Local Youth Corner Cameroon received Mr Adam RANDERA of African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) and Dr Rhuks Ako at our Head Quarters in Yaounde. It was indeed an insightful time as Young people got to learn firsthand on best practices for Youth engagement and peacebuilding in Cameroon. Both Mr Adam RANDERA and Dr Rhuks Ako shared valuable experiences and strategies that have been successful in promoting youth engagement and peacebuilding in other African countries. Their visit provided us with a fresh perspective and inspired us to explore new approaches in our own efforts towards building a peaceful future for the youth of Cameroon.

Mr Adam RANDERA and Dr Rhuks Ako visited LOYOC while in Cameroon for the NATIONAL YOUTH SENSITISATION WORKSHOP ON DEVELOPING A NATIONAL ACTION PLAN ON YOUTH PEACE AND SECURITY IN CAMEROON. This activity seeks to improve the capacity of young Cameroonians on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) to underscore and optimize their meaningful participation in the process of developing NAPs in the country.

It is a 3-day capacity enhancement activity, which will convene youth peacebuilders, is organized by the African Union Youth for Peace Program (through the AYAP for Central Africa), the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD), and the National Commission on Youth Peace and Security with the support of the Ministry of Youth Affairs, European Union Delegation in Cameroon, UNFPA, the Cameroon National Youth Council and youth peacebuilding networks in Cameroon. The activity is aligned with Cameroon’s Chairmanship of the AU Peace and Security Council in the month of September 2023. workshop target 20 young peacebuilders selected from the 10 regions of Cameroon. Participation will adopt an inclusive approach to promote equal gender representation as well as the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

This activity seeks to primarily to improve the capacity of young Cameroonians from across the 10 regions in the process of developing NAPs on YPS and to optimize their meaningful participation in the process of developing NAPs in the country and specifically to;

• To equip young people on the steps and tools necessary for their effective participation in shaping the YPS NAP in Cameroon.
• To create an opportunity for young people to learn of best practices and challenges faced by other young people in the continent in developing NAPs.
• Enhance collaboration between young people on Youth Peace and Security.
• To develop a strategic plan in support of the development and implementation of the YPS NAP in Cameroon.

Outcomes for this activity can be classified as follows;

• Cameroon youth are equipped with skills and tools for effective inclusion and participation in the development of the YPS NAP in Cameroon.
• Collaboration is strengthened among Cameroon youth networks for a unified voice in the development of the YPS NAPs in Cameroon.
• A strategic plan is developed to guide on youth efforts and initiatives towards the development and implementation of the YPS NAP in Cameroon.

Young people agree to the fact that, this training and interaction with both Mr. Adam RANDERA and Dr. Rhuks Ako has served as wide opportunity to enhance knowledge and engagement in the process of DEVELOPING A NATIONAL ACTION PLAN ON YOUTH PEACE AND SECURITY IN CAMEROON by learning from the experiences of other African countries, we are better equipped to addressed the unique challenges and opportunities present in Cameroon. This training and interaction have ignited a sense of motivation and determination among young people to actively contribute to the development of a comprehensive national action plan on youth peace and security in our country.