Solange grew up in Munyenge village in the Southwest region of Cameroon, where her parents were cocoa farmers. She was raped first at the age of 14 and again at the age of 16 and because of that victimized by the community elders. Through education, she has rebuilt her life. Her organisation “Solange Rising Star” is determined to ensure that “rape” remains only a word in the dictionary and is remembered as an action of a cruel past.
From Adversity to Advocacy.
And that was the day I will never forget: The elders decided that I had to live with the perpetrator…
My life’s journey began in Munyenge, a small village in Southwest Cameroon, where I was born into a family of five. My childhood was marked by constant fighting between my parents, leaving me feeling scared, alone, and unsure of the future.
My father, a wealthy farmer, would often drink and beat my mother, who tried to speak up against his reckless spending. The community believed a husband had the right to control his wife, and women were objects to their husbands, with no say in the community apart from giving birth and doing house chores.
At age 7, my aunt from the city, who had no child, visited us and took me to her home where she gave me love and support. For three years, I strengthened in her care, excelling in school and experiencing a loving family. But fate had other plans, and I returned to Munyenge after my aunt’s passing in 2009. I now had a different view of reality, knowing women could occupy noble jobs like doctors, nurses, and advocates. I wanted to be one among such women. I hated village life, thinking the best life was in the city, and I was determined to study and achieve my dream.
As I entered my teenage years, At the age of 14, when I was enrolled into secondary school. I was tricked by a good friend of mine who took me to her home. Here we met another mutual friend, and she left us in her house to buy groceries.
Little did I know, I was a set-up by them. I was brutally raped by this mutual “friend” of ours.
The experience left me feeling lost, alone, and betrayed. Two years later, I was stranded in Bafia park on my way to the village. I was waiting for a bus. A man showed empathy and seemed to help me, but again, I was brutally raped which led to pregnancy. My father took me to confront the perpetrator, but instead of jailing him as he had conceived, a group of Elders decided that the rapist should take up his responsibility of taking care of me and the baby, and I was forced to live with him for two years, suffering beatings and mistreatment.
But I refused to let my experiences define me. At 18, I escaped and returned to my parents, determined to break free from the cycle of violence. A year later, I went back to school in Kumba, committed to succeed. That’s where I met a supportive teacher who encouraged me to attend university. We married in 2014, had a loving home, and he was a good dad to my daughter.
My husband’s support and watching shows like America’s Got Talent and similar ones in Africa inspired me to heal and find my voice. I realized I can use music and art to convey a message that has been silently burning in me. Engaging with the community and attending seminars organized by NGOS made me realize that I was not alone, and that there were others who had suffered like me. I understood I had a purpose – to use my experiences to make a difference in the lives of others. In 2022, I met Lucien Yilareng, who shared my vision of using music and arts to address societal norms. Together, we started working on a project to address issues like rape, domestic violence, and gender inequality.
I registered my organization Solange Rising Star in March 2024 and am now pursuing a leadership and entrepreneurship course at kanthari in India to amplify my impact.
In rural Cameroon, survivors of sexual violence are often held in silence by traditions that protect their attackers. Questions like, “What will my parents say? Will my community believe me? Will justice be served?” haunted me and those who consider reporting their abuse.
Elders, who hold significant power as chiefs, council members, often prevent legal action against rapists, by receiving bribe and negotiations leading to long-term harm with little support for survivors.
Globally 35 % of women have faced sexual violence at any stage of life. In Cameroon, with the ongoing crisis in the Northwest and Southwest regions and the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency in the Far North, led to widespread insecurity, displacement, and increased vulnerability. In 2019, the UN documented 289 sexual violence and rape cases in Cameroon. In the first half of 2023, 2386 incidents were reported by Gender Based Violence Information Management System users in the North West, South West and Far North regions of Cameroon, 15.5% or 370 of which were incidents of sexual violence.
Despite some progress, such as the Cameroonian government’s National Strategy against Gender-Based Violence and NGO efforts like the Cameroon Women’s Peace Movement, these initiatives often reach the rural areas where education and advocacy are lacking. Cultural norms that prioritize family honour over justice allow perpetrators to escape punishment, while survivors are left without the support they need to heal. We lack safe spaces and accessible services which isolates victims, leaving them to cope with trauma alone.
Solange Rising Star is a Cameroon-based organization founded by me, a survivor of sexual violence. We are dedicated to stopping rape and promoting a culture of consent, respect, and empathy, focusing on rural communities and war zones.
To achieve these goals, SRS will implement the following interventions:
24/7 Helpline: Survivors can report cases and receive immediate support, including connections to medical care, safe housing, mental health services, and legal aid.
Community Engagement: Monthly community meetings and quarterly workshops in four communities will educate over 200 members yearly on sexual violence prevention and support.
School Clubs: SRS will establish 20 school clubs across rural and urban areas, teaching students about sexual violence, consent, and self-defense. Clubs will meet monthly, involving 30 students each.
Prison Outreach: Twice-monthly visits to two prisons will focus on reforming perpetrators by educating them about consent and offering post-release training for advocacy roles.
Back-to-School Talent Competition: An annual event to showcase children’s artistic talents, raising awareness about rape and consent. Winners receive partial scholarships and school supplies.
In the long term, we aim to create a safe home for survivors, offering training to turn them into activists who will manage rape cases and raise awareness through theater and arts. The Survivor Training Program will offer a 3-month course for community leaders and theater advocates, focusing on advocacy, legal reforms, creative expression, and upcycling as therapy.
Today, I stand as a survivor-turned-change-maker, committed to ensure that ‘rape’ stays just as a verb in the dictionary but is no more practiced.
Save the dates: Solange and all other 2024 kanthari participants will share their life stories and solutions for the issues they want to address during this year’s kanthari TALKS!
WHEN: 13 and 14th December 2024
HOW can you see the kanthari TALKS? Register HERE TODAY
