Meet Maurine Mofor: Cameroon’s voice for youth and environmental change

By Emmanuel Hakizimana.

Maurine Mofor’s energy fills the room the moment she begins speaking. The Executive Director of Inspire & Konnect, a Cameroon-based non-profit, she has dedicated her life to empowering young people to take charge of their communities while protecting the environment.

“I work with Inspire & Konnect to empower youth,” Mofor explains. “We engage everyone, but our focus is on young people, they are the agents of change. When they are equipped with knowledge and resources, they can transform their communities.”

During an exclusive interview in Kigali in December 2024, where Mofor attended the 6th Africa Regional Mountains Forum (ARMF2024), she shared stories of the organization’s hands-on initiatives.

Inspire & Konnect runs projects that educate youth about pollution, climate change, and sustainable practices like reduce, reuse, recycle. The organization also fosters discussions about renewable energy and environmental policy, giving young people the tools to participate in shaping the future.

But education is only part of the story. In Mmouck Leteh, a mountainous region of Cameroon over 2,700 meters above sea level, youth are trained in organic farming. They cultivate potatoes, yams, garlic, cabbages, and carrots using sustainable methods and organic manure.

High-pressure irrigation techniques introduced by Mofor’s team help farmers overcome the challenges of dry seasons, ensuring families have food year-round.

“Those who farm up the hills face huge difficulties feeding their families,” she says. “By sharing these solutions, we can help both the youth and their parents thrive.”

Inspire & Konnect also organizes volunteer-driven environmental cleanups, creating spaces where young people can engage directly with their communities. “Youth often contribute to pollution without realizing it,” Mofor notes.

“Our goal is to educate them, giving them practical ways to protect their environment and improve public health.”

Her commitment to learning and innovation brought her to Rwanda. Having previously participated in ARCOS’ Community-to-Community Empowerment Project in 2022, she returned to ARMF2024 to gain new ideas and bring solutions back home.

“What I learned about high-pressure irrigation in Rwanda will help my teams in Moglete cultivate crops even during dry seasons. This benefits not just the youth, but their families as well,” she says.

Mofor’s message to young people is inspiring: “I am also a youth. Together, we can move mountains, using our ideas and energy to achieve what seems impossible.”

Maurine Mofor’s work highlights the critical role women play in driving environmental and social change. Through Inspire & Konnect, she demonstrates that youth empowerment, sustainable development, and community well-being are inseparable.

Maurine Mofor (2nd from left, wearing a badge) during the 2022 Community-to-Community Empowerment Project, connecting youth leaders and sharing ideas for sustainable change  Maurine Mofor during the 2022 Community-to-Community Empowerment Project, connecting youth leaders and sharing ideas for sustainable change

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