"I am no longer afraid"
At 16, Momy Oumaté Shows Remarkable Courage on the Road to Recovery in Cameroon’s Far North
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I’d like to go to school
Just a few months ago, 16-year-old Momy Oumaté lived in fear, silence, and violence. Originally from Valley village in Nigeria, her life was turned upside down at a young age. After losing her father, her family was torn apart by her paternal uncle, who was a member of a non-state armed group. Despite her mother’s resistance, Momy, her sister, and her younger brother were forcibly taken.
At just 11 years old, Momy was forced into marriage with a fighter. After his death, she was coerced into a second marriage. “I was scared, but deep down, I knew I had to escape one day,” she confides.
Thanks to her mother’s courage and the support of a few close allies, Momy managed to escape. She was welcomed at the Meri Transit Centre, which is run by Cameroon’s National Committee for Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (NCDDR) in the Far North region.
Momy’s healing journey is part of the project “Support for the Reintegration and Reconciliation of Former Associates of Non-State Armed Groups to Strengthen Social Cohesion for Peace and Sustainable Development in Cameroon’s Far North.” This project is implemented by UNICEF and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with support from the European Union and in partnership with ALDEPA, LOYOC, and ALVF.
At the centre, Momy receives personalised psychosocial support, participates in active listening sessions, and engages in community activities that help her regain her self-confidence. She connects with other youth and starts to envision a different future. “I’d like to go to school,” she says softly, her eyes filled with hope for tomorrow.
Today, Momy feels safe. “I’m no longer afraid. I know my uncle and those people will never have the courage to come looking for me here.”
Her story reflects the experiences of thousands of children affected by conflict, but it also highlights a functional system—a network of protection, solidarity, and hope. With financial support from the European Union through the FPI project, UNICEF, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the National Committee for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (NCDDR), and civil society organizations like ALDEPA, LOYOC, and ALVF, is providing support to children and youth like Momy. Together, they uphold every child’s right to live freely, safely, and with dignity, allowing them to rebuild their lives and envision a better future, far from violence.
