Cameroon: ASSYOUTH To Activate Youth for Community Development

By Christopher Ambe Shu

A newly registered Cameroonian group, Association of Youth for The Promotion of Peace, Democracy, The Millennium Development Goals and Africa’s Unity (ASSYOUTH) with headquarters in Buea, has publicly vowed “to mobilise and activate youth especially Cameroonian youth, in the promotion of peace and development in African communities”

Song Stephen Mbangtang, (pictured ,on mike ),President of ASSYOUTH, who was accompanied by other officials of the association, told Journalists on June 15, 2009 at a press conference at Alliance-Franco-Cameroounaise, Buea that, unlike many other organisations with similar goals but considered by the public as failures, ASSYOUTH will “greatly and actively get youth and communities involved in their own development”.

The press conference was the first activity of ASSYOUTH which was registered earlier this year, as an advocate and catalyst of meaning ful development and change

ASSYOUTH now plans to organise a big seminar next month (July) to talk to Cameroonian youth on their role in the promotion of Pan-Africanism and regional integration (Africa’s Unity), the role of youth in the promotion of affirmative action, gender equality and women empowerment, their role in the development processes of various communities and their role in Peace and security promotion.

“We at ASSYOUTH are making a clarion call to all youth of various communities in Cameroon and Africa, to come together and serve as vectors of peace and development… and to promote democratic tenets, the millennium Goals and Africa’s Unity. It is only in promoting these values that negative tendencies will be curbed

“We call on every youth to have the fear of God in him/her; for without God in trying times, we are lost. They should know that meaningful development can be achieved only when meaningful dialogue and peace are encouraged and promoted…” said Mr.Mbangtang at the press conference, attended by both journalists of the public and private media

“The youth should understand that, they themselves can carry out various community development projects such as community farms, community road construction, community social and recreational clubs and stores under the supervision and encouragement of their leaders and elite, thus promoting the millennium development Goals.”

He disclosed that ASSYOUTH will in the weeks head begin its project implementation in Great Soppo,Buea in the areas of road construction, community hall and water supply –so to show to the public that “we are different from others in our approach to development ,and that we match words with actions”

The press conference holding at the eve of African Youth Day, which is today (June 16th),according to Mbangtang,was ASSYOUTH’s way of celebrating the African Youth Day-also adopted by African Student Union as African Students’ Day.

Song Stephen Mbangtang, who is also the executive director of Federation of African Youth Leaders-headquartered in Ghana, said Cameroon is endowed with abundant natural resources ,adding that youth could mobilise themselves into groups and make use of such resources for their own empowerment.

Not everybody must be a civil servant (government worker), he warned, noting that youth have the capacity and power to do great things if they are conscious of opportunities.

Although Cameroon is called by some as an Island of Peace, Mr. Mbangtang dismissed it as a farce, noting that peace is not limited to the absence of war. “What we are experiencing in Cameroon is not peace but escapism. There are many Cameroonians with problems but they hide in alcohol, smoking and other addictions, hoping to forget their worries.”

Mr. Mbangtang appealed to the Mass media to double their efforts in informing and creating awareness of empowerment opportunities and programmes for the youth.

Other ASSYOUTH officials who assisted Mr. Mbangtang at the press conference included Nsang Rosette (Secretary-General),Mbah Njong A(Technical Adviser) and Bate Takang(Social Secretary)