Changing Mentalities and Empowering Groups (CHAMEG) is an Umbrella, Non - Governmental, Community Based, and Women Centered Organization initiated in 1994 and made up of ten women's groups. Chameg's main goal is to enhance the socio - economic, cultural and political situation of the women in rural areas.

Vision
The creation of communities where the women are empowered to over come poverty, harmful traditional practices like female genital mutilation, early girl - child marriages, refusal to educate the girl child, etc. as well as discrimination against women.

Mission
The improvement of the living standards of the women through sustainable livelihoods efforts activities.

CURRENT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES

I) HIV/AIDS SENSITIZATION AND EDUCATION vis a vis:

• Prevention
• Home based care
• Palliative care and
• counseling for voluntary testing

II) ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT:
Chameg conducts trainings and workshops to instill modern techniques of farming, food processing and petit trading to enable women engage in income generating activities thus rendering them employed.

III) MICRO CREDIT:
Accessing credit to women who over the years have been highly marginalized and discriminated against is a vital tool that has helped in raising the self worth and self- esteem of the women in our communities. With our simple mythology - "Group Solidarity" low interest loans requiring no material nor property collateral, loans have been accessed to women to enable them engage in income generating activities.

IV) ADVOCACY / NET WORKING:

• Presently, we are launching public talks and campaigns to:
  Fight against the stigmatization and discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS
• Promote education of the girl child Discourage early and polygamous marriages
• Advocate for inclusion of more women in decision-making positions
• Sensitize and educate women against corrupt practices
• Above all, educate women to take active part in the forth-coming parliamentary and council elections of 2007

ACHIEVEMENTS

• 245 communities mobilized, trained and Local Aids Control Committees formed to continue sensitization and education of the various committees.
• 5.000 orphans and vulnerable children ( ovcs) identified and documented in Limbe Subdivision
• 500 ovcs and 100 PLWHAs identified and documented in the Mamfe and Eyumojock area
• Educational, nutritional, medical and psychosocial assistance extended to ovcs and PLWHAs identified with the assistance from plan and care Cameroon, and Open Society Initiative for West Africa - OSIWA - DAKAR
• Over 1.500 women have benefited from Chameg's credit scheme with a repayment rate of over 98%. This scheme is closely supported by the national employment fund of our country
• 3.248 persons trained (95% women) in the Fako, Meme and Manyu divisions
• 1.500 rural poor, backed by the National Employment Fund - NEF Cameroon
• Several public manifestations, debates, radio talks and exchange visits carried out
• Initiated unit for ICT for the rural woman (temporary, out of order)

FUTURE PLANS

• Equip ICT unit
• Open center to provide nutritional care to orphans and people living with Hiv /Aids
• Acquire transport means to effect home base care and support to people living with Hiv/Aids and their orphans.

CHAMEG's Director, Mrs. Magdeline Agbor, is President of RELUFA's Board of Directors.