23/12/2025
Christmas Without Tears: Senator Françoise Puene Brings Hope to the Vulnerable, Decorated Ambassador of Peace
Christmas came early for dozens of vulnerable persons in Yaoundé as Senator Françoise Puene, fondly known as Mami Nyanga, extended a powerful gesture of love, solidarity and hope to persons with disabilities and street children. The humanitarian ceremony took place on December 22, 2025, at the Franco Hotel in Yaoundé, turning the festive season into a moment of dignity and renewed purpose for the beneficiaries.
Under the theme “Christmas Without Tears,” the event blended charity with recognition, as Senator Puene was officially decorated as an Ambassador of Peace in recognition of her sustained commitment to social cohesion, humanitarian action and the promotion of peace values in Cameroon and beyond.
The distinction was conferred during the 4th edition of the Cultural Night of Peace, organised by international peace and cultural bodies in collaboration with Cameroonian partners. Leading the delegation was Mr. Modeste Chumba, Chancellor of Nations Invested in Africa by Mandela and an international cultural operator from the Democratic Republic of Congo. In his address, he praised Cameroon’s hospitality and highlighted Senator Puene’s humanitarian virtues, describing her as a woman whose actions actively consolidate peace, social justice and national unity.
“This joy we have witnessed here must travel beyond borders,” Chumba said, noting that laureates would later be invited to international peace conferences in Europe and Africa. He stressed that Africa’s development depends on recognising living contributors who promote integrity, solidarity and respect for human dignity.
Visibly moved, Senator Puene accepted the peace insignia with humility, emphasising that she did not seek the honour but received it as encouragement to do more. She dedicated the recognition to fellow laureates, women leaders and, above all, to children and persons with disabilities whom she described as “companions of every day.”
In a heartfelt message, Mami Nyanga reminded the audience that disability is not inability, noting that “we are all the disabled of tomorrow.” She urged the beneficiaries to see themselves as seeds of the future and ambassadors of peace in their communities.
As Christmas approached, the ceremony stood as a strong reminder that peace, compassion and shared humanity remain the greatest gifts of all.