Story, Louvier Kindo Tombe
The 8 months project dub “Citizen Action” was evaluated on January 17, 2024 through a press conference organized at the French Institute in Yaounde. According to the project scribes, their objectives were met.
“We have planted a grain expecting to harvest during the next elections in the country,” says Betseto Bobeto, board member of the council of New Africa-France Summit.
The objective of the project was to provide a platform to promote democracy in the country. That is how four reflexion workshops were organized in four regions of the country (Center, North, West and South), bringing together about 150 civil society actors, University dons, students, local administrative authorities and the media.
During the project implementation, 2 test voting exercises were organized in the North and South regions. The youth had the opportunity to simulate the electoral process in the country. The elections organizing body, Elacam was invited to assist the youths and encouraged them to always participate in the different elections organized in the country.
The project was carried under the council for the follow up of recommendations of the New Africa – France Summit, grouping Fondation Conseil Jeune, CADER, Lead Ship and Newseta.
The way forward
While implementing the “Citizen Actions” project, the leaders identified some factors dragging the youths behind from performing their civic actions in issues related to democracy.
“Most of them don’t trust the electoral process in the country,” says Madam Esso Jeanne Rosy, Vice President of the board.
Many people think the process is not transparent.
In response to these worries, the council for the follow up of recommendations of the New Africa-France Summit made some recommendations to change the narrative.
Concrete actions to incite youths to take part in issues related to democracy should be multiplied across-the-board. Training workshops on citizen participation of youths, collaboration, lobby, and networking should be given emphasis both nationally and internationally.
The “Civic Actions” project has come to and end, and project leads believe that if given another opportunity, they will cover all the ten regions of the country to talk youths into embracing electoral issues.
They also intend to motivate young Cameroonians of voting age to come up with their own recommendations owing to their challenges in participating in electoral issues.
