Hi, I’m Rachel-Diane EPOUPA

I was born and raised in an urban village community in Cameroon, where my childhood was steeped in the rich tapestry of a harmonious, peaceful community anchored by a chiefdom and the church. Then, unbeknownst to us all, profound changes began to reshape our community within the span of a mere decade. As a community, we’ve experienced substantial insecurity, the rising of alcoholism, domestic violence, stricter gender norms and the once-unbreakable bonds of solidarity weakened.

That is also when I lost myself in thinking, analyzing, dissecting, and scrutinizing the world around me. It took years to recognize that my relentless questioning was my way of grappling with the stark reality we were now confronting. As I became acutely aware of growing injustices, inequalities, power dynamics, and harmful norms, my teenage self struggled to articulate the whys and the hows.

My personal history has profoundly shaped my career path and my approach to working with vulnerable groups and organizations dedicated to their welfare. I have come to understand that when individuals can connect their personal challenges to broader social issues, they become inspired to do something about it. Consciousness-raising inspires people to act individually and collectively. It is the same inspiration that drove my younger self intuitively. Today, my mind remains full of these questionings, and my ever-deepening awareness of structural inequities continues to fuel my transformation from indignation to action.

Wearing the identities of black, African, and woman, I have personal reasons for engaging in the work of organizations that serve those who resemble me or share similar journeys. This partly explains my sense of responsibility in raising individual and collective awareness, knowing that it can ignite actions, foster positive change and build stronger communities.