The GYPA and CAMYOSFOP team had a rare opportunity to present our ideas for development to His Excellency Ephraim Inoni, the Prime Minister of Cameroon and Head of Government. The group introduced our purpose and experience in Cameroon, and then presented the ideas developed in our working issue groups on economic development, access to education and marginalized communities. The Prime Minister and the Minister of Youth Affairs support the partnership established between CAMYOSFOP and GYPA.

I've been creating and executing youth travel programs to Africa with Global Youth Partnership for Africa since 2004, and every so often there are moments that vindicate the difficult months of planning, recruitment and logistics necessary to create a student trip to Africa. One of those moments happened tonight.

After a long bus ride from the coastal town of Limbe back to Yaoundé, our American participants sat together to discuss some of the things we have seen and how we want to contribute to the vibrant community we have all become a part of. After a few had shared their thoughts, one of our participants pointed out that the key word in our conversation had been ‘epiphany.’

What was immediately apparent to all of us is that we have been deeply impacted by what we have seen and the conversations we have had. The epiphanies came in all shapes and sizes; they were subtle observations about what we could learn about human nature by being welcomed into a Cameroonian family home, and they were entrepreneurial breakthroughs about how to use emerging technologies to improve the lives of Cameroonians who had entrepreneurial ambitions of their own. Listening to one epiphany after another, I remembered why I enjoy these programs so much: they change lives.

With only a few days left in our adventure, we are spending a few days volunteering at spots around Yaoundé, meeting a few more NGO’s in town, watching a Cameroonian movie and climbing a mountain, all while continuing to think about how these global partnerships can be sustained after our short time together is over.

-posted by GYPA Travel Program Coordinator Josh Goldstein.

Our group traversed a country yesterday, heading south from Bamenda to Buea and Limbe on the Atlantic coast. Before we left, our partners in CAMYOSFOP made a moving presentation on ending the small arms proliferation that has caused conflicts in various parts of Africa for decades. This presentation was so powerful that it deserves its own blog post: stand by.

After a weaving drive through the Buea Mountain Range, we landed at the town of Buea, at the foot of Mount Cameroon. This morning, we had a whirlwind of meetings, first at the University of Buea, where we met with students about international partnerships, and then at the Pan African Institute for Development- West Africa center, where we stopped in on a training session of members from every cabinet level office in the Cameroonian government.

After a busy week, we finally got a break this afternoon, as we headed to the beach town of Limbe to jump in from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. We are now relaxed, tan and happy. We head to a caberet this evening before heading back to Yaounde in the morning for our final week of hard work on hard issues.

Hello from the Northwest Province of Cameroon and the town of Bamenda! We've had such a busy and exciting few days that we haven't been able to pull ourselves away to post. Luckily, now we have much to report. We spent our second day in Yaounde learning from experts from the Ministry of Youth Affairs, as well as those working on issues of monetary policy and Central African coordination. The American and Cameroonian participants then spent a relaxing afternoon exploring markets for crafts and art.

On Thursday morning, we left the busy capitol and headed north to the lush valleys of Bamenda. Some of the participants woke up early on Friday morning and ran up a steep hill overlooking a waterfall. We spent the day exploring some of the rich local cultural aspects of the Northwest Province, including meeting the faun (king) of the Mankon Kingdom, one of the prominent kingdoms of the regions. This provided a unique perspective on how important local culture is to community development.

It's now Saturday morning, and we are meeting with several local NGO's and hearing a presentation from our partner organization CAMYOSFOP on Small Arms Week, an international week dedicated to the ending the proliferation of small arms.

Early tomorrow, we get another change of scenery, this time heading to the Atlantic coast to see the towns of Limbe and Beau. All are healthy and happy and say hello to everyone out there in the blogosphere!

Note: We have thousands of pictures among us, and as soon as we return to Yaounde and a faster internet connection next week, we will get them up in this space.

After planes, buses and taxis we have all arrived safely in Yaounde where we will stay for the next couple of days. In Yaounde we are staying at the aptly titled, "Peace House" where we also take our meals. The American participants met their Cameroonian counterparts early yesterday morning, and already the interaction between the two groups has been dynamic and meaningful. In the morning we all visited the US embassy for a security briefing by the Regional Security Office and a cultural briefing by the cultural attache. We also held a interesting discussion of cultural values in Cameroon and in the United States and shared what it is that we "celebrate", and perhaps unsurprisingly, we quickly found that we have more similarities than differences. After lunch the Cameroonian and American students split into small groups and explored Yaounde, a colorful, chaotic and pulsing city, on a scavenger hunt of sorts. We then had a formal introduction and welcoming by the Cameroonian Minister of Youth Affairs and we ended the day with a dinner discussion with Professor Daniel Abwa on the history and geography of Cameroon. All of the participants--Cameroonian and American--are engaged and excited about the interactions they have already made in the first day and will make in the days to come.

11 June 2007

The American participants are on their way to Douala, Cameroon, to set
off GYPA's first Cameroon Immersion on "Youth, Development and the
Millennium Development Goals." The Cameroon program leaders, Eugene
and Augstine, have been working hard this past week to prepare for the
American students, and Josh arrived in Cameroon to help set things up
on the ground as well.

The Cameroon Immersion comes at a meaningful time, as the debate about
development in Africa has come into the spotlight again with recent
decisions made by the world's most powerful countries at the G8 conference
currently in Heligendamm, Germany. Despite the fact that the G8 had
previously made pledges in 2005 towards towards ending global poverty--the
commitment then was to double global aid by 2010 with half of that earmarked
for sub-Saharan Africa-- most country pledges have so far gone unmet. At
the summit, leaders reiterated their promises, and further pledged to spend
60 billion dollars to fight malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, though they
set no timetable. But despite these new "commitments" many are hugely skeptical
about whether Africa will meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, and
the debate continues over the most effective means of achieving these goals.

It is important to keep in mind the international climate as we head to
Cameroon as it will inform the context of our discussions on the ground.

This summer GYPA will send 40 American students to Africa to meet with their counterparts in Uganda and Cameroon. These Immersion trips will give American students the unique opportunity to explore the role of youth in development, peace-building, and health promotion first-hand. Our goal is to expand international youth networks, encourage greater understanding about Africa, and inspire an ongoing dialogue and partnership between young American and African leaders. Participants will engage in discussions regarding conflict resolution, economic development, post-conflict rehabilitation, HIV/AIDS, and gender issues, among others. Students with backgrounds or interests in any of the above fields are encouraged to apply!

Interested students may apply to just one or all three of the programs. Applications, accepted on a rolling basis, are due no later than Tuesday, April 3, 2007. Please feel free to contact the Program Coordinators listed below with any further questions. Thanks!

Cameroon Immersion: Youth, Development, and the MDGs (June 10 — 26, 2007)

Cameroon has largely existed under the radar of the international community since achieving independence because it remains one of the most peaceful and prosperous countries in West Africa. However, Cameroon also demonstrates many of the same challenges as its neighbors; every day its population faces complex issues such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, poor infrastructure, and corruption. In September 2000, world leaders came together to establish a global commitment to achieving responsible, sustainable change. The UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set standards regarding education, health, and the environment, among others, that Cameroon is working to achieve. This Immersion will explore how Cameroonian youth are at the forefront of development efforts, and are utilizing creative, pragmatic, and innovative tools to achieve the MDGs and improve their country.

Fifteen American students will be selected to participate in the Cameroon Immersion. They will meet with their counterparts to explore the political, economic, and social successes as well as challenges facing Cameroon. Participants will meet with leaders in government, civil society, and the international NGOs who are experts in West African development. Additionally, participants will engage in community service projects alongside Cameroon's Youths and Students Forum for Peace (CAMYOSFOP), a group dedicated to educating youth and the general public about human rights and conflict resolution. Students will also have the incredibly unique opportunity to interact with delegates to the first African Youth Forum for Peace, a conference in Yaoundé that will mobilize youth leaders from across the continent as peace-builders.

Program Description (DOC)
Application (DOC)

Contact Carrie Stefansky (carrie@gypafrica.org) for more information.

Uganda Immersion: Youth, Development, and Peace-Building (July 2 — 18, 2007)

Uganda faces dramatic challenges, including poverty, political marginalization, and HIV/AIDS; however, it is also at a crossroads. This fall, peace talks brought about a cessation of hostilities in the 20-year civil war in northern Uganda. Now is a critical time to examine the many questions that remain regarding reconstruction and rehabilitation and, particularly, the role youth can play in solving them. What factors brought about a transformation in the conflict? What role do Ugandans see for the international community in the post-conflict environment? How can Uganda help to provide stability of the Great Lakes region? What steps need to be taken to protect and provide for vulnerable populations, such as refugees, internally displaced persons, and orphans?

The Immersion will provide a first-hand look at Uganda through dialogue, cultural exchange, and direct service. Students will gain a unique perspective on issues such as economic development, democracy-building, and transitional justice. The program will include opportunities to meet directly with community-based organizations, international non-governmental organizations, and other young leaders in Kampala and northern Uganda.

Program Description (DOC)
Application (DOC)

Contact Carrie Stefansky (carrie@gypafrica.org) for more information.

Uganda Immersion: Youth, Development, and Health (August 2 — 18, 2007)

Uganda was one of the first countries in the world to come face-to-face with the devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic; it was also one of the first to respond successfully to control its spread. As a result, Uganda has been heralded as a model across Sub-Saharan Africa. The Uganda Immersion will focus on the following questions: What role did the Government’s strategy play in combating HIV/AIDS? How has the international community assisted in Uganda’s fight against other dramatic health challenges such as malaria and tuberculosis? What effect does the 20-year civil war in North Uganda have on the various health problems facing the country? What tools do grassroots and civil-society organizations utilize to improve access to health care and treatment? How are women and children affected differently by health crises? What can you do to help?

The Immersion will also examine many other interrelated issues facing Uganda, such as post-conflict development, poverty alleviation, and democracy-building. Participants will have a unique first-hand experience in Uganda by interacting with a wide variety of people on the ground. The program will include direct service with community-based organizations, international non-governmental organizations, and young leaders from Kampala and northern Uganda.

Program Description (DOC)
Application (DOC)

Contact Katie Spencer (katie@gypafrica.org) for more information.

For information about past trips, please visit our Student Global Ambassadors page.