About

Local Youth Corner Cameroon - About

Peacebuilding & Social Cohesion

Youth Empowerment & Capacity Building

Countering Violent Extremism (CVE)

Humanitarian Action & Protection

Who We Are

We are a leading youth-led, non-profit, and non-governmental organization, founded in 2002 to respond to the growing socio-political and economic challenges facing young people in Cameroon — including unemployment, bad governance, gender-based violence, limited access to quality education, poverty, corruption, and exclusion from decision-making processes.

These challenges serve as both push and pull factors that drive youth radicalization, involvement in crime, and participation in violent conflict.

Participants and partners at a youth dialogue session

Our Mission, Vision, and Goal

Mission

To support youth empowerment and participation in peacebuilding, prevent violent extremism, and advance sustainable development to ensure peaceful communities.

Vision

To build a future where young people are respected and engaged as key partners in creating a peaceful, prosperous, and violence-free society.

Goal

To strengthen collaboration between youth, development stakeholders, and government institutions at all levels, working together for sustainable peace and development in Cameroon.

Young people taking part in a LOYOC youth dialogue

15–35

Our Focus

Through our offices across Cameroon, we promote the empowerment of young people aged 15–35 — both male and female — in the areas of:

Sustainable Development
Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention
Countering Violent Extremism (CVE)
Humanitarian Response

In 2022, LOYOC expanded its engagement into Chad and Niger, working alongside partner organizations to strengthen regional collaboration.

Our approach is rooted in the Positive Youth Development (PYD) framework, which emphasizes strengthening young people’s assets and skills, increasing their sense of agency, expanding opportunities for meaningful contributions, and creating enabling environments for their growth.

LOYOC facilitators using a megaphone during a community sensitization session

10,000+Reached Via Sensitization

Know About Our Impact

Working Together For A Common Good And A Peaceful Society

If young people from different sectors — civil society, public sector, business, media, etc. — as well as development actors and government officials at various levels (central, regional, and local), are given opportunities, tools, capacity, and constructive platforms to jointly work toward conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts;

and if these stakeholders build trust and commit to engaging in and supporting different efforts aimed at promoting peace,

then this will create the necessary conditions for transformative dialogue among stakeholders at different levels. It will also improve the participation of young people in peacebuilding efforts and promote sustainable peace in various communities.

Building peace, resilience, and youth leadership across Cameroon.

What We Do

1. Capacity and Resilience Building

Our capacity-building approach is tailored to the specific needs and realities of our target groups. We design modules that equip participants with the skills, tools, and knowledge necessary to advance their goals through inclusive, non-adversarial, and collaborative means.

These modules focus on leadership, personality development, and entrepreneurship, promoting non-violent problem-solving and constructive engagement in complex environments.

While our trainings primarily target young people, LOYOC also delivers youth-led capacity-building sessions for diverse stakeholders across different age groups and genders.

2. Transformative Dialogue and Engagement

LOYOC’s transformative dialogue and engagement model is particularly impactful in active or potential conflict zones.

Our trained facilitators bring together diverse groups — youth leaders, religious and traditional authorities, community representatives, government, and security actors — to foster understanding, empathy, and cooperation.

We intentionally include divided or opposing groups to rebuild relationships, correct misinformation, and restore trust between communities and authorities.

This approach promotes collaboration based on shared interests, helping stakeholders find win-win solutions to mutual challenges.

3. Mobilizing Media for Change

LOYOC is a pioneer in using media and technology to catalyze social change, strengthen access to information, and promote inclusion.

Through radio, television, and social media campaigns, we deliver edutainment content that promotes peace, tolerance, and social cohesion.

Our future strategy builds on these efforts by developing even more engaging digital and mass media content for social behavior change communication.

4. Transforming Violent Extremism

LOYOC defines violent extremism as the use of extreme violence to express real or perceived grievances rooted in exclusionary ideologies.

Our strategy to prevent and transform violent extremism is based on four key pillars:

Disengagement through vocational and professional skills training
Constructive counter-narratives that challenge extremist ideologies
Rehabilitation and reintegration programs for offenders
Mainstreaming CVE principles in peacebuilding initiatives

5. Evidence-Based Research Approach

LOYOC’s work is grounded in rigorous, data-driven research that informs interventions and influences policy at local and national levels.

Our research tools include conflict scans, barrier analyses, stakeholder mapping, perception surveys, and conflict assessments — all designed to track dynamics in conflict-prone environments and identify actionable solutions.

We also promote participatory, youth-led research, enabling young people to contribute directly to knowledge production and advocacy.

LOYOC’s publications, such as “Hate Speech and Violent Conflict in Cameroon,” continue to inform the wider peacebuilding community and shape national discourse.

6. Community Entry and Engagement Strategy

LOYOC’s community engagement is anchored on the principles of “Do No Harm” and “Do Peacefully.”

Our approach is context-sensitive, culturally grounded, and neutral, helping build trust and local ownership of interventions.

LOYOC treats stakeholders — including government, security, civil society, and community leaders — as partners rather than beneficiaries. They are involved throughout the project lifecycle: from design and implementation to monitoring and evaluation.

This inclusive model ensures sustainability, community buy-in, and shared accountability for results.

7. Advocacy and Sensitization

LOYOC’s advocacy work is evidence-based and geared toward changing narratives, influencing policy, and mobilizing collaboration for peace.

We use data-driven communication to correct misconceptions about the roles of youth and women in peacebuilding and governance.

Our advocacy continues to encourage stakeholder collaboration, policy reform, and inclusive action for peace and security.

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Our Impact

Since our founding in 2002:

700+

We have implemented over 700 youth development projects.

4 million

Reached more than 4 million young people across Cameroon and beyond.

200+

Partnered with over 200 national and international organizations, including:

UNDP
UNESCO
IOM
UNICEF
the Commonwealth
the World Bank
the African Union
the European Union
various diplomatic missions

LOYOC’s work has earned national and international recognition, including:

Luxembourg Peace Prize
Commonwealth Youth Award for Excellence in Development Work
Best Youth-Led Peacebuilding Organization (Ministry of Youth Affairs)
Best COVID-19 Response Organization in Cameroon

Our Impact in 2025

10,000+

Young People Reached Through Sensitization

321+

Youth Trained Through Capacity Building

700+

Community Service Actions Implemented

Our Areas of Operation

Our work is coordinated from the Head Office in Yaoundé, with active field offices across:

Office Locations
Major Projects
Outreach Activities

We empower young people and communities to promote peace, human rights, and social cohesion across Cameroon.

By volunteering with LOYOC, you become part of a movement shaping inclusive dialogue, youth leadership, and community-driven solutions for lasting change.

Be a Volunteer

Young volunteers planting a tree together

Our Devoted Staff

Working To Make A Difference

Meet the LOYOC Team

Testimonial

What Our Alumni's Are Saying

Through LOYOC's peacebuilding and sports initiatives, I learned how dialogue and teamwork can truly change mindsets. The NA WE WE program gave us a safe space to reconnect, rebuild trust, and see each other as partners for peace rather than opponents.

ABAminata B.Yaoundé, Cameroon

LOYOC's work has had a visible impact in our community. Their approach goes beyond activities. It empowers young people with skills, confidence, and a sense of responsibility to contribute positively to society.

JNJean-Claude N.Buea, Cameroon

LOYOC's youth dialogue activities helped us rebuild trust and strengthen cooperation among young people in Bamenda. The programme created a platform for peaceful engagement and collective action.

PNPatrick N.Bamenda, Cameroon

Through LOYOC's community initiatives, young people in the Far North gained skills and confidence to promote peace and resilience. The programme has strengthened social cohesion in our communities.

AMAïcha M.Far North, Cameroon

About

Who We Are

Our Mission, Vision, and Goal

Mission

Vision

Goal

Our Focus

Sustainable Development

Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention

Countering Violent Extremism (CVE)

Humanitarian Response

Working Together For A Common Good And A Peaceful Society

What We Do

1. Capacity and Resilience Building

2. Transformative Dialogue and Engagement

3. Mobilizing Media for Change

4. Transforming Violent Extremism

5. Evidence-Based Research Approach

6. Community Entry and Engagement Strategy

7. Advocacy and Sensitization

Our Impact

Our Areas of Operation

Yaoundé Office

Major Projects

Outreach Activities

Maroua Office

Major Projects

Outreach Activities

Buea Office

Major Projects

Outreach Activities

Bamenda Office

Major Projects

Outreach Activities

We empower young people and communities to promote peace, human rights, and social cohesion across Cameroon.

Working To Make A Difference

What Our Alumni's Are Saying

Our Gallery