A conference like none I have ever seen

On June 22 to 25, Hope for the Widows and Orphans Ministry (HWOM) held its Conference of Hope - a conference like none I have ever seen. This year is special as HWOM is celebrating its 10th Anniversary. What a 10 years! The organization has grown from the vision of one person, Mirabelle Karawa and the unwavering support of her husband Sam. Working out of their home, they visited widows and their children and offered support whenever they could. Ten years later, HWOM serves over 2000 widows in at least 10 communities in the North West Region of Cameroon. They have sponsored over 500 children through primary, secondary and post secondary education. They have set up approximately 200 women in small business and provided direct charity in countless of ways, and more. A celebration was well deserved.

The conference started every morning with chanting prayers. Usually standing at the back, I would see 300+ women from all over the region swaying to the music and the beat of the drum. They are clearly joyous. The celebration takes on the air of a southern revival meeting. Soon you find yourself also swaying to the rhythm.

The conference, always running late, is interspersed with sessions and workshops. Sessions are presentations about topics of interest (my colleague Stephanie did a good one on HIV/Aids) and the workshops are for discussing topics addressed in the presentations. But in between, there is a lot of dancing and singing, skits and testimonials, lots of “Praise the Lord”. A group of children perform an African dance – great stuff! Outside tables are set up where widows from different communities present and sell their goods and crafts. There are some truly skilled women around.

The highlight of the conference came Thursday when Mirabelle presented a short history of the organization and then received congratulations from many supporters. Punctured with songs and prayers, it was a sincere tribute to her commitment and dedication.
There was the cake cutting – 11 cakes in fact, ten representing ten years of success, decorated as colourful baskets, symbols of abundance. The last was in the shape of an open bible, with the verse Mirabelle’s vision was based on. The cake cutting was  formal, pieces being presented by Mirabelle to guests of honour and the rest shared among the audience. Can you believe there were several cakes left over?
Now the conference is over, the hall is cleaned up. The end right? No, Mirabelle, Sam, Stephanie, Berry and the Americans are up in Ndu (about 6 hours away) having a mini conference for the women there. Then they will go to at least two more locations to do the same.  Now that is having a conference!