Our Words of Wisdom
“We are a valuable group but when we turn into rebels we become lesser human beings. Can't we use our energy in more productive ways, to bring positive change in this world. Let us unite and say no to tribal, racial and religious wars.”
– Amos Kingori Wamathai, Kenya
United Despite our Diversity
Project Name: United Despite our Diversity
Project Description:
Project Objectives include:
Name of Organization: Youth Synergy for Development (French acronym “SYJEDE” meaning “Synergie Jeunesse et Developpement”)
Description of Organization: Youth Synergy for Development is a youth organization that works on sustainable education on issues like peace, democracy, freedom, human rights and the Millennium Development Goals. Members are diverse young people aged 17 to 32 years.
Time frame: 2010
Country: Cameroon
Email: bahanakisaac@yahoo.fr; syjede_cameroun@yahoo.fr
Background: Cameroon shares its borders with six countries: Equatorial Guinea, Chad, Gabon, Central African Republic, Nigeria and Congo. Living together in harmony is not always easy among the youth around the borders. Youth in these areas are not informed on issues like human rights, religious tolerance, acceptance of refugees and some employment opportunities. This leads to conflicts of interest among them. These conflicts are exacerbated by cultural and religious differences. The training provided aims to promote the understanding that our diversity needs to unite not divide us.
Project Activities: The principal activity of this project consist of a series of training programs, each six days in total, delivered in the border towns by a team of five trainers.
These training sessions will consist of educating participating youth on the usefulness of creating and maintaining peaceful and cohesive relations across borders and cultural differences. A special emphasis will be put on the breaking of ethnic, cultural, religious and political barriers. Nevertheless, the cross section of the work will be based on human rights and freedom.
On the last day of each training session, the traditional, religious, political, and administrative leaders shall be invited to take part in a short closing ceremony. This ceremony will be an occasion to create a link between authorities and the trainees.
The team of trainers (staff members) will consist of a project coordinator, three other association members and one consultant. Each course will bring together 35 participants who are youth leaders interested in human rights, peace-making, breaking of cultural, ethnic and religious barriers and two members of the partner association. In each border town, the partner will come from the country with which Cameroon is sharing the border. We will make sure that the participation of the females should be at least 40% by approaching young women associations to actively participate. Training will be delivered to approximately 150 young people including at least 12 foreigners.
Partners: We have partners in all of the six countries that border Cameroon. Two members of these partner associations shall participate in the training session at the towns bordering their country. Their participation will ensure accurate and readily available information on their country and culture.
Partners include:
Results: Project under implementation