Download INTERNATIONAL YOUTH LEQDERSHIP CAMP FOR

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH LEQDERSHIP CAMP FOR INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE AND DEVELOPMENT
PARTNERSHIP PROJECT -Winning the hearts and minds of youths for a global village.
BACKGROUND
The topic of youth is back on the international agenda. The topic “politics for and with young
people” therefore gets a new relevance
Politicians, Business, Communities etc. are concerned with youth problems.
There is currently a lack of adequate opportunities for positive social interaction, unequal
distribution of resources, a high rate of unemployment, a high rate of crime and other social ills.
Youth leadership camps valued as a social connector and a powerful development tool;
Well designed programmes are potent mechanisms for fostering healthy youth and individual
development, teaching positive values and life skills and for reducing conflict;
Youth leadership camps networks are an important source and means for social networking,
helping to combat exclusion and for fostering youth capacity to work collectively towards the
realization of opportunities and addressing the challenges faced by young people;
Youth gatherings, networks and programmes can help to empower and promote the inclusion of
disadvantaged youth especially, disabled youth, out of school youth, youth at risk, girl children,
unemployed youth and rural youth.
CONTEXT-INTRODUCING
INTERNATIONAL
YOUTH
LEADERSHIP
CAMAPS
IN
CAMEROON.
In introducing international youth leadership Camps in Cameroon, it should be noted
that this initiative as led by CAMAAY, comes at a time, when Young People in
Cameroon are beset with a plethora of challenges, which require concerted and creative
efforts to overcome. With this hind side, the Youth Camps should therefore serve as a
common platform for young people across the entire nation to come together and to
tackle the complex subjects which challenge them today and explore various initiatives
on how to overcome them.
In doing so, the primary objective however, will remain to develop these young people,
and empower them with the requisite values, soft-skills and knowledge that can assist to
become responsible, conscious citizens and to strengthen their sense of patriotism and
national identity.
Due to its holistic focus on the broad spectrum of young people’s development, the
camps will be led by CAMAAY, OSU AND UNM NOURISH INTERNATIONAL
CHAPTERS,YOUNG GERMAN VOLUNTEERS working in partnership with local
councils, youth groups, ministry of youth and civic education, students, local
communities and traditional leaders. Partnership will also be sought with the Private
Sector as well as relevant Civil Society Organizations.
CHARACTERISTICS OF YOUNG PEOPLES LIFE.
-well educated young people, often without perspective and eager to migrate
-young people, especially girls, living in rural areas under difficult conditions, with limited
access to education.
-others are organized in gangs with special rules readiness to use violence, youth both
as perpetrators and victims
-some exploited but not rebelling e,g child soldier child labor.
Both within and beyond the shores of Cameroon, the concept of “Youth Camps” is not
new at all! Over the years, different organizations and public organs have implemented
this initiative of Youth Camps on different scales, for different purposes and with varied
degrees of success. However, a quick glimpse on existing Youth Camps initiatives in
Cameroon points out to mostly localized activities arranged along issue-based themes or
communities as well as some ventures driven along commercial lines to promote certain
geographic destinations. For example most of the active Youth Camps are arranged
along religious lines or issue-based civil society mobilization like HIV & AIDS campaigns
and sports focus camps like basketball without borders camps.
Generally speaking, Cameroon is still lacking behind when it comes to exploiting
the power of Youth Camps as a massive enabler towards social cohesion and
nation building.
VISION
A young Cameroon that is united and prepared to contribute positively and
successfully to making Cameroons future brighter.
MISSION
To contribute to nation building by bringing together youth of all races and
cultures to build mutual understanding, tolerance, responsibility and teamwork in
an atmosphere of activity, learning and enjoyment.
AIMS

- Unlock adequate opportunities for positive social interaction through national youth
gatherings

Strengthen, in an organized and coordinated manner, the ability of young people to
work cooperatively across race, ethnicity, gender, geographical location, class,
language and creed;

Organize annual national youth camps to keep young people active, interested in life
with increased self-esteem, promote patriotism and a strong sense of citizenship among
young people
-Involve youngsters in non-formal educational processes
-create a medium for social integration
-increase youngsters physical, emotional and intellectual potentials
-promote international friendship amongst youngsters from all over the world and to
improve them in intercultural learning process
-increase youth active participation in society.
The Youth Camps will focus mainly on the following five elements which constitute the hallmark
features of the Youth Camps and set them apart from a plethora of other existing initiatives:
a) Sport: - As an enabler and utilizing the power of Sport as a unifier
b) Youth: - As target participants and taking into account the diverse sectors and strata
c) Camp: - As strategic platforms through which Young People from diverse
background can converge in one setting
d) Social Cohesion, Leadership & National Identity: - As strategic objectives to be
achieved through the Camps
e) Integration: - Different agencies and public organs working together in an integrated
manner, through
an international camp as a transversal enabler, to address the
holistic development needs of young people and channel them towards a single goal
of an active and conscious citizenship.
f) The “Sport” element
g) The role which Sport can play in contribution towards Social Cohesion and Nation
Building can never be overemphasized.
h) As it is, there are already various reports that speaks quite profoundly on this subject
including the Report for the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Sport for
Development and Peace. Premising from a definition that “sport” are all forms of
physical activity that contribute to physical fitness, mental well-being and social
interaction, the report reflects on the importance of various sporting activities
including play, recreation, organized casual or competitive sport as well as
indigenous sport or games.
i)
The “Youth” Element
j)
The National Youth council describes “youth” as persons between the ages of 14 and 35 . As
one of the greatest Cameroonian Liberation Fighters once acclaimed, “A nation that does not
take care of its youth does not deserve its future.” For that reason, it is extremely important that
deliberate focus be directed at ensuring that young people are empowered with critical life skills,
values and norms that will assist them to realize a smooth transition from the “youth” into
responsible and accountable adulthoods who can occupy their rightful place as responsible
citizens and leaders of society.
For that reason, the Youth Camps will integrate critical principles of Youth Development such as
a) Recognition of the manner in which youth has been affected by the imbalances of
the past and the need to redress these imbalances through more equitable policies,
programmes and the allocation of resources.
b) Promotion of equal opportunities and equal treatment of youth and the promotion of
gender-inclusive approach to the development of youth, where the social influences
of gender, disability, the impact of sexism and the particular circumstances of young
women are recognized.
c) Creation of an environment which support the continued development and learning
of youth
d) Promotion of youth’s participation in (i) democratic process, (ii) community and civic
decision-making; and (iii) development at all level.
The “Camp” Element
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a “Camp” can assume definitions of a (1) place,
(2) a body of persons or (3) even a military service. In this case, the following definitions are
worthy of noting:

1(a) a place usually away from the urban areas where tent or simple buildings (as
cabins) are erected for shelter or for temporary residence (as for laborers, prisoners,
or vacationers), (d) a place usually in the country for recreation or instruction often
during the summer or (e) a preseason training session for athletes (training camps)

2(a) a body of persons encamped, (b) 1: A group of persons: especially: a group
engaged in promoting or defending a theory, doctrine, position, or person (2) or an
ideological position.

3: military service or life.

Having noted the above, the Youth Camps in how they are envisaged by CAMAAY
will be organized as “A scheduled integrated program for identified participants in line
with the approved criteria, held annually for recreational, educational and civic
consciousness empowerment purposes through collaborative participation of
national and international partners.
The “Social Cohesion , Leadership & National Identity” Element
1. Leadership: Develop leadership skills through various life skills activities and team
work. Leadership skills of being able to inspire and direct fellow human participants, and
create cohesive and effective teams to achieve common goals.
2. Social cohesion is what holds society together. It provides coherence, unity and
functionality as well as an environment within which its citizens can flourish. Develop
positive
bonds
amongst
young
people,
promote
tolerance
and
respect
for
diversity.Cameroon has diverse population and cultural groups. It is critical to create and
develop an interactive society, particularly amongst the youth as they are tomorrow’s
leaders. The interventions towards Social Cohesion should include; community
development, inter-cultural projects, through active participation
3. Nation building: Various factors have led to youth not paying attention and pride in the
Cameroons identity. Youth should be encouraged to take the perception of “What can I
do for my country, v/s what can my country do for me”. Active participation through
national services, volunteerism and taking pride in the symbols, cultural heritage and
historical knowledge of the country should be promoted. A knowledgeable nation is a
cornerstone of a growing society. Explore common grounds e.g National symbols, and
emblems, sharing of heritage and proudly South African, an opportunity for young
people to learn about the common symbols that binds communities together such as
flags, anthems, national days, and in a sports context, national teams. Nation building
The strategy on Social Cohesion and National identity should enable youth to participate
fully in the society by promoting existing positive bonds among young people. Young
people should be nurtured and empowered to make responsible decisions, take full
responsibility for themselves, for others and for their environment, and act as agents of
positive social change. The premise in this regard is therefore that to instill the values of
Social cohesion among the campers in order to promote tolerance of, and respect for,
diversity (in terms of religion, ethnicity, economic situation, political preferences,
sexuality, gender and age), both institutionally and individually.
a) Promote social cohesion, nation building and national identity among cameroonains
b) To address challenges of eliminating poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and other
symptoms of under development
c) To eliminate racialism, xenophobia, sexism and other aspects of intolerance
d) To empower youth to make an active contribution towards sustainable economic
environment
e) To achieve a legacy of lasting value beyond each Youth Camp
The “Integration” Element
In the implementation of the Youth Camp, special attention will be given towards ensuring that
there are different key role players such as government, civil society and the private sector on
board to add value towards the success of the youth camps. In working through partnership, the
Camp will be better empowered to address the holistic needs and challenges of the young
people, which include (1) economic participation, (2) educational and skills development, (3)
youth work, (4) health and wellbeing, (5) social cohesion and national youth service and (6)
sport & recreation.
For that reason, some of the key stakeholders that have already been identified are:

Ministry of youth affairs and civic education

National Youth council

Ministry Arts & Culture

Ministry of sports and physical education

Local councils

Youth groups

Traditional and community leaders

Ministry of social affairs.

Ministry of public health.

Implementation Approach

What is the Camp?
A place that will provide learning and inspirational experiences that will guide youth
for the rest of their live.
The international camp will be held over two days at a central place where all
participants will converge.
A place that will enrich and strengthen youth abilities in the field of:

Sport

Culture and Heritage

Physical Readiness

Mental Readiness

Career readiness

Networking

Building Relationships

Sharing of Inter-cultural ideas & personal experiences

National Youth Service

Youth Participation in Governance & Politics
What is the intended outcome?
An active young population in Cameroon which is cognizant of its situation and environment,
mindful of its challenges and determined to overcome them inspired by their sense of patriotism,
discipline and national identity whilst still proud of their youth and unique talents!
What the Camp in not?
a) Policy Formulating Body
b) Talkshop
c) This will not be a get together for the fun of it.
Who is the target participant for the Camp?
a) All Cameroonian youths (14-25) as defined by the national youth council
b) The camp will be target at all cameroonainYouth.
c) Youth will be divided into categories where competent and young leaders will also
act as mentees of younger youth.
d) These Youth will come from different backgrounds and different education systems.
e) We need to use these youth to help their underprivileged youth.
f)
Young international volunteers from the United States and Germany.
What will the Camp do?
a) This camp will holistically deal with all matters relating to the youth and the
development of the youth.
b) We want lasting friendships and relationships to come from the camps.
c) Working Sessions will be recorded for history purposes and to distribute to schools
and others who did not participate on that particular year.
d) The objective of the camp is to teach youths about their future and give them
a methodological framework for associated actions (what they need to do to
survive), to offer them the precious opportunity to observe the power of
communication
in action and to give them the opportunity to discover
different cultures in a friendly atmosphere.
What will the camp entail?
a) There will be games played at the Youth Camps. These games must be interesting
but challenging games.
b) There will be presentations on career development and learning opportunities out of
Cameroon, notably the US and GERMANY.
c) Educative talks and power point presentations on different topics and themes
d) Video projections and brainstorming sessions
e) They must deal with: sensitivity to detail; teamwork and human interdependence;
and time management. These are extremely important for the development of the
youth.
f)
Forum for friendship and intercultural dialogue
g) Obstacle courses and orienteering
How will the campers benefit from the Camp?
a) You will get tangible benefits out of attending this Course:
b) They will learn about leadership and leadership qualities.
c) They will learn about hardwork.
d) They will learn about planning.
e) They will learn about nation building, social cohesion and leadership
f)
How to maintain relationships.
g) How to discover your own talents.
h) They will be involved in enriching activities and outreach
i)
They will be able to think critically about their role in developing others and working
together in teams.
j)
At the end of the Camp, each camper will be awarded a certificate of participation
How will they learn?
a) Through workshops.
b) Hands on activities
c) Motivational speakers
d) Debates
e) Teamwork exercises
What will they learn?
a) Responsibility
b) Leadership
c) Respect
d) Sportsmanship
e) Teamwork
f)
Cohesion and National Building.
g) National Youth Service
h) They will learn through networking.
i)
Sharing ideas.
j)
Outdoor adventure activities
How will the outcomes be assessed?
a) Presentations must be prepared and debates before a panel of experienced
adjudicators: in addition to presentations to fellow youth, participants must do the
above as well.
b) If the participants debate, it will show them what goes on during real-world
governance debates, enabling the camp to become a grooming session for them.
c) The evaluation will focus mainly on the five areas of (1) Responsibility, (2)
Leadership, (3) Respect, (4) Sportsmanship and (5) Teamwork
CONCLUSION
This concept document therefore seeks to provide a National blueprint around the Youth Camps
and to further serve as guiding toolkit for the implementation process of the Youth Camps.