Bridging The Gap
The Youth and Women Entrepreneurship Association (YWEA) is a not-for-profit organization based in Buea, South West Region of Cameroon, dedicated to empowering youth and women through entrepreneurship development and economic inclusion. Our organization works to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities needed to build sustainable businesses and contribute to the growth of their communities.
At dawn in many rural communities across Cameroon, women and young people begin their day long before the sun rises. In small markets, roadside stalls, farms, and home-based workshops, they are baking bread, processing cassava, sewing clothes, or selling agricultural products. These activities may look small, but they represent the backbone of local economies.
Women, in particular, play a powerful entrepreneurial role in Cameroon. Nearly 7 out of 10 women (68.3%) work independently in the informal sector, running small businesses or engaging in self-employment to support their families.
Yet most of these businesses remain small and vulnerable because of systemic barriers. Limited access to training, finance, markets, and digital tools often prevents entrepreneurs from growing beyond survival-level enterprises.
Despite these challenges, women continue to demonstrate remarkable entrepreneurial resilience. In 2024 alone, women owned about 167,652 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Cameroon, representing about 37.8% of all registered businesses in the country.
However, this progress hides a deeper structural gap. Many female-owned businesses operate in very small or informal sectors where profits are low and growth opportunities are limited. Experts estimate that gender barriers to entrepreneurship cost Cameroon about 3.7% of its GDP each year because women lack equal access to capital, business networks, and productive resources.
For young people, the challenge is equally urgent. Cameroon has a very young population, with more than 60% of citizens under the age of 35, yet job opportunities remain limited.
Youth unemployment among people aged 15–34 is estimated at about 39.3%, pushing many young graduates toward self-employment and entrepreneurship as their main pathway to economic survival.
In rural areas, these challenges become even more severe. Many young entrepreneurs and women have business ideas but lack access to:
-affordable financing
-digital business platforms
-entrepreneurship training
-mentorship and networks
-access to wider markets
As a result, thousands of promising businesses remain invisible, underfunded, and disconnected from opportunities that could help them grow.
Yet the potential is enormous.
Programs supporting youth entrepreneurship in Cameroon have already demonstrated strong impact. Initiatives such as YouthConnekt have helped create over 9,000 jobs and trained thousands of entrepreneurs, more than half of whom were women.
These successes show one clear truth: when youth and women entrepreneurs are supported, entire communities benefit.
New businesses create jobs, increase household incomes, strengthen food systems, and stimulate local economies.
But to unlock this potential, Cameroon needs more platforms that connect entrepreneurs to knowledge, funding, mentorship, and digital opportunities.
That vision is what inspired the creation of the Youth and Women Entrepreneurship platform—a bridge between talent and opportunity, especially for rural entrepreneurs who have long been left behind.
Because in Cameroon, the future of economic growth lies not only in large corporations or urban industries, but in the millions of innovative women and young entrepreneurs already building businesses in villages, towns, and communities across the country.
President and Founder, YWEA
Why YWEA Was Created
The idea behind the Youth and Women Entrepreneurship Association (YWEA) was born from a simple but powerful observation: across many communities, youth and women possess incredible talent, creativity, and determination, yet they often lack the opportunities and support systems needed to turn their ideas into thriving businesses.
For many aspiring entrepreneurs—especially those in rural and underserved areas—the path to building a business is filled with obstacles. Access to affordable financing is limited. Business training and mentorship opportunities are scarce. Women entrepreneurs frequently face additional barriers due to gender inequality and limited economic opportunities.
These challenges inspired the creation of YWEA.
YWEA was founded with a clear purpose: to bridge the gap between entrepreneurial potential and economic opportunity. By providing entrepreneurship training, mentorship, access to networks, and pathways to financing, the organization seeks to empower youth and women to build sustainable businesses and create jobs in their communities.
The vision behind YWEA is simple but powerful: when youth and women succeed in business, they do more than improve their own livelihoods—they help strengthen families, create employment opportunities, and contribute to the long-term economic development of their communities.
Today, YWEA continues to grow as a platform that connects entrepreneurs with the knowledge, resources, and support they need to transform their ideas into lasting impact.
Who We Are
Know about YWEA, what we do and our accomplishment
Youth and Women Entrepreneurship Association (YWEA)
Across many communities, particularly in rural and underserved areas, youth and women possess the ideas, creativity, and determination to build successful businesses. Yet many of them face significant barriers that prevent their entrepreneurial potential from becoming a reality. Limited access to affordable financing, lack of business training, gender inequality, and weak access to markets continue to slow economic progress for millions of aspiring entrepreneurs.
The Youth and Women Entrepreneurship Association (YWEA) was created to help close this gap.
YWEA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth and women entrepreneurs with the skills, resources, mentorship, and financial access needed to build sustainable businesses and improve livelihoods. We believe that entrepreneurship is one of the most powerful tools for reducing poverty, creating jobs, and strengthening communities.
Our work focuses on equipping emerging entrepreneurs with practical business knowledge, connecting them with mentorship and networks, and creating pathways to affordable funding opportunities. Through entrepreneurship training, innovation programs, and strategic partnerships, YWEA helps transform ideas into viable businesses that contribute to local and national economic growth.
We are particularly committed to supporting women and young people in rural and underserved communities, where economic opportunities are often limited and access to financial services remains a challenge. By promoting inclusive entrepreneurship, we aim to help break cycles of poverty while advancing gender equality and economic empowerment.
At YWEA, we recognize that when youth and women succeed in business, the impact extends far beyond individual entrepreneurs. Families gain financial stability, children have better access to education, communities experience job creation, and local economies become more resilient.
Our approach combines capacity building, digital innovation, mentorship, and partnerships with financial institutions and development organizations to ensure entrepreneurs receive the support they need to start, grow, and sustain their businesses.
We envision a future where youth and women entrepreneurs are not limited by barriers but empowered to drive economic transformation and community development.
At YWEA, we are not just supporting businesses—we are building pathways to opportunity, independence, and lasting impact.
Our Impact
In the first two years of operations, YWEA has:
Trained over 500 young women and youth in Cameroon on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and business management.
Facilitated access to seed funding for 120 emerging businesses, helping entrepreneurs launch sustainable ventures.
Provided 1,200 hours of mentorship and coaching, connecting participants with experienced leaders and business experts.
Hosted 30 networking and advocacy events, amplifying youth and women voices in local economic development initiatives.
These interventions have directly benefited participants and their communities, fostering economic growth, job creation, and leadership development, while setting the stage for expansion across Africa.
Our Mission
To empower youth and women entrepreneurs by expanding access to business training, mentorship, digital innovation, and affordable financing.
Our Vision
To create a future where youth and women, particularly in underserved and rural communities, have equal opportunities to build sustainable businesses, achieve financial independence, and contribute to inclusive economic development.
Our Core Objectives
Build the entrepreneurial capacity of young women through practical, market-driven training and coaching.
Facilitate access to finance, grants, and investment readiness resources.
Promote leadership and civic participation among young women.
Advocate for policies and systems that advance gender equality and inclusive economic development.
Foster a vibrant and supportive network of young female entrepreneurs across Africa.
A Message From The CEO
Welcome to the Youth and Women Entrepreneurship Association (YWEA). Founded in 2024, Headquartered in Buea, Cameroon, YWEA is a woman-led organization established to address systemic barriers that prevent young women and youth from succeeding in business.
Across many communities, youth and women possess extraordinary creativity, determination, and entrepreneurial potential. Yet too often, they face systemic barriers that limit their ability to transform their ideas into successful and sustainable businesses. Limited access to financing, lack of mentorship, restricted market opportunities, and persistent gender inequalities continue to prevent many promising entrepreneurs from reaching their full potential.
At YWEA, we believe that entrepreneurship is a powerful catalyst for economic empowerment and community transformation. When young people and women are equipped with the right skills, networks, and financial opportunities, they become drivers of innovation, job creation, and inclusive economic growth.
Our mission is to create an enabling environment where aspiring entrepreneurs can access the knowledge, mentorship, and resources necessary to build and grow sustainable enterprises. Through entrepreneurship training, mentorship programs, and partnerships with financial institutions and development organizations, YWEA works to bridge the gap between potential and opportunity.
We are particularly committed to supporting entrepreneurs in underserved and rural communities where access to economic opportunities is often limited. By empowering youth and women to succeed in business, we aim to contribute to stronger families, more resilient communities, and thriving local economies.
This journey would not be possible without the dedication of our partners, mentors, volunteers, and supporters who share our vision of a more inclusive and prosperous future. Together, we are building pathways for entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into meaningful impact.
Thank you for being part of this mission.
Warm regards,
Mirabel Iwoh Nji
Chief Executive Officer
Youth and Women Entrepreneurship Association (YWEA)
Membership Benefits
Benefits of Becoming a member
Skill Development – “Skill Craft”
We provide hands-on training in marketable trades and entrepreneurial skills to help participants start or grow their businesses:
Tailoring & Fashion Design – From sewing to managing a small clothing business.
Hairdressing & Beauty Services – Professional training in salons, personal care, and business operations.
Culinary Arts & Catering – Cooking, menu planning, hygiene, and running food businesses.
Business Bookkeeping & Management – Practical skills to manage finances, record transactions, and plan for growth.
Digital Skills & ICT – Online tools, social media marketing, and digital business management.
Financial Access & Support – “Fund Path”
We remove barriers to funding by connecting entrepreneurs with financial resources to launch or expand their businesses:
Savings & Microloans – Building financial literacy, managing savings, and accessing small loans.
Grant & Funding Access – Guidance on applying for grants, investment readiness, and leveraging financial support.
Financial Planning & Business Growth – Training on budgeting, revenue tracking, and scaling sustainable enterprises.
Through this dual focus on upskilling and financial empowerment, YWEA ensures that every participant not only gains the skills to succeed but also the financial tools to turn ideas into thriving businesses and lasting community impact.
Stay updated on upcoming workshops, conferences, and community activities.
Mentorship & Leadership – “Lead Forward”
We pair participants with experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts who provide guidance, advice, and leadership coaching:
One-on-One Mentorship – Tailored advice for business growth and overcoming challenges.
Leadership Development – Workshops to enhance decision-making, negotiation, and advocacy skills.
Networking Opportunities – Connecting with industry leaders, investors, and peer entrepreneurs.
Market Access & Growth – “Biz Connect”
We help participants expand their businesses through access to local and regional markets, partnerships, and visibility:
Trade Fairs & Exhibitions – Opportunities to showcase products and services.
Digital Marketing Support – Training to sell online, reach broader audiences, and leverage e-commerce.
Partnership Facilitation – Linking participants with suppliers, clients, and business collaborators.
Networking Opportunities
Become A Member
If you are a youth or woman entrepreneur looking to start or grow a business, explore our training and mentorship programs.
What YWEA Offers
Programs of the Youths and Women Entrepreneurship Association
Entrepreneurship Training
We provide practical training programs designed to equip entrepreneurs with essential business skills such as financial literacy, business planning, marketing, and digital entrepreneurship.
Women Economic Empowerment
Our programs support women-led businesses by addressing gender barriers and providing leadership development, mentorship, and access to resources.
Youth Innovation and Startup Development
We support young entrepreneurs through startup incubators, innovation challenges, and entrepreneurship development programs.
Mentorship and Business Networking
We connect aspiring entrepreneurs with experienced business leaders who provide guidance, mentorship, and professional networks.
Access to Finance
Through partnerships with financial institutions and development organizations, we help entrepreneurs access microfinance, grants, and investment opportunities.
Real Results from YWEA
Real Impact Across Cameroon
YWEA Board Members
Our master mind behind YWEA
Donate or Sponsor
Every contribution creates jobs, Every CFA franc creates opportunity
Support Our Mission
Your support helps us provide entrepreneurship training, mentorship, and access to funding opportunities for youth and women entrepreneurs.
Your contribution can help:
- Train aspiring entrepreneurs
- Provide mentorship and coaching
- Support startup development
- Expand economic opportunities in underserved communities
Win with YWEA
Whether you are a youth or woman ready to launch your business, a mentor, donor, or partner — there is a place for you.
Become Part of YWEA
Whether you are a youth ready to launch your first business, a woman looking to scale, or an organization wanting to partner – there is a place for you.
Join as Member
Free registration • Access all programs
Become a Volunteer / Mentor
Share your expertise with the next generation
Donate or Sponsor
Every contribution creates jobs
Voices from Our Community
Voices from the Youths and Women Entrepreneurship Association Community
Provision Store
The seed grant from the Youths and Women Entrepreneurship Association helped me scale my provision store business. Women like me now have real opportunities.
Grace
Women Clothing and Shoes Business
The mentorship program connected me with investors. Within 4 months my fashion brand store was featured at the Yaoundé International Trade Fair.
Fatou B
Skin care Business
As a young mother, I never thought I could run a business. YWEA changed my life. My poultry farm now supplies 3 major markets in Yaoundé.
Esther
Hairdressing and Beauty Services
Joining YWEA changed everything. Through SkillCraft and BizConnect, I gained both technical skills and business coaching. With access to savings schemes and small grants, I purchased equipment, opened my own salon, and hired two assistants. My confidence and knowledge as a young entrepreneur have grown tremendously.
Miriam
Tailoring Entrepreneur
Before joining YWEA’s SkillCraft program, I struggled to make ends meet with my small tailoring shop. Through the vocational training, mentorship, and access to microloans via FundPath, I expanded my business, now employing five young women in my community. My monthly revenue has doubled in just 12 months, and I can finally save for my family’s future.
Amina
Request a Free Consultation
Talk to the Youths and Women Entrepreneurship Association Team