Welcome to this space. We celebrate our women here. Ladies who make a difference in our communities, changing lives through selfless service. Women who break boundaries, women with outstanding achievements; women who do little things that make a difference in the lives of other women and society in general. This week we celebrate our star woman of the week, Feka Parchibell alias CampGirl.
Nadum Feka Parchibell aka CampGirl is a woman of abundant assets – teacher, activist, social worker, humanitarian and yes, a mother of three. Her passion to give back to her community is a burning flame.
Small wonder she founded Hope for Vulnerable and Orphans (HOVO), a not for profit organization that has become an outstanding platform for her generous service to give back to her community.
Feka Parchibell heading into forest to meet IDPs
Young Parchibell grew up just like every other child and was lucky to have had an education from primary school through to University. It is such education that every girl should have.
It is this education that has offered her the exposure she is experiencing today. Yet life was not without hurdles.
“I faced many challenges as a girl child.” Parchibell grew up experiencing so much violence in her community. That experience would become the stimulant for her life mission. “I took the decision to fight for my rights and the rights of every other girl child and woman.”
As is the case for a vast majority of girl children, Parchibell was never consulted by her parents or guardians on what she wanted to become or do in life.
Luckily for her, she knew what she wanted and set off after her goals. Parchibell nurtured and followed her dreams, and she is still on course. She captured it so well when she described herself as a work in progress.
There came a time when the CampGirl took a significant step that would start up a new page in her life. The year was 1993. The year she started giving back to her community.
She joined her peers at CRTV Bamenda, in a very popular life radio program, Holiday Forum. She had her slut; How to say it in English. The segment inspired her peers and other listeners who stayed glued to Holiday Forum on Thursdays to listen to her.
Today, the seed she planted has been harvested by other broadcasters who running similar shows on other different radio stations across the North West Region.
She remains grateful to Veteran journalist, Ngobessing Suh Romanus who gave her that opportunity back then.
Although every woman would want have a “Love of My Life” experience, Young Parchibell was not so lucky. She unfortunately got into an abusive marriage like her mum.
But she would stand up to herself. “I told myself that I would walk out bolder and stronger and not defeated, destroyed or weak.” Well, it happened. Today, many young girls bear testimonies of her good heart and inspiration.
She ensures that girls get an education by helping some with tuition fees. Even so, some girls would have their lessons disrupted because of difficulties to manage their monthly periods.
That would not be a problem if Parchibell is around. She has been girls with supplies of reusable sanitary pads that enables them to remain in school during their periods in Cameroon and across Africa.
She has distributed sanitary towels to over 10.000 girls in Cameroon and Africa.
Presently, she is distributing reusable sanitary pads to women and girls displaced into bushes due to the ongoing crisis in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon.
She also provides them with WASH items and NFIs to ease their pains. CampGirl Parchibell empowers women with training and skills that help them make money to take care of themselves and be free from situations of abuse and violence.
Parchibell is a humble woman. And she loves hit. Something ticks in her when she goes helping vulnerable people. It is the same click that takes her into refugee camps, labor camps and villages for work. It’s this simplicity that earned her the name, CampGirl.
Baby born in forest.
She has traveled to so many countries around the world but it is her Camp life that gives her true joy above everything else. And her works have been seen and recognized on many occasions.
Her works have earned her several awards such as the 1000 Most Influential Young Africans, the 50 Most Influential Young Cameroonians, African Achievers Dream Award, etc.
Parchibell is 2015 TEA (Teaching Excellent and Achievement) Alumni, she is 2018 Global Teacher Mentor, she is Global Goodwill Ambassador and belongs to so many online communities including World Pulse, She Inspires Her etc.
Activist Feka now happily offers her time and service to the Cameroon Women’s Peace Movement (CCAWOPEM).
In her own words “money is not everything. A smile on the face of a weary person worth more than millions in a bank account.” Perhaps reasons why she is permanently wearing “signature smile”.