The Irony of Water in Limbe

Story by: ENOH JOYCE

Location: LIMBE, CAMEROON

Enoh is a passionate advocate for community empowerment for children and women’s voices, dedicated to creating spaces where stories inspire action. With a background in social impact and grassroots initiatives, she believe in the power of storytelling to drive real change.

In a country often called "Africa in Miniature" because of our lush landscapes and coastal beauty, the story of climate change is often misunderstood. It isn't always about a desert encroaching; sometimes, it’s about the vanishing reliability of what we once took for granted.

While many of our towns have running water and infrastructure, the "water story" here has changed. In Limbe, we sit between the Atlantic Ocean and the majestic Mount Fako. We are surrounded by water, yet "water scarcity" has become a common household word. In recent years, as the heat becomes more intense and the rains more erratic, the pressure on our local catchments has grown.

Even in neighborhoods with taps, the flow has become unpredictable. When the "taps go dry," the burden falls squarely on the shoulders of women and girls. It is the women who must wake up at 3:00 AM to check if the water has returned, or who must carry heavy buckets from community boreholes and local springs back to their homes before the workday even begins.

In our community, climate change is a thief of time. It affects the hygiene of our girls, the success of small home gardens that families rely on, and the precious energy women need for their businesses and education.

To me, caring for the environment means protecting the forests and watersheds that feed our pipes. It means realizing that even in a town, we are at the mercy of the climate. I share this to highlight that environmental damage doesn't just affect those in the furthest villages—it is knocking on our doors in the cities, too.

These experiences remind me that urban environmental protection and women-centered climate solutions must be part of how we plan for the future.