Young people in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon have been cleaning towns and cities across the conflict-plagued English speaking regions of the country to promote community engagement and collaboration for peacebuilding.
The youth-led clean-up campaign that began in the seven divisions of the North West from December 20 – 23 and later in the South West is an initiative of non-profit organization, Local Youth Corner (LOYOC) Cameroon.
Dubbed Community Service Days, the campaign also aims at raising awareness about the prevention of the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict, organizers say.
In Bamenda, chief town of the North West region, just like in Mbengwi, headquarters of the Momo Division or Jakiri in the Bui Division, over 200 young people took part in the cleanup drive in streets, markets, motor parks, hospitals and other areas.
The cleaning program was challenging, yet rewarding for Blessing Anwi Sakeh who led volunteers and community members in the in the drive to the Mbon main market, Mbon Motor Park and Mbengwi district hospital on Saturday, December 21.
“The initial enthusiasm from volunteers and community members was encouraging, and the campaign fostered a sense of community spirit,” Sakeh said.
Same reaction was re-echoed by Kome Stephanny Ebude who coordinated the exercise in Kumba, Meme Division of the South West region two days after Christmas.
Be it in Jakiri, Mbengwi, Bamenda in the North West region or Kumba in the South West, volunteers cleaned up drainages that were clogged with plastics, papers and other waste materials. In Bamenda, the team removed garbage and unclogged a drain linking Mboile to Mile Two in the Nkwen neighborhood.
Besides cleaning the Kumba High Court premises in Meme Division of the South West region, the activity was an opportunity for some physically challenged persons to demonstrate that disability is not inability.
“Many at times, people organize community work but never consider persons with disabilities thus this activity gave persons with disabilities the opportunity to show their ability in their disability,” one of the participants said.
