Your cart is currently empty!
Cameroon
ACORN International currently affiliated with two powerful grassroots organizations in Cameroon:
1. OnEstEnsemble – Community Organizing Movement
Following a community organizing forum in Douala in September 2016, OnEstEnsemble was launched by a group of Cameroonian citizens. In March 2017, a team of organizers began door-to-door canvassing in the Bepanda district of Douala, meeting hundreds of residents and laying the foundations for a citizens’ union.
Organizational Growth
In its first year, OnEstEnsemble:
- Mobilized nearly 2,000 citizens
- Welcomed 300 active members
- Established neighborhood committees through democratic citizen assemblies
- Leveraged the global ACORN International organizing network
Community Victories
The organization quickly achieved significant improvements for working-class neighborhoods:
- Resumed suspended public works
- Developed neighborhood alleys
- Improved water infrastructure
- Replaced dangerous electrical poles
- Increased trash collection frequency in neglected areas
Organizational Structure
OnEstEnsemble operates on principles of:
- Democratic participation
- Transparency
- Community-driven decision-making
Its national office is elected by the Interquartier Council, which represents committees from all organized districts, ensuring grassroots leadership.
Key Leader
Alfred Kamkuimo
Contact
onestensemblecameroun@gmail.com
Chapters
- Douala
Publications:
2. STRASCAS – Sugar Cane Workers Union
STRASCAS represents over 4,000 sugar cane workers at SOSUCAM, advocating for workers’ rights in the plantations and processing facilities outside of Yaoundé. The union fights for fair wages, workplace safety, and dignity for workers, particularly those from the Tupuri people who face systemic exploitation.
Shared Mission
Both organizations are committed to organizing low and moderate-income communities, pursuing social, economic, and environmental justice through grassroots power-building.
These groups represent a growing movement of community and worker organizing in Cameroon, addressing critical challenges through collective action and democratic participation.
ACORN Cameroon Photo Gallery
Latest News from ACORN Cameroon
- OnEstEnsemble’s Persistent Advocacy Brings Douala Footbridge to 90% Completion!
In 2020, intense flooding took out an important footbridge connecting neighborhoods in Douala. For the next four years, the OnEstEnsemble advocated tirelessly to rebuild this vital link… Read more: OnEstEnsemble’s Persistent Advocacy Brings Douala Footbridge to 90% Completion! - Cheers to The OnEstEnsemble Citizen Alliance Safe Water Victory
The OnEstEnsemble Citizen Alliance had an incredible win in January! After several years without easy access to safe drinking water, construction has begun to connect… Read more: Cheers to The OnEstEnsemble Citizen Alliance Safe Water Victory - Cameroon: peasant crops destroyed by Sosucam’s aerial expanses, OnEstEnsemble organizes protest
OnEstEnsemble organized a protest with the eco-union of residents near the SOSUCAM sugar cane plantations. These residents’ crops of cassava, peanuts and yams were destroyed… Read more: Cameroon: peasant crops destroyed by Sosucam’s aerial expanses, OnEstEnsemble organizes protest - OnEstEnsemble, Cameroon: Members of the Environmental Collective of Sosucam Residents Secure Commitments from the Director-General Following Citizen Action
Residents living near the sugarcane plantations of the Somdiaa group, a subsidiary of the French giant Castel, fell victim to the destruction of their crops… Read more: OnEstEnsemble, Cameroon: Members of the Environmental Collective of Sosucam Residents Secure Commitments from the Director-General Following Citizen Action - OnEstEnsemble, Cameroon: Securing the Sidewalks of Republic Boulevard in Bepanda Bonewonda
Following a call from the local branch Onestensemble Bepanda Bonewonda in July 2023, the Mayor of the city swiftly responded to concerns about the large… Read more: OnEstEnsemble, Cameroon: Securing the Sidewalks of Republic Boulevard in Bepanda Bonewonda
ACORN Affiliates
Updates from the Field
- Dundee in Scotland: A full pause on rent payments & £1,000 in compensationCongratulations to our affiliate, Living Rent Dundee in Scotland, for their victory securing both compensation and critical repairs for union member Charlie. Charlie endured unacceptable living conditions in their Dundee tenement flat, suffering from severe roof damage that caused water to leak into walls and ceilings. This led to serious mold and dampness issues throughout… Read more: Dundee in Scotland: A full pause on rent payments & £1,000 in compensation
- ACORN Bradford – 1 – 0 Bailiffs!In a huge victory for member Stuart, ACORN Bradford has successfully fought back against harassment from bailiffs. Stuart had been relentlessly chased over debts, facing threats of forced entry and a council that refused to establish a payment plan. But thanks to the determination and solidarity of Bradford members, the bailiffs have been called off,… Read more: ACORN Bradford – 1 – 0 Bailiffs!
- Adani’s Empty Promises: Unraveling a Potential Investment MirageIn the high-stakes world of international business and politics, promises can be as ephemeral as smoke—and sometimes just as deceptive. The case of Gautam Adani, an Indian billionaire facing serious fraud allegations, exemplifies how grand proclamations of economic transformation can mask potentially corrupt practices. What begins as a tantalizing tweet about massive U.S. investments quickly… Read more: Adani’s Empty Promises: Unraveling a Potential Investment Mirage
- Adani Group and Dharavi: Corporate Expansion, PoliticalConnections, and Community Displacement in MumbaiFor nearly two decades, ACORN International has supported organizations working in Dharavi, acommunity of millions in the heart of Mumbai. The report details the dangers facing residentsin the face of a re-development contract granted to the Adani Group, questions about thegranting of the contract and the history of the Adani Group including the serious concerns… Read more: Adani Group and Dharavi: Corporate Expansion, PoliticalConnections, and Community Displacement in Mumbai
- Living Rent Members in Troglen Secure Victory: Action Against Damp, Mould, and Unsafe Living Conditions Leads to Immediate Results!Living Rent members at Sanctuary Housing in Troglen banded together out of concern for damp and mould in their homes, clogged gutters, and woodlice on the balconies. Residents banded together and took action- submitting a petition with over 70 signatures demanding a meeting with Sanctuary’s Housing Director, and marching on the central office. Within a week,… Read more: Living Rent Members in Troglen Secure Victory: Action Against Damp, Mould, and Unsafe Living Conditions Leads to Immediate Results!
- ACORN Honduras Wraps Up 2024 with Strong Connections: Evaluating Progress and Expanding Support for Children’s Rights into 2025.This December, ACORN Honduras did an end-of-year evaluation of their activities and accomplishments in support of rights for children, and spent time connecting with local community centers to expand and deepen their network. Kicking off 2025 right!
English