13 new aspiring young professionals have joined our youth-led team as fellows and interns for the January to March 2024 cohort of Local Youth Corner’s LOYOC PROFESSIONAL INTERNSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP FOR EMERGING YOUNG LEADERS Initiative, marking a new chapter in their careers. Currently serving in all our four offices in Yaoundé, Bamenda, Buea, and Maroua) these young people will spend three learning about, designing, implementing, monitoring, and assessing development, peace, and humanitarian initiatives. They will also gain practical experience in organizational management and operations. This program was first piloted in 2016 and later turned into a complete initiative in 2021. Over the previous nine years, the program has produced the best young professionals who now work with us as well as with national and international institutions including; UN Agencies, Embassies, INGOs and a lot more.
Quoting our Executive Director Achaleke Christian Leke, sharing some thoughts on the PIFEL Initiative; “Our main goal is to give young people a place to go where they may discover ways to better themselves and discover creative solutions to the problems that face our communities on a daily basis. Even as a young person, I am aware of how serious the capability gap is for professionals and students. I was in the same situation once, but I became the professional I am now because of my volunteer work within the Development Space. While our educational system is excellent, it could may use some practical adjustments. This is our youth-led attempt to contribute to the professionalization of young people and initiatives.
The PIFEL is LOYOC’s signature program which aligns with her 2021 – 2025 Strategic Plan seeks to amplify peer-to-peer learning and capacity building within the professional space. The initiative is divided into two tracks; Practitioners Track (Fellowship)- Three Months. The practitioner track is intended specifically for activists, civil society leaders and scholars. Applicants applying for the practitioner track are expected to have substantial practical experience working to promote development, peace and humanitarian initiatives. Students Track (Internship) – Two Months. This track is basically for students either studying in related fields of development, peace and humanitarian studies from any higher institution in Cameroon and across the world.
Mary Efuiji serving in the Buea Office shares that so far, her experience to date has been very inspiring She affirmed, that the amount of knowledge she has already gained motivates her. She is confident about her future with the knowledge, skills and networks she is gaining.