It was a whirlwind of a past few days in Yaoundé, as we, somewhat reluctantly (it seemed every participant wished they could continue working together in Cameroon)—finished the program.

The meeting with Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni was certainly a political highlight and offered the opportunity for each issue group to present their findings and ideas generated from discussions. The issue group focused on empowering women presented their project idea of creating a scholarship program to bring underprivileged but qualified female students from the United States and the United Kingdom to work together with two female students from Cameroon on a development project of their own design in Cameroon; the group hopes that with support from the Cameroonian government, the scholarship program will being next summer. The group focused on education presented their ideas about problems towards access to education in Cameroon and want to research study abroad opportunities for Cameroonians to study in the United States. And the issue group focused on economic development discussed the need to encourage e-commerce between American consumers and Cameroonian traders and their own idea about creating a website to facilitate such trade; the group also discussed the need to empower women so that they can contribute to the economic growth of Cameroon and their idea of creating a mentorship program connecting female youth with successful role models in the academic and professional domains.

In the final days, we had a few presentations, one by Dr Walters Samah on problems of ethnicity and regionalism in Cameroon’s era of democratization, one by Josh on the power of blogs and new internet technology for development, and another by Dr. Martin Tsounkeh on the progress of Cameroon in achieving, or alas not achieving, the Millennium Development Goals. We also visited another youth-run NGO, Press Jeune, and met with the Africa representative to the France-Africa Youth Secretariat. We hiked on Mount Febe and watched Zigoto’s film "Taboo" and met with the actors and members of his production company to discuss the film.

The culmination of the immersion was certainly the final fete at “Le Petit Tam Tam.” Everyone involved in the program, from Florentine at the Peace House to a representative from the Prime Ministry, attended the event. The participants opened the evening with a rousing version of “Shoo Sho’lo Zha” and then some gave testimonies of their experiences. The issue groups presented, and many speeches were made. And of course there was dancing.

As was apparent from Day One, the most meaningful part of the trip was the exchange between our American and Cameroonian participants—all throughout everyone was engaged and supportive and coming up with new ideas—it was indeed a truly inspiring environment. And although it is so difficult to leave, we hope to continue to sustain the partnerships we made here in Cameroon.

We return to our communities in the United States and Cameroon renewed and motivated with fresh perspectives and new ideas about effecting change in our own lives and the lives of others. We hope we continue to take upon ourselves the mantra of personal responsibility for the challenges of this world are, to quote Patrick Wu, “all of our problems” and the world is far from achieving the Millennium Development Goals unless we all do our part.