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Helen Gwanfogbe

COMMISSIONED LAY PASTOR

I am an Educationist by profession with an M.A in Applied Linguistics and TESOL from the School of Education, University of Leicester in England. I started my educational career in 1980 as a student in a Teacher Training College.I have a rich educational career as a teacher of kindergarten through the Secondary School to Teacher Training Institutions. After 15 years of field work and experience, I was appointed to Managerial positions and headed the Teachers’ Resource Centre in Bamenda, in the Northwest Region of Cameroon. I worked as the Director of Administration and Human Resources in the Rural Electrification Agency of Cameroon in Yaounde, the capital city of Cameroon from 2000 until I retired in 2016.


Within the last 30 years, I have developed a strong passion for community service, working with Women and Community Associations. This has resulted in holding leadership positions with the Students’ Association (my Alma Mater), Women’s Self-Help groups, Community Development Associations, etc. This has led to my recognition as the “woman of the Community” by several women and media organizations.
I recognize the important contributions of various international leadership exchange programs, notably by the British Council (PanAfrican Leadership Programme), the US Embassy, and the Vital Voices to my leadership capacity in carrying out multiple advocacy programs in the defence of the rights of women and children in rural communities.


These capacities enabled me as the President of Nku’mu Fed-Fed from 2000 - 2009 (an International Female Association with Headquarters in Cameroon) to play a lead role in Cameroon in the combat against Child Trafficking. As a result, advocating for the adoption of a new law on Child Trafficking and Slavery in December 2005. Withdrawing and empowering economically victims of Child Labour, training local communicators for effective sensitization and advocacy.  Networking with a wide range of local organisations, traditional rulers, the media and other civil society groups to bring about change in traditional and community norms that hinder the full development of women and girls. I am currently an Adviser of the Organization and a Chairperson of the Human Rights Program Area.

In 2016, I was honoured with the highest traditional title for Women in my community (Na Jalla) by His Royal Majesty Dr Doh Ganyonga III of Bali Nyonga for my contribution to the development of our community.

Since 2020, I am a Commissioned Lay Pastor (CLP/CRE) of the Presbyterian Church USA, particularly in the New Bridges Presbyterian Church Hayward of the San Francisco Presbytery (USA).
From May 2022 to April 2023, I took over the responsibility of Pastor of the New Bridges Presbyterian until the calling of a new Pastor for the Church.
I am the Clerk of Session of New Bridges Presbyterian Church since 2019 to present.


I recently completed a certification cause on Mentoring in August, a Mentoring Program for Change offered by Love Never Fails, a renowned Non-profit Organization based in California, whose mission is empowering all people to express and experience the best sense of humanity by restoring, educating, and protecting survivors of human trafficking, the homeless and their community.

These experiences have shaped and developed my Christian values allowing me to interact better with others in my community.

My hobbies are gardening, sewing, singing, dancing, and traveling. I love watching Nigerian movies, and TV programs with inspiring Christian and social content. My favorite author is Chinua Achebe, a Nigerian who brings out the Christian values in a traditional context.

 

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