Palm oil is a staple of Cameroonian cooking. Processing of palm nuts for oil is a task traditionally performed by women and often involves working barefoot in riverbeds, exposing the women to waterborne and insect-borne illnesses, such as malaria, or other parasitic infections such as filariasis, which leads to river blindness.
At the request of these women’s groups, Peacework was able to furnish two palm oil presses which will be collectively used by these communities, relieving the women of the need to expose themselves to these health risks. Field assistance, training, and maintenance of the presses will be overseen by Peacework’s general partner organization in Cameroon, United Action for Children. A press enables the production not only of the oil needed for subsistence, but of enough oil to market and generate cash income.
Goals for 2007
