The handover ceremony of the Pbf-Pronec project equipment marks an important step in the implementation of this program in Cameroon. It symbolizes the realization of the efforts made to support the beneficiaries and achieve the set objectives.
The United Nations Peacebuilding Program (Pbf) in partnership with the National Program for Civic Education through Moral, Civic and Entrepreneurial Rearmament (Pronec) aims to strengthen civic education and the participation of young people in the consolidation of peace, to develop the entrepreneurial skills of young people in order to promote their socio-economic integration, to promote living together and social cohesion in communities.
This project takes place in a context where Cameroon, like many African countries, faces challenges linked to youth, such as unemployment, social exclusion and conflicts. It is in this sense that the Minister of Youth and Civic Education (Minjec), Mounouna Foutsou accompanied by the Regional Director of UNESCO, Paul Raymond Coustère provided support to the young beneficiaries of this program in the region of the Far North, October 31, 2024.
It must be said that the support material is given to the Heads of the Multifunctional Youth Promotion Centers (CMPJ) who will make them available to the young people supported within the framework of this project in order to take over the action directly in the field of awareness and production.
It is with this in mind that the agencies of the United Nations System participating in the implementation of the project provided the government, represented by the Ministry of Youth and Civic Education, with training and awareness materials for their field deployment and sustainability of project results in Maroua.
This equipment given to the Government for the support and awareness structures housed in the Cmpj consists of, among others: 40 sewing machines; 40 computers; 40 printers; 40 reams of paper; miscellaneous office equipment; 06 rollups; 06 banners; 01 back drop.
This ceremony is being held in a context where UNESCO, ILO, Unfpa and Onufemmes have obtained, with the support of the Cameroonian authorities, funding from the United Nations peacebuilding fund to implement the “Support” project. to the implementation of the national civic education program for the strengthening of peace, peaceful cohabitation and living together in communities affected by crises in Cameroon.
The overall objective is to increase the participation of young women and men from communities affected by crises in Cameroon in peacebuilding by strengthening civic and citizen education and entrepreneurial capacities.
In his speech, Minister Mounouna Foutsou recalled that this support takes place in a context where the Far North region is facing multifaceted crises which are causing harm to the populations. He also indicated that this ceremony follows the Forum organized last year at the same period as part of the intergenerational dialogue between young people and the various active forces in the region who had then expressed grievances.
“Today, we are here to make real our promise made at this time to support the communities of this region suffering from the effects of this crisis,” he indicated. “I remind you that this support falls on the one hand within the framework of the project to support the implementation of the national civic education program for the strengthening of peace, peaceful cohabitation and living together in the affected communities by the crises in Cameroon.
This program which is implemented in conjunction with agents of the United Nations system and I am here accompanied by the regional director of UNESCO for this purpose. This provision of support to beneficiaries makes it possible to further strengthen awareness by training young people in particular as ambassadors of peace to carry this message, but also develop in them the entrepreneurial skills necessary for their harmonious socio-economic integration.