Cameroon Launches Professional Youth Workers Association

CYP's Africa Regional Centre, Lusaka, Zambia.

The profession of the youth worker has gained a higher profile in Cameroon, thanks to recent events organised by the Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) in collaboration with the Government of Cameroon.

From 14 to 18 March 2005, 40 youth workers from the ten provinces of Cameroon attended a training course in Yaoundé on techniques and strategies for youth work. The short-term refresher course was delivered by the CYP's Africa Centre (based in Lusaka, Zambia) and pan-Commonwealth office in partnership with Cameroon's Ministry of Youth, the National Institute of Youth and Sports, the National Centres of Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of Technical Education and Professional Training.

Speaking at the opening session, Cameroon's Minister of Youth Affairs, Adoum Garoua, said the course would "better the co-operation that has always existed and remained efficient between Cameroon and the Commonwealth". He noted that this co-operation came at a very important juncture, because it followed the establishment in December 2004 of a Ministry of Youth in Cameroon. Mr Garoua said that by creating a separate Ministry of Youth, President Paul Biya had demonstrated that the young people of Cameroon would not be marginalised, no matter what their category.

Taking a rights-based approach to development, the course sought to enhance the competencies and skills of youth workers (or 'animateurs') at all levels in the public sector, and provide them with the latest techniques and strategies for delivering youth programmes. The training was tailored towards strengthening acquired skills, building new capacities, renewing the competencies and confidence of youth workers, and providing a solid foundation to youth work as a distinct profession.

One key outcome of the course was the establishment on 18 March of a Professional Association of Youth Workers in Cameroon. The association held its first General Assembly, adopted a draft Constitution and developed a Code of Conduct for the youth work profession, arising from the discussions during the course.

Participants discussed ways of articulating the desired outcomes of their profession and the specific practices and philosophies that define it. For example, they discussed an approach to youth development where young people are seen not as a problem that needs to be contained, but rather as providers of solutions to problems and as positive achievers in their own right.

Standards for accountability and practice were developed and a better understanding of the function and value of youth work to national development emerged. Youth organisations and youth workers were able to define their role with more formal institutions that engage young people and envisioned a better integration of young people in the socio-economic and cultural mainstream of the country.

At the conclusion of the training course, the CYP's Regional Director for Africa, Valencia Mogegeh, drew attention to the course's contribution to the recognition and legitimacy of the youth work profession, not only in Cameroon but across Africa. "The professionalisation of youth development work is very important to CYP," she said.

Ms Mogegeh called for further support to ensure that the process and outcomes of these initiatives were well documented as one of Africa's major contributions to good practice in programme implementation.

 

CNIS - the Commonwealth News and Information Service Issue 228  30 March 2005

Secretariat Links:

• Commonwealth Youth Programme