Yaa Gladys Viban has a passion for connecting young people and women to enhance their status in society. A peace-building, peace-loving woman of mettle and a motivational speaker, she has professional expertise in translation and interpretation, program planning and implementation; project conception, writing, management and monitoring; excellent public relations skills as well as skills in gender and development. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Master of Arts (MA) in Foreign Languages and Literatures from the Washington State University, Pullman (Washington). She continued to the University of Montreal in Canada where she later obtained a Master of Arts (MA) in Translation.
In her quest to enhance a better perception of youth and women in society, Gladys Viban is very active in other spheres. Her role as Secretary General of the Inter-African Committee on Harmful Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (IAC) Cameroon, gave her another platform to combat female genital mutilation and other harmful practices affecting women and girls. Furthermore, she serves in God’s vineyard as a member of the Christian Women Fellowship, Elder and Congregational Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Bastos Yaounde and the humanitarian organization – Soroptimist International. She also belongs to the SHEMKA Foundation and the Nso Women’s Cultural and Development Organisation – NSOBATI; the North West Women’s Empowerment Forum, NOWWEF. She is Board Chair of Hope for Needy Association (HOFNA); and board member of CAMYOSFOP, all organizations that empower youth and women at all levels, economically, socially, politically and spiritually. Since 2013she is the Chairperson of the East Mongo North Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon. In her own words:
“The value of a person is not rooted in things owned but in lives touched. Life is about touching lives, changing lives and impacting communities and building nations.”