Former LAGA family
The LAGA Family is less than a dozen activists. An NGO without a single vehicle. In a world of multi-nationals among the conservation industry giants, LAGA is proud to be small and slim.
Vincent Gudmia Mfonfu
Vincent Mfonfu Gudmia is the former Head of the Media and External Relations Department of LAGA having served 11 years as the Minister’s journalist and one of the first to produce environmental journalism in Cameroon. He once said that “any country that is going to live by the rule of law, its citizens have to respect that law and to respect the law, they need to know about it and so education is part of the question and enforcement is also part of it. And I think that any initiative to change that situation is to be welcomed. I think LAGA is a relatively small but inspirational NGO”.
Zita Pieplie
Zita Pieplie, is the former media assistant officer. "Working in the field of wildlife is really fascinating. The simple involvement in the fight against illegal wildlife trade, and working in such an environment is very rewarding. It’s, in reality, an important struggle for the whole of humanity".
Lomo Thomas Wilfried
Lomo Thomas, is the former Accountant at LAGA and Activist for the protection of wildlife."When an animal species disappear, its irreplaceable loss is not the only consequence. We think that the animal world is distinct from ours, but, our life and theirs is interdependent. The protection of wildlife is, therefore, a duty that appeals to everyone. I found LAGA made up of different people with different origins but with the same sense of responsibility which is the protection of wildlife. We thus form a family with each person contributing to reducing wildlife crime in the world".
Emeline Sirri
Emeline Sirri,former Assistant Manager "LAGA is my stepping stone and for every foundation you take your time to build it. What I do I desire to have it perfect so others can follow my example. It is a small family where no one is left out. I love the togetherness and the ability to join work and family even when the people are not really your blood".
After serving for 8 years in LAGA she decided to leave and concentrate fully on her family.
Josias Sipehouo
Josias Sipehouo is the former Replication Coordinator of LAGA and has successful implemented LAGA's experience in Congo Brazzaville now functioning under PALF and in the Central African Republic under the RALF Project. He has moved back to school as a Master’s student in the University of Yaounde II Soa.
Felix
Felix a former Legal Assistant with LAGA share his experience working with LAGA. “My first experience ever with a baby chimp that had been badly handled by the dealer and thus badly wounded was very challenging and inspirational. Even though the dealer was successfully sentenced to serve a deterrent prison term, we however lost the baby chimp which was really a terrible lost. This experience has greatly contributed to my engagement in wildlife law enforcement and the preservation of the threatened species".
Alain Ononino says "what I do is out of the passion I have and for the studies I have made. I like challenges, solving problems which is exactly what I do in LAGA". He is the former head of the Legal department of LAGA and now the Law Enforcement Coordinator at WWF CARPO.
Sone Nkoke Christopher
"I went to Buea in January 2009 for a mission and came across a former classmate who is working in Muyuka – South West Region. He had no idea that I was working with LAGA and coincidentally during the course of our discussion, we started talking about how elephants will one day become extinct in the South West Region. He started by saying that he thinks people are becoming more afraid to kill elephants and to trade in their products because one structure known as LAGA is arresting a lot of people and that it is now difficult to see people going out for hunting expeditions in his village Munyengue near Muyuka. He narrated a story to me whereby an elephant was sighted near the village and the people merely chased it away instead of killing it for fear of being arrested. To him, it seems LAGA is invisible and could be found anywhere at any time. Of course, I had no intention to tell him that I am working with LAGA but we both concluded that LAGA is doing a good job. I merely told him that he can contact me or the MINFOF authorities whenever he comes across any wildlife incident because I told him I was involved in wildlife conservation initiatives."
He is the former Head of Investigation and Operations department of LAGA. He now works as the Project Officer/Coordinator of Wildlife TRAPS (Trafficking, Response, Assessment, and Priority Setting Initiative) for Central Africa.
Nekwa Eunice Neba
Nekwa Eunice is the former Assistant Manager of LAGA. She moved to the UK to further studies and from the UK to Canada where she now resides and works. She is very strong willed and passionate about her work. In other to express how much she has learned in LAGA and how important it is for LAGA to forge ahead, she said “it means my children and grandchildren will never get a chance to set eyes on these extinct species. I have also learned that these animals behave exactly like human beings and it is very touching.
Akwen Cynthia
Akwen Cynthia is the former project developer and assisting coordination of Anti-corruption organization activities. She studied Zoology BSC level at the University of Buea and is a postgraduate certificate holder in Education (PGCE) from Edge hill University Ormskirk, UK. She says the following to sum her experience with LAGA as thus “ we have shared times of joy, sorrow, tears success, failure and what keeps me going is that what I do is appreciated no matter how small it is. You don’t haave to be perfect to be there, all you need is to believe in yourself and have a clear conscience knowing that what you are doing is for the good of all”
Galit Zangwill
Galit Zangwill, former Assistant Manager of LAGA now on further studies in the UK “I wanted to be back at the centre of things which is right back in Cameroon. Here, I felt was the right place to contribute to LAGA’s objectives in a very real and concrete manner. Thus it is not a mere matter of money or employment but a deeply feet desire to be part of a meaningful change of doing my own bit of being part of doing something of value at a worldwide level. I honestly believe in what LAGA is doing”
Talla Tene Marius
Talla Tene Marius: "My personal challenge is to see that what Ofir started should stand and be an example to others. Personally I have learnt a lot and still continue to do so”. Marius is the former Head of the Legal department and now a corruption expert and writer.
Njike Horline
Horline Njike Bilogue Mvogo is the Former Head of the Legal department of LAGA who says, “I have always had a sense of the quasi mystical place of animals in our culture. Animals represent totems for us, just like the panther is closely linked to our people". She is now the Secretary General at Field Legality Advisory Group.
Dedication
This part is dedicated to Christopher, a dedicated worker of the Investigation department who died in service of lung cancer.
