ABOUT NEW DAWN FOUNDATION

OUR STORY

Founded in 2018, New Dawn Foundation (NDF) is a Cameroonian non-profit organization committed to alleviating poverty by equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities they need to become self-reliant, productive, and active contributors to their communities. Headquartered in Buea, Cameroon, we are steadily expanding our reach with a long-term vision of creating sustainable impact across Africa.

At New Dawn Foundation, we believe that lasting development is achieved not by focusing on what is lacking, but by investing in people’s potential. Our approach is centered on empowering youth with soft skills, hard skills, and vocational training that improve employability, foster entrepreneurship, and promote economic independence. By helping young people develop practical competencies and leadership abilities, we contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty, strengthening communities, and creating pathways to dignified livelihoods.

Our work goes beyond skills development. We integrate peacebuilding, health promotion, advocacy, volunteerism, community development, and evidence-based research into our programs, recognizing that sustainable transformation requires a holistic approach. Through research and community engagement, we generate knowledge that informs policies and development interventions capable of delivering meaningful and lasting impact.

Our Vision

To build empowered, peaceful, and prosperous communities across Africa where every young person has the opportunity, skills, and confidence to realize their full potential.

Our Mission

To alleviate poverty and transform communities by empowering youth with soft, hard, and vocational skills; promoting peacebuilding, health, volunteerism, advocacy, and community development; and advancing research that informs effective policies and sustainable development.

 What We Do

Our programs focus on:

• Youth empowerment and leadership development
•  Soft skills and employability training
•  Hard skills and digital skills development
• Vocational training and entrepreneurship
• Peacebuilding and conflict prevention
• Sexual and reproductive health education
• Menstrual hygiene management
• Community health promotion
• Volunteerism and civic engagement
• Community development initiatives
• Research, monitoring, and policy advocacy
• Education support for vulnerable children and young people

Our Impact Since 2018

Since our establishment, New Dawn Foundation has designed and implemented initiatives that improve lives and strengthen communities throughout Cameroon.

Youth Empowerment Centre

Our flagship initiative is the New Dawn Foundation Youth Empowerment Centre, established to provide practical vocational skills that enable young people to achieve economic independence.

The Centre currently offers training in sewing and fashion design, providing young women with marketable vocational skills. Over the past three years, we have provided free one-year vocational training to more than 50 vulnerable young women and girls, many of whom have gone on to establish their own tailoring businesses after receiving start-up support. Their success demonstrates how skills development can transform lives, strengthen families, and contribute to local economic growth.

As demand for our programs continues to grow, we are actively expanding the Youth Empowerment Centre to reach more young people with additional vocational and employability training opportunities.

Health Promotion and Menstrual Hygiene

New Dawn Foundation has implemented community-based health promotion programs with a strong emphasis on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and menstrual hygiene management.

Working alongside organizations such as Girls Excel, we have trained adolescent girls and young women in the production and use of reusable sanitary pads, helping improve menstrual health, reduce school absenteeism, and promote dignity while encouraging environmentally sustainable solutions.

Entrepreneurship and Community Outreach

We have delivered entrepreneurship and life-skills education in schools, community groups, and faith-based institutions, equipping young people with practical knowledge to create sustainable livelihoods and become agents of positive change within their communities.

Research for Development

Research is a cornerstone of our work.

In collaboration with The Washing Machine Project (United Kingdom), New Dawn Foundation conducted baseline research in Limbe, Buea, and surrounding communities to understand household washing practices and challenges. The findings contributed valuable evidence to support the design of more effective and context-appropriate WASH interventions.

We believe that high-quality research provides the evidence necessary for governments, development partners, and communities to design policies and programs that respond effectively to local needs.

Civil Documentation for Internally Displaced Persons

Through collaboration with the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) and its partners, New Dawn Foundation supported community mobilization, household registration, and baseline data collection for internally displaced persons (IDPs) requiring civil documentation. This initiative helped identify vulnerable families in need of birth certificates and national identity documents, enabling them to access essential public services and legal recognition.

Education Support

Recognizing the impact of conflict on education, we organized free revision classes for conflict-affected and internally displaced learners who had missed significant periods of schooling. These classes helped students strengthen their academic performance and continue their educational journey despite challenging circumstances.

Partnerships

We believe that collaboration creates greater impact. Over the years, we have partnered with local and international organizations, including:

• The British High Commission in Cameroon
• Girls Excel
• The Washing Machine Project (United Kingdom)
• Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA)

These partnerships have enabled us to expand our reach, strengthen our programs, and improve outcomes for the communities we serve.

Looking Ahead