By Catherine Male
A trauma and counselling initiative in Cameroon, the Afrogiveness Movement, is integrating art and forgiveness to help survivors of conflict, including internally displaced persons affected by conflicts across Central and West Africa.
Speaking to Christian Daily on February 23, 2025 Franca Ma-ih Sulem Yong Akinboboye, the movement’s founder, art therapist, and former journalist, shared how her own struggles with bullying and intolerance in her teenage and early adult years left her deeply hurt and depressed. Seeking a solution, she embarked on a journey of healing.
“I discovered that holding onto grudges and seeking vengeance was a heavy burden. Though the process of forgiveness was long and difficult, I made a conscious decision to heal, not just for myself, but to help others do the same,” she said.
Franca further revealed that her name means forgiveness, and as a teenager, she prayed for the strength to embody its meaning and become a living testimony.
Since its inception, the Afrogiveness Movement has supported over 100,000 people through its centres and ‘forgiveness clinics,’ offering psychological first aid and artistic expression. These initiatives have played a vital role in restoring dignity to those bearing the scars of conflict.
