ABOUT US

Transforming Lives, Restoring Hope, and Building Futures

About Us

Transforming Lives, Restoring Hope, and Building Futures

The Afoni Children of Hope Foundation (ACOHOF) is a Cameroon-based humanitarian and development organization dedicated to creating opportunities for vulnerable children, families, youth, women, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and marginalized communities. Founded in 2008 by Justin Afoni Njobam and officially registered in 2010, ACOHOF has grown from a grassroots response to community hardship into a broad platform for education, empowerment, inclusion, human rights, and sustainable development.

ACOHOF’s work is practical, community-driven, and rooted in dignity. Through education, vocational training, agriculture, entrepreneurship, healthcare awareness, disability inclusion, humanitarian assistance, human rights promotion, community media, and financial inclusion, the organization helps people build skills, access support, and pursue more secure and self-reliant futures.

Today, ACOHOF serves thousands of people across Cameroon and continues to strengthen communities through innovation, advocacy, partnerships, and inclusive development.

Our Journey

2008 – The Vision Begins

ACOHOF began in 2008 when Justin Afoni Njobam responded to the needs of vulnerable children and families in Cameroon, including the effort to secure medical support and treatment for Kisife Fabrice, who was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. This personal experience, combined with a wider commitment to social justice and community development, shaped ACOHOF’s mission to break cycles of poverty and exclusion through education, care, empowerment, and opportunity.

From the start, ACOHOF focused on assisting disadvantaged children, vulnerable families, and underserved communities through practical programs that foster hope, resilience, and independence.

2010–2011 – Registration and Community Expansion

ACOHOF received legal recognition in 2010, enabling it to expand its outreach and strengthen its programs. By 2011, the organization had broadened its work to include educational support, healthcare awareness, disability advocacy, humanitarian assistance, youth empowerment, and community development services for underserved rural populations.

2013 – Cameroon Human Rights Action (COHRA)

In 2013, Barrister Njobam Cyril Ayori, a member of ACOHOF’s Board, established Cameroon Human Rights Action (COHRA) as ACOHOF’s dedicated human rights program. COHRA introduced a rights-based approach across the organization’s work, promoting dignity, equality, justice, civic participation, legal awareness, and access to justice.

Through community sensitization, legal awareness campaigns, civic education, prison outreach, public dialogue, and the Human Rights Radio Program, COHRA has become a vital grassroots voice for justice and civic responsibility in Cameroon.

September 2014 – ACOHOF Family Farm School in Tatum

To address youth unemployment, poverty, and food insecurity, ACOHOF launched the Family Farm School (FFS) in Tatum, Nkum Subdivision, Bui Division, in September 2014. The school uses the Centers Éducatifs Familiaux de Formation par Alternance (CEFFA) model, which integrates classroom instruction with hands-on training.

The school provides practical training in sustainable agriculture, crop production, livestock management, poultry farming, pig and rabbit farming, agribusiness, cooperative development, financial literacy, environmental sustainability, leadership, and community service.

Primarily serving disadvantaged youth, school dropouts, and vulnerable children, the school equips them with practical skills for employment and self-reliance. Initially supported by DISOP Cameroon and later by Via Don Bosco, the school strengthened agricultural education, entrepreneurship, and vocational training for rural youth. Its success paved the way for the expansion of the Family Farm School model to other regions.

December 2015 – ACOHOF Community Radio FM 98.5

In December 2015, ACOHOF launched Community Radio FM 98.5, a major step toward promoting education, information sharing, public engagement, and community development. Under the leadership of founding Station Manager Shey Godbless Laashegnang, the station aimed to connect people with information and development opportunities.

The station promotes community dialogue, human rights education, health awareness, agricultural extension, youth participation, disability inclusion, local culture, and community mobilization.

Shey Godbless emphasized measuring success by the station’s impact on people’s lives rather than by audience size. Through interactive programs, live discussions, and educational broadcasts, the station became a powerful tool for grassroots development, engaging hundreds of listeners in conversations about health, governance, education, agriculture, human rights, and community progress. Today, ACOHOF Community Radio remains a key platform for citizen engagement and empowerment.

2016–2019 – Humanitarian Response During the Socio-Political Crisis

The socio-political crisis in Cameroon’s North-West and South-West regions created significant humanitarian challenges, displacing thousands and disrupting education, livelihoods, and social services. ACOHOF adapted its programs to support internally displaced persons (IDPs) and vulnerable communities by providing educational aid, livelihood support, psychosocial services, humanitarian relief, and skills training. This period reinforced ACOHOF’s commitment to humanitarian aid and community resilience.

2019–2021 – ARIF Africa and Financial Inclusion

Inspired by a study visit to Bangladesh, Karolina Johnsson developed ARIF Africa (ACOHOF Rural Investment Fund Africa) in 2019 to support women, youth, farmers, and rural entrepreneurs who lack access to formal financial services. Officially registered in Cameroon in 2021, ARIF Africa advances financial inclusion, entrepreneurship development, economic empowerment, rural investment, women’s empowerment, and youth enterprise development.

Karolina Johnsson’s vision has strengthened ACOHOF’s international partnerships and advanced sustainable economic opportunities in underserved communities.

2020 – ACOHOF Family Farm School Bankim

Building on the Tatum school’s success, ACOHOF established the Family Farm School Bankim in the Adamawa Region in 2020. The school offers vocational training, agricultural education, entrepreneurship development, and livelihood opportunities for vulnerable youth and IDPs. With financial support from Via Don Bosco, it expanded agricultural training, improved facilities, and provided pathways to sustainable livelihoods.

2024 – ACOHOF Technical Vocational College of Agriculture and Entrepreneurship (ATVOCAE)

In 2024, ACOHOF established the ACOHOF Technical Vocational College of Agriculture and Entrepreneurship (ATVOCAE), marking a major step from community-based vocational training toward formal technical and entrepreneurial education. The college combines academic instruction with practical training in agriculture, agribusiness, livestock production, entrepreneurship, environmental sustainability, rural enterprise development, and technical skills.

ATVOCAE represents the evolution of ACOHOF’s educational vision, offering a formal pathway from community-based vocational training to accredited technical and entrepreneurial education. Established with financial support from Via Don Bosco and a technical partnership with Platforme PROCEFFA (Cameroon’s leading platform promoting Family Farm Schools), ATVOCAE equips young people with practical, competency-based education for employment, entrepreneurship, and leadership in agriculture and beyond.

2025–2026 – Strengthening and Expansion

By 2025 and 2026, ACOHOF had evolved into a comprehensive development organization that integrates education, vocational training, agriculture, entrepreneurship, humanitarian aid, disability inclusion, human rights promotion, community media, and economic empowerment. The organization continues to strengthen its institutions, expand partnerships, improve services, and create opportunities for vulnerable populations across Cameroon.

Key Areas of Focus

ACOHOF’s work is organized around interconnected areas that respond to the realities of vulnerable communities:

- Education and Skills Development: Providing access to quality education, scholarships, vocational training, entrepreneurship, and technical education.

- Agriculture and Rural Development: Promoting sustainable farming, food security, climate-smart agriculture, agribusiness, and rural entrepreneurship.

- Technical and Vocational Education: Offering competency-based training through Family Farm Schools and ATVOCAE.

- Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment: Enhancing livelihoods via business development, financial literacy, and income-generating activities.

- Humanitarian Assistance and IDP Support: Assisting families affected by conflict, displacement, poverty, and emergencies.

- Community Health and Social Inclusion: Promoting health awareness, preventive care, and improved access to services.

- Human Rights and Civic Participation: Advancing justice, legal awareness, citizenship, and constitutional rights through COHRA.

- Community Media and Development Communication: Using radio and media to educate, inform, and empower communities.

- Disability Inclusion and Rare Disease Advocacy: Supporting persons with disabilities and families affected by rare diseases through awareness, advocacy, and service access.

Muscular Dystrophy Association of Cameroon and Rare Disease Advocacy

The Muscular Dystrophy Association of Cameroon (MDA Cameroon) is one of ACOHOF’s pioneering programs and grew from the organization’s early concern for children and families affected by muscular dystrophy and other rare diseases. The program provides a platform for advocacy, awareness, support, inclusion, and improved access to services for individuals and families living with rare diseases.

MDA Cameroon raises public awareness and advocates for healthcare access, disability rights, psychosocial support, inclusive education, stigma reduction, assistive devices, rehabilitation, physiotherapy, research, data collection, and stronger policies for rare-disease support and social protection.

The program is led by Ngalim Kisife Brunhilda Njobam, President of MDA Cameroon and a leading advocate for rare-disease awareness and disability inclusion in Cameroon. Kisife Fabrice, whose lived experience with muscular dystrophy helped inspire ACOHOF’s early work, serves as the MDA Cameroon Icon and Rare Disease Ambassador, promoting advocacy, resilience, and inclusion.

MDA Cameroon collaborates with international organizations, including the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation of South Africa and the Muscular Dystrophy Association of America, as well as with disability rights advocate Maxime Strydom and Professor Rhoda to enhance advocacy, awareness, and community engagement.

MDA Cameroon collaborates with international disability and muscular dystrophy partners, including organizations in South Africa and America, as well as disability rights advocates, to strengthen awareness, support networks, community engagement, and long-term rare-disease advocacy in Cameroon and across Central Africa.

Cameroon Human Rights Action (COHRA)

Cameroon Human Rights Action (COHRA), founded in 2013 by Barrister Njobam Cyril Ayori, is ACOHOF’s dedicated human rights and civic education program. COHRA promotes human rights education, legal awareness, access to justice, civic participation, prison outreach, social justice, conflict resolution, and peaceful coexistence.

One of COHRA’s most visible initiatives is the Human Rights Radio Program on ACOHOF Community Radio, aired every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The program covers human rights and freedoms, women’s rights, child protection, disability rights, access to justice, civic duties, conflict resolution, and peaceful coexistence.

The live format involves hundreds of callers in debates and discussions, making human rights education more accessible and boosting grassroots awareness of justice and civic responsibility.

Strategic Partnerships

ACOHOF’s growth and impact are supported by strong partnerships with local and international organizations, including:

- Via Don Bosco: Financial partner supporting Family Farm Schools and ATVOCAE.

- Platforme PROCEFFA: Technical partner promoting Family Farm Schools and CEFFA methodology.

- DISOP Cameroon: Early supporter of Family Farm School Tatum.

- ACOHOF Sweden: Facilitating international collaboration and sustainability.

- ARIF Africa: Advancing financial inclusion and entrepreneurship.

- International Disability Partners: Including the Muscular Dystrophy Foundations of South Africa and America.

Leadership, Governance, and Key Contributors

Meet the people behind ACOHOF’s mission. Our leadership, program founders, technical contributors, and community advocates bring together experience in humanitarian action, education, agriculture, disability inclusion, human rights, financial inclusion, community media, health advocacy, project development, and grassroots mobilization.

Executive and Institutional Leadership

Justin Afoni Njobam
Founder and CEO

Provides overall vision, strategic leadership, and institutional direction for ACOHOF, guiding its growth from a grassroots initiative into a multi-sector humanitarian and development organization.

Karolina Johnsson
Founder and Chairperson, ACOHOF Sweden
Founder, ARIF Africa

Supports international collaboration, sustainability, and financial inclusion through ACOHOF Sweden and ARIF Africa, strengthening opportunities for women, youth, farmers, and rural entrepreneurs.

Human Rights and Civic Engagement

Barrister Njobam Cyril Ayori
Founder of COHRA
Human Rights Advocate

Leads ACOHOF’s human rights and civic education work through Cameroon Human Rights Action (COHRA), advancing legal awareness, access to justice, prison outreach, civic responsibility, and community dialogue.

Disability Inclusion and Rare Disease Advocacy

Ngalim Kisife Brunhilda Njobam
President, Muscular Dystrophy Association of Cameroon

Champions rare-disease awareness, disability inclusion, family support, and advocacy for improved access to care, services, assistive devices, and inclusive education.

Kisife Fabrice
Rare Disease Ambassador and Advocate

Serves as an inspiring voice for muscular dystrophy and rare-disease advocacy, helping raise awareness, promote inclusion, and strengthen public understanding of the realities faced by persons living with rare diseases.

Community Media, Program Development, and Outreach

Shey Godbless Laashegnang
Founding Station Manager, ACOHOF Community Radio FM 98.5

Helped establish ACOHOF Community Radio as a platform for education, public dialogue, civic engagement, health awareness, agricultural information, and community mobilization.

Kongbunri Luanga
Project Development and Grants Specialist

Contributes to program design, proposal development, grants coordination, and partnership support, helping ACOHOF strengthen resource mobilization and project implementation.

Ali Eric Nfor
Community Development Advocate

Supports grassroots engagement, community mobilization, and local development initiatives that connect ACOHOF’s programs with the needs and priorities of vulnerable communities.

Aswe Loveline
Community Health and Advocacy Officer

Advances community health awareness, social inclusion, and advocacy efforts that promote access to information, preventive care, and support for underserved populations.

Looking Forward

As ACOHOF grows, it remains committed to expanding opportunity through education, vocational training, agriculture, entrepreneurship, healthcare awareness, disability inclusion, rare-disease advocacy, human rights, humanitarian assistance, community media, and sustainable development. Guided by its mission and the communities it serves, ACOHOF will continue to invest in practical programs, strong partnerships, and community-led solutions that create lasting change.

ACOHOF invites partners, donors, volunteers, communities, and supporters to join in building a future where every child, young person, woman, person with a disability, and vulnerable family can live with dignity, hope, and purpose.

Together, we are transforming lives, restoring hope, and building futures.