Clarissa NDINGE: Start building peace withing your local community and circle. Change starts where you are

1) Who is Clarisse Ndinge?

Clarisse Ndinge is a born again Christian, a Public Relations Personnel, a blogger, a TV Personality, an MC, an event planner, a feminist and a humanitarian. I graduated from the Cameroon Christian University in 2014 with a Bsc in Petroleum Engineering. After scouting for jobs to no avail, I decided to explore my other talents and creative geniuses enough to earn a decent living. That is how I became a lady who wears the many hats listed above.

2) Where did you develop the passion for broadcast journalism?

I would say from watching TV. Growing up, watching TV programs was and still is one of my favorite hobbies. I am a very opinionated person, I have strong opinions about almost everything. Usually very informed and wise opinions because I read and learn alot. I always wanted have a platform to share my opinions with others. That is why I got into blogging in the first place. My passion had always been for TV, but getting on TV is not as easy as creating a blog
So I started off with the blog(instagram.com/betatinz, betatinz.com) and fortunately for me, in May this year, I got the opportunity to be a TV show host for The Coffee Club, one of the hottest entertainment and lifestyle shows on Cameroonian TV right now which airs on Canal 2 En TV from 7PM on Friday, 8:30PM on Sunday and 8:30PM on Wednesday.

*  How were your humble Journalism beginnings?

It was hard starting off. I told myself that I could only do the best I could, with what I had. I self taught myself many things, on order to improve my craft and be the best I could be. I made a conscious decision not to focus on what I needed but to focus on what I had.

3) What according to you is your greatest achievements after all these years working, creating unique Ingenious and innovative pieces to inspire your audience to unleash their creative genius and thrive to greater heights?

My greatest achievement so far would be the people that have been affected positively by what I do. The people who have been inspired to live out their dreams because of how they have seen me live mine.

4) Why are you so keen in entertainment in most of your work?

Well, because I love entertainment. Entertainment TV shows are what made me fall in love with the media. Entertainment is like an essential spice of life, it is one of the few things that everybody indulges either in one form or the other.

5) How supportive are your followers?

My followers are very supportive. They are ambassadors of my platforms. Always recommending it to others. They are like my family. A very positive set of people. I love them!!

6) What fuels Clarisse Ndinge ?

Faith in what I have been endowed to do , hope in God's promises, passion for what I do, the burning desire to genuinely inspire other people and make their lives better.

7) Who is your role model?

Here are my Top 5 role models:

1 -TB Joshua; his selflessness, kindness and generosity, are characteristics I live to demonstrate.

2 - Joseph Prince; his depth and knowledge of the scripture through his teachings is life changing. I want to have such depth and knowledge of the scripture.

3 -Tyler Perry, his faith and believe in what he was endowed to do, his eventual success which streams from his faith in himself and God, and his humility is goals

4 - Chris Oyakhilome-his confidence is contagious. His life is a testament to the fact that God's children are not to be poor.

5 - Devon Franklin-Event hough he works in one of the most demonic industries in the world(Hollywood), he is still an unapologetic Christian and he is recording huge success. He is proof that you don't need to compromise to be successful, we are indeed in the world but not of the world.

8) Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

I see myself having bigger Pan-African and International clients, I see betatinz blog being not only a household name but also a reliable source of information and entertainment content from Cameroon, I see myself hosting the biggest Pan-African events in Cameroon, I see my NGO; Beta Girls Organization, impacting lives of thousands of girls in Cameroon, Africa and worldwide.

9) What are the challenges of a vibrant, smart, result oriented and creative Journalist with excellent leadership qualities like yourself?

The Major challenge is to out do yourself. When you get to a level and get celebrated, there is pressure to only do better.

10) How is being a female broadcaster and News Room Manager easy to handle in Cameroon ?

It's two sides of the coin. The Easy part is that the men, who dominate in the industry are nice to you most of the time. The hard part is proving to people that you earned your position by actually being good at what you do, and being focused on your work and not indulging any immoral offers for anything because that is how you loss respect. And when you do, it's gone forever.

11) How is being ground breaking an issue on a platform where more than 80% of the programmes are French?

Well, Cameroon is a bilingual country and I am unapologetically from the English speaking part of it, so English is the language I indulge. I expect Cameroonians from the French speaking part of the country to understand me, just as I understand French speaking programs.

12) How do you prepare your programme ? How do you plan a day?

I personally prepare my content day before my program. I familiarise myself with it as much as I can.

13) How do you make a perfect balance between Work, School, family and the media ?

When I am not at the TV, at an event or running PR errands for my clients, I am at home. I do most of my work from home, so I spend the most time of the day with my son. I have an office space at home just to enable me to always be with and available for my son. My phone is also a self-contained office. You won't believe the amount of work I get done from my phone. (..Laughing)

14) Talk about the media, are you one of the journalists who keeps gnashing her teeth over the damage ICTs have done to the 4th realm or you are doing all to adapt to the changes?

I adapt! I love the digital, it makes my life very easy. Digital is life!!

15) How do you handle and manage your delivery on the mainstream media and your online presence?

I make sure both are in sync. I Am aware that the audiences are different, so I deliver the same content but in different ways as adapted for the different audiences.

16) How weird or interesting was your first online reporting experience with your Facebook, Twitter, Linked in, Pinterest, Whatsapp, Tumbr, Instagram followers and fans and how did you use their feedback to your advantage, by growing your audience?

It was very interesting. That was a long time ago when I started blogging, in 2013. People were very receptive to my first article so it gave me fuel to push on.

17) How is your media experience and work collaboration with sister colleagues?

It is great. 70% the females I have met have been very supportive

18) While giving your best at work, who are some of the female colleagues you admire and why?

Estelle Ahanda because she is a hard worker, Eva Sobila because she is very supportive, Amy Banda because you have a genuinely open spirit.

19) How do you relax yourself ?

By watching TV, watching men of God teach, watching comedy skits and laughing, watching movies, reading.

20) What is your ICE vision for young girls,women of your age and mothers who have gone on a slumber trip?

Girls/Women you have all it takes to change your life for the better. Make a conscious decision to empower yourself and the sky would be your starting point.

21) Any plans for the UN or AU? If yes, what significant changes will you make if you were given a chance to be a peace and gender ambassador?

I have dreams of being UN Volunteer just so I can make the lives of people better. If I has the opportunity, I would focus on effecting mentorship for teenage girls and young women. I believe one of the main reasons why young girls stray is due to lack of proper mentors and role models

22)What are some of the things young girls and women do that put you off?

Sleeping with men for money, fighting each other especially because of men, selling their bodies in exchange for fancy/vain things.

23) How will you want the African (Cameroonian in particular) woman to carry herself?

Like a queen, like a mother, like a sister, like a friend. With the consciousness that they have the ability to heal, bless, care and nurture. With consciousness that all they need, they already have on them.

24) What are your first steps to right wrongs, should you be named the Minister of Communication or the Minister of Women's Empowerment and the Family in Cameroon today?

If named the minister of women empowerment the first thing I would do is to create a map identifying the needs of different women in different regions in Cameroon after carrying out proper research. From there, I would know what which woman, where, needs what, and the device means to meet those needs.

25) What is your greatest influence before your shift for Human Rights' Issues?

The Word of God through the Bible

26) What is your take on the present crisis in Cameroon? How professional and ethical are your colleagues with the coverage of these crises that have lasted 33 months?

I think what we need now to bring the crisis to an end is a mediator or mediators who can negotiate dialogue with both extremes, see the dialogue through and supervise the execution of the resolutions of the dialogue.

I feel like the media is doing their best to talk about it, I use my media platforms to shed light about it too.

27) Is Peace Journalism an option? How much of good is Peace Journalism doing to citizens in Cameroon?

Peace journalism is a good option, provided the truth is not compromised for 'peace sake'

28) How active or passive would you want the journalists in Cameroon to be?

More active, less passive

29) As an enlightened Reporter who is neither blind nor deaf to the happenings in the nation, What is your immediate reaction to the present wailing of women over the crisis in Cameroon?

It saddens me. We as Cameroonians should reach out and help those we can. Even if it is just one person. With my NGO, Beta Girls Organization, I do my best to help those I can within my means.

30) How is this helping matters? Or are a few making profit of others' painful and mischievous occurrences.

I believe some are corrupting the movement of support by siphoning funds, but nonetheless we should not stop helping them. Benefactors should reach out to verified organisations or individuals through which they can effect help.

* What suggestions would you make to the powers that be if you were a UN Peace Ambassador to help curb, if not put an end to these crises preventing business moguls from adding economic value to the nation's coffers, teachers from running normal daily routines without the fear of the unknown or stray bullets and children from building a promising future by going to school?

Like I said above, I would look for reputable individuals or organisations like the UN to act as mediators to negotiate dialogue on both ends, and supervise the execution of the resolutions.

* Any advice to the Cameroonian and African Woman within and without the continent on why and how to become a peace builder?

Start building peace within your local community and circle. Change starts from where you are.