam dedicated the award to community peace champions for tirelessly being at the forefront of life-saving actions and to victims of the ongoing conflicts in the country.