Union of Bafut Women Association started in Aghiati, a small village in Bafut in Northwest Region of Cameroon in 1988. The first president was Mrs Catherine Ngwa who started group along with a few women who saw the need for self-development and empowerment. Within a few years the association grew very quickly in record numbers as the women made tremendous impact in the community decided to request a piece of land from the Fon of Bafut where they engaged in the cultivation of cash crops like palm trees and eucalyptus trees which were sold to generate income.

The eucalyptus trees were used to produce timber for various uses such as roofing, furniture and etc. Members had shares worth 500cfrs each and they hired workers for the labor. That farmland is still producing as of date. As the years went by the association continued to grow and new branches formed in Nkwen, Ngomham, and Mankon.

In 2013 some members who migrated from Cameroon to the USA decided to start a branch here in Maryland under the leadership of Mrs. Regina Sama along with seven women working in collaboration with the three branches in Cameroon. In 2019 another branch started in Minnesota. We are hopeful that more branches will continue to form so that together we will be able to touch and transform the lives of more underprivileged individuals, families and communities. Because UBA-Maryland is based here in the Maryland Metropolitan area, we provide services to various communities such as the Homeless Shelters for women, Soup Kitchens, and back to school supplies to students in need. Over the course of its existence in the United States, UBA has had the privilege and opportunity to provide support to:

• Crisis Center for women and Our Daily Bread Centers in the Baltimore area
• The BMCA caterpillar project in Bafut
• Christian university Laboratory of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon
• The Northwest Fons’ Council USA
• Humanitarian aid through the Cameroonian community in New Jersey
• Internally displaced people in Bafut through “Nda Befe” Worldwide
• The refugees in Nigeria
• Displaced families in Pinyin, Bafut, and Batibo
• Transportation of Ms. Aweh’s corpse from Panama to Ntamulung Bamenda, and
• Transportation of plane crash victim’s corpse from the United States to Bafut, just to name a few.

At the moment the association has a group of youths receiving vocational training at several training centers in Bamenda Town in the North West Region of Cameroon.

While our present focus is to support our displaced sons and daughters with food and other basic necessities, we wish to proceed with this mission by assisting the youths, widows and orphans.

At this particular time, the socio-political and economic situation prevailing in Cameroon has placed our communities in a vulnerable state. There is teenage pregnancy, lack of education, no vocational skills, and poor healthcare and abject poverty. Consequently, this branch of the association in Maryland is working in collaboration with the other three branches in Cameroon to identify and conduct a need appraisal for qualified applicants. Those who qualify are placed at various training centers to acquire skills in their area of interest such as Hair Dressing, Tailoring, Manicure, Pedicure, Panel Beating, Motor Mechanics, Carpentry, Information Technology, Barbering, Driving, Construction, and Bakery just to name a few.

The association sponsors their training and apprenticeship to ensure job preparedness, adequate training and placement as well as giving them startup capital for a small businesses venture of their choice.

We continue to equip these centers with emergency care supplies for wounds, emergency medicines, and other basic health needs. We give out nonperishable food supplies and portable water to those in need. We appreciate your generous donations to support these initiatives.

 Thank you in advance for your generosity.