About WEH

The Friends of WEH, a U.S.-based non-profit organization, supports the efforts of Women, Environment, and Health (WEH), which is a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Cameroon, West Africa. On this page, information about WEH is provided for your reference.

WEH was founded on October 18, 1999, by 25 women who gathered in Douala, Cameroon, with a desire to improve living conditions in the surrounding rural villages and encourage economic independence for women. WEH’s mission is to improve public health by empowering women, improving the environment, and providing healthcare and education for children orphaned by AIDS and/or displaced from their homes and families by wars, violence, and persecution.

 
 

Description and Mission

 WEH’s philosophy is that when we work with women we automatically improve the whole village, especially the health and hopes of children. 

Because women are broadly involved in the villages, their commitment promotes exponential change. Through consistent contact with women, we knew we could promote health and help prevent HIV infection.  We also knew that through our activities we could help to establish a culture of generosity in civil society.

 

WEH Staff

Ruth Musunu Titi-Manyaka, Director of WEH, describes WEH as "a cross section of women in Cameroon. There are women with very little education and there are women with doctoral degrees in teaching and social work. We have medical and government workers and women representing the villages we serve. The number one requirement is to have a big heart in order to love through giving time, money, and food.”

The Director of WEH

Ruth Musunu Titi-Manyaka, Director of WEH

Ruth Musunu Titi-Manyaka was born in a small village in the Belgian Congo. After graduating from high school she attended Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, and was graduated in 1969. She then earned a Master's Degree in Public Health from Loma Linda University. She married Raphael Titi and returned to the Congo. Political unrest forced them to move to her husband's homeland, Cameroon. Ruth taught high school science. This put her in direct contact with students and their families whose lives were being devastated by AIDS. Ruth said to herself, "I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE." Ruth, with women who had the same vision, established Women, Environment, and Health.

Additional Staff

  • One social worker paid by the Ministry of Social Affairs in Cameroon          

  • 15 volunteer staff including the director, six Douala residents, and 1-3 liaison volunteers in each village who make local arrangements.

 

WEH Partnerships

WEH has partnered with a number of entities to help achieve its goals.

Friends of WEH and Linfield College

In 2009 WEH established partnerships with Friends of WEH and with Linfield College in Portland, Oregon, USA.  These organizations help WEH carry out its mission by raising funds and providing volunteers.

Working with Orphans and Vulnerable Children (2006 – Present)

In 2006 WEH responded to an appeal by the Cameroon Ministry of Health for applications to work with orphans and vulnerable children. The work was funded by a World Bank grant to the Cameroon government. WEH's geographical responsibilities expanded to five more villages. WEH identified over 700 children who qualified under program criteria.

Funding ended for this program. Now, WEH relies solely on donors to track the welfare and progress of nearly 600 children in the villages. Social workers visit each child every few months. WEH provides tuition, uniforms, books, food, and/or medications to the most needy. To help with this cause: donate.

Agricultural Cooperative (1999-2000)

WEH purchased improved corn seeds and improved cassava cuttings from the Institute of Agricultural Research in Cameroon and gave them to 30 women and three men in Mangamba. WEH provided hoes, machetes, and files and taught them how to save by helping them open collective savings accounts.

AIDS Prevention (2001)

WEH received a grant from the Minister of Health to establish local committees in twenty villages to fight against AIDS. During the AIDS/HIV Education Campaign, WEH provided three days of teaching (including condom use demonstrations) in each village. WEH created educational posters and connected the village committees to the HIV/AIDS prevention program at the Ministry of Health. Their efforts continued until funding was terminated.